I'm one week out from my long awaited bikepacking trip on the Colorado Trail.  Doing 8 days for "as far as I can go" - probably/hopefully at least Buena Vista.  Maybe as far as Monarch.

One of my remaining issues is HWY-285 from Baily to Kenosha Pass.  I know this has been talked to death, but I hadn't seen any discussion regarding the service roads that parallel US-285.

Has anyone had experience with taking Happy Top Rd / Old Stagecoach Rd / FSR-109 to Shawnee?  That would replace the first 5 miles of highway with slower/safer fire service roads.  While that doesn't sound like a lot, it is 25% of the distance.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
CF

It's a petroleum based product usually found in the baby isle (at least in the US).  Thicker than bacitracin ointment, but not as thick as zinc oxide.  It comes in various sized tubes (even small packets) and tubs.

-CF

I'm doing 8 days on the CT starting on Sunday July 28th.

I'm flying in late (10:30) on the 27th.  I'm planning 8 days to go *as far as I can get* - with the hope of making it to Buena Vista - with luck maybe as far as Monarch.

I would be happy to share my time on the trial with whom-ever.  My pace will be slow - hopefully steady.

I'm keeping an eye on the fires (I see that Section 1 and 2 is currently shut down for the fire crews  [http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23494247/lime-gulch-fire-prompts-evacuations-jerfferson-county]).

I foresee at least one beer stop in Breckenridge - let's call it 2 with a stop at Copper Mountain.

-CF