Boreas Pass (11,481 ft - Continental Divide)
Red Hill Pass (9,986 ft)
Hoosier Pass (11,541 ft - Continental Divide)
Date: 8-11-2004
Riders: George Barnes and Mike Tierney
Route: Breckenridge to Como via Boreas Pass Road, 285 to Fairplay, 9 to Breckenridge
RT distance: ~55 miles
RT time: 8 hours
Average speed (George): 8.6 mph
Average speed (Mike): 9.9 mph
Elevation gain: 4600 feet (est. from topo maps and confirmed by Mike's altimeter)
Elevation loss: 4600 feet
Total elevation change: 9200 feet
Average elevation: 10,300 feet (according to Mike's Polar altimeter)
Minimum elevation: 9,501 feet
Maximum elevation: 11,541 feet
Picture gallery: http://gallery.unicyclist.com/album154/
Route Map:
Thanks to Mapquest for use of this map
Trip Report:
Pre-ride:
Mike and I met up in the skier lots in Breckenridge at about 9 PM the night before the big ride. I had come to Breck from Denver via Boreas Pass Road to check out the conditions. The 21 miles of gravel were rough in places, but definitely rideable.
Ride:
We had initially planned to be rolling by 7 AM, but after seeing the amount of frost on my car we took our time eating breakfast. Mike made his famous breakfast of champions - banana pancakes and the blackest coffee I've ever had (awesome!). After a bathroom stop in downtown Breckenridge (9,600 feet) we were on the road by 8 AM.
The climbing started almost immediately as we headed for Boreas Pass. Shortly out of Breckenridge the paved roads turned to gravel as the road continued up. The road follows an old wagon trail and later railroad track that used to run from Leadville to Denver. We soon reached historic Bakers Tank and stopped for a few quick pictures. The morning has been clear and still and we have had the road to ourselves - perfect for riding. We continue to make good time up the now rocky road and soon reach Boreas Pass. Here we pause for peanut butter balls and pictures.
On the way down we stop again for pictures at the Davis Overlook. We can see for miles over the high plains (9,000+ feet). We do our good deed for the day here and help someone fix their baby car seat.
We continue to drop down towards the railroad ghost town of Como. The road starts to have a lot of washboard and I'm ready to reach the pavement of Highway 285. When we reach Como we stop for energy bars and note the fast moving traffic on 285. I decide I'm glad I wore my DOT orange jersey because speed limit 65 in Colorado seems to mean 75. There is a decent paved shoulder next to the road and we are able to ride to the right of the white line. Thankfully traffic is very good about passing in the other lane. The wind has picked up now and we're fighting the dreaded head/cross wind combo as we make our way to Red Hill pass. It turns out that Red Hill isn't much to write home about, and is only marked on maps (there's no road sign at the top). Pushing on past the pass is tough, even downhill because of the wind. My legs are starting to feel a bit cramped, and my lack of Coker time this summer is painfully apparent. I had logged only 65 miles on my Coker prior to the ride. I've hiked more miles than I've ridden this summer, and I was hoping all that time at elevation would help me on the ride.
I'm elated to finally reach the "Grub-n-Stuff" gas station in Fairplay at just under 9,900 feet. I decide it's time to "sugar up" in hopes of getting some quick energy for the upcoming stretch of road straight into the now strong headwind. I down Mountain Dew, a GU gel from Mike, a Red Bull, and fill my CamelBak bladder with Gatorade. I also have a slice of greasy pizza because another energy bar doesn't sound appetizing. After over 30 minutes of sitting in the sun Mike and I are off again, heading north on highway 9 towards Alma.
The going is as tough as I feared as we make our way directly into a 15-20 mph headwind. Thankfully we are able to ride on a bike trail along side the road and not worry about traffic. I'm paying for my excessive fluid intake with a nasty side ache and I can feel my energy draining as I make my way uphill and into the wind. Alma (at 10,600 feet) is slow to come, and the 6 miles seem to take forever. When we finally get there my side ache isn't any better, my legs feel like Jell-o and the clouds over Hoosier Pass ahead look nasty. Hoosier Pass is 6 miles away, all uphill and all into the headwind from hell. After some soul searching I decide I don't enjoy suffering this much and I tell Mike I'm going to thumb a ride to the top of the pass. If he doesn't see me there, he is going to assume I will meet him in Breckenridge 16 miles away.
Mike takes off up the road before I find that my thumb doesn't work in Alma. After a number of pickups that don't give me so much as a brake light I realize it's time to suck it up and get back on the Coker. Knowing that this is my only way to my waiting car in Breckenridge gives me strength to push on. I make it 4.5 miles out of Alma to an elevation of 11,430 feet - only 111 vertical feet and a bit over a mile from Hoosier Pass. I stop for a breather and must be looking pretty sorry because a pickup from Virginia stops to check on me. When they offer me a ride over the pass I can't turn it down. Not my proudest moment, but I know it's the only way I will catch Mike in time to let him know what happened to me. The couple in the truck has just climbed the Lincoln fourteeners group, and we talk about these and other fourteeners. Three miles up the road later they drop me off just in front of Mike. I fill Mike in on my plight and we ride on towards Breckenridge.
By 4 PM we reach the city limits of Breckenridge, 8 hours after we left that morning. My trip computer shows 51.5 miles and an average speed of 8.6 mph. After ice cream and a change of clothes I feel like 110% and we head our separate ways back home.
