Becky and I woke up early on Monday itching to get to the trailhead to start what folks on the web have described as epic and as one of the best rides in the country. Byron, our tour guide for today picked us up and we headed out to Poncha Springs to catch the shuttle to the top of Monarch Pass.
Back story on Byron. We met him at DSG in 2007. He invited us to come out to Colorado and he would show us around. This is our second visit to CO. Last visit he was wrapped up with work, but this time he opened up his schedule to take us on an unbelievable ride.
After picking up another rider in Buena Vista (cool little town), we watched the collegiate peaks roll by as we headed to the shuttle. We showed up, signed up, hopped in the van and headed up the pass.
Geared up and ready to go, we hit the trail. The Monarch Crest Trail starts at around 11k elevation and climbs on open singletrack above treeline for about 3 miles. The trail was cut into the mountain and temps were 55 with winds whipping around. The weather was secondary because all you could look at was the amazing views off Monarch Pass.
Becky and I were already having problems staying with the group, the altitude was affecting our pace and we kept stopping to take pictures.
The group was made up of some fast folks, but they were patient with us and waited at all the intersections. After more climbing, we hit some rolling singletrack at 12k feet then descended down to through some alpine singletrack, then into some hardwood forest and eventually ended up at Marshall Pass. We met a group from KC with a couple SS'ers. I love my SS, but I would have to live here for a bit to even attempting to ride at altitude on it.
We made some quick descents followed by quick steep climbs and eventually hit a very fast and rocky downhill. The downhill took us through open fields through some hardwood forest and across talus fields. Talus is loose rock that moves under your tires. Becky and I tried to ride it as best we could. At one point I was sliding sideways down the rock. We walked one of the sketchier descents, but rode most of it. Our group told us the best way to ride it is to teeter the line between control and being out of control. At times, I was out of control. We took a break next to creek and then pressed on to the famous Rainbow trail.
The Rainbow trail is 6 miles of amazing singletrack carved into a mountain. Ripping, swoopy trail with high berms and grunt climbs. The trail would shoot you out to open vistas with incredible views. We were tiring, so we couldn't hit this section as hard as we would have liked. Rainbow came to an end and we had 3 miles to go. The last 3 miles was dusty and rocky then weaved through alpine trees then to open vistas followed by more rocky descents. We finished on some descents with switchbacks that put on the rode back to Poncha Springs and our ride home.
Awesome and amazing don't begin to describe the experience. The ride started at 11k, then up to 12k then down to 7k. 34 miles of mostly singletrack. Temps at the top were 55 and 80 at the bottom. The remoteness of the trail does not compare to anything else we have ever ridden and only adds to the experience. I want to do the trail again, but faster and on a SS.
Big thanks to Byron and his friends for putting up with our pace and picture taking, but mostly for taking us an unforgettable ride.
Happy Trails!
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