Kennebec Pass(LaPlatas) 8/7 TR
This ride can be done as a shuttle or as a loop from Durango. The loop is 55-60 miles. I did it as a loop because I am a hardass. There is 15 miles of riding pavement before you head into LaPlata canyon, then you climb 10 miles to 11,800'. The climb is a fairly steep 4X4 road. Once you get to the top you have 26 miles of stellar singletrack back to Durango.
I thought once I got to the pass, it would be all downhill. Unfortunately I was wrong. There is some stiff climbing about 10 miles down from the pass. I was worked by the 5,500' of climbing to pass, that I ended up walking alot of the climbs on the way down. Then the rain rolled in, which eventually turned into hail bombs, that was a treat. The last few miles were ridden through a mess of rain, hail and mud. I ran into a friend who was parked at a TH that was about 10 miles closer to Durango and I was able to get a ride back into town.
Total time from front door to car-6:52, total climbing 6,500'. Amazing ride, but I underestimated the difficulty. If I had not gotten the ride back, I would have spent another hour on the bike.
Some scenery from the La Platas...
Into La Plata canyon
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Near Kennebec Pass
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Looking north towards T-Ride and Silverton
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