Buena route help

[sherpaxc]

Hey all,
  I'm going to be going up to BV this summer with family.  I'd like to do an overnighter up there.  I'm real pressed on time since I'll have a new baby with me and the wife and don't want to leave them for long.  What would be the best route for a full day/night/half day of riding.  I'm thinking something on the lines of about 80ish miles give or take.  Shuttle is not a problem but I'd like to stay close.
Thanks!
Travis

[ScottM]

I'd pick up the Colorado Trail right where (I think) you left off last year.  Kenosha Pass to Breck, possibly detour around the 10 mile range, then the incredible Searle/Kokomo section over to Tennessee Pass.  You could ride into Leadville or perhaps all the way to BV, bypassing the shuttle pickup.

[sherpaxc]

Are there any good routes in BV?  I'll be staying in a house on Mt. Princeton.  I'd also be interested in a road route if someone could point me in the right direction.

[Pivvay]

The CT right off Mt.Princeton is great. You could just do an out and back or get picked up from several places.

[Marshal]

This would be a 85-95 mile loop, about 35+ miles of ST, about 25 pavement, the rest would be County dirt & gravel back roads. Including, I think, some of the GD route.

From Mt Princeton area-South on the CT to Angle of Shavano Campground (Rd240) Left on dirt CR 240 down to CR 219.  Left on CR219 to CR140, follow ‘back road’ 140 down into Salida. Cross the Arkansas river on CR 175, ride 173 up to Sprial Hill.  Follow the Single track north, rejoin CR 173. Follow CR 173 to CR 181. left/north on 181 to CR 175, R on 175 to CR 184, L on 184 to CR 185, 185 to CR 187, L on 187 to CR 307, L on 307, cross Hwy 285, jog down 285 to CR 305, R/ North on 305 to the RR Single track. Left on the marked RR ST and follow all the way down to Buena Vista.  From BV head west on CR 306 to Rainbow Lake.  Join CT above Rainbow lake and follow CT south back to Mt Princeton.


(disclaimer: I have been on about ½ of this route so user to verify all instructions and distances)

[sherpaxc]

The CT right off Mt.Princeton is great. You could just do an out and back or get picked up from several places.

North or South?  Which is better?

[Pivvay]

Heading towards PBville you have to detour on the dirt road pretty fast.  I think south is probably better. The section from PB to the detour is awesome though.

[DaNM]

   Try some or all of the Vapor   http://vaportrail125.com/   If the wife is car camping there are many places along the route to meet, keep self sufficient and be with the fam. at the same time.

[sherpaxc]

Thanks for all the help.  The family rented a sweet house on Mt. Princeton.  Not sure exactly where though.  With a 3 week old baby I just don't have the heart (Or stamina, energy, and anything else one might need to ride a good distance) to head out for a super long journey.  I'm thinking 3 to 4 hours at a time max. 

Chris or anyone else, do you know where the spot is on the CT where it re-enters the singletrack towards BV?  I was thinking maybe I could get dropped off there and ride the singletrack all the way back.  I'd like to maximize my singletrack time.

[Pivvay]

Unfortunately the CTR route at least is road (dirt and paved) on both sides of BV. But the singletrack starts off that road, Cottonwood Pass from memory, up close to Mt.Princeton. That certainly would be a good place to start. Sorry I'm not more helpful, I don't have my book handy and am packing like crazy for Banff.

[sherpaxc]

So I'm in BV.  Aside from the lack of oxygen everything else is all good.  So, my question is...Is section 14 from Chalk Creek to US 50 any good? 

[Marshal]

So I'm in BV.  Aside from the lack of oxygen everything else is all good.  So, my question is...Is section 14 from Chalk Creek to US 50 any good? 

Any good? As in fun ST? I think so, you could hammer out this 'mostly mild climbs' section, bit of a real climb at the start and after Angle of Shavano CG (you can drop down the FS road from the CG to 50 to skip the last climb)

[sherpaxc]

Did segment 13 from Avalanche TH to the Frontier Ranch camp TH (I used to be a camper at that YL camp so that was kind of cool).  Fun trail but man the air is thin for this low lander!  Great ride though.

I'm gonna try seg 14 on Wednesday.  Aside from the 1st "real" climb (I have no idea what that means in CO speak) does the trail stay somewhat true to the guidebook where it states that much of the trail is "moderate" in elevation gain/loss?

[Marshal]

guide book hits it bout right imo, 1st climb is not really a big deal, short bit of push-a-bike for the weak like me