Monarch Crest...

**bagtagley** · 07-26-2007, 04:27 PM

...tell me about it.

Day trip? Big bike or little bike? XC sufferfest, or shuttled singletrack heaven?

**Rontele** · 07-26-2007, 04:29 PM

more importantly, when? brettf has all the info.

**bagtagley** · 07-26-2007, 07:52 PM

I think "if" might be more appropriate.

Wait, are you saying that cause "when" is pertinent weatherly speaking or something?

**Rontele** · 07-26-2007, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by bagtagley

I think "if" might be more appropriate.

Wait, are you saying that cause "when" is pertinent weatherly speaking or something?

well, I think some of us where going to head down there sometime over the next couple of weeks if you wanted some additional company for the ride.

From what I have hear from brett. there is monarch crest proper and the west side of the pass towards agate creek, which is arguably better. I think both involve some climbing high above treeline, so your big bike might be a little much. It is monsoon season around here so afternoon thunderstorms are pretty much a given.

**wilcox510** · 07-26-2007, 08:01 PM

I did it 3 weeks ago. Best ride I've ever done. Leave the big bike at home, dont need it. If you only like techy stuff you might find this a bit too tame, but for me it was perfect. It starts with a few mile of uphill, but never steep and it didnt feel very hard. Then miles and miles (total of 30 actually) of amazing singletrack. Mostly non technical, but there are some rough bits here and there. Just fast and smooth. Be sure to do the whole Rainbow Trail at the end. This portion alone would be a destination ride in many places. Fast and curvy, up and down, sweet singletrack. I think the shuttle from Poncha Springs was $19, well worth it. I have also heard that the Agate Creek trail is as good or better than the standard Monarch Crest.

**smmokan** · 07-26-2007, 08:11 PM

Hey Rontele, I've got a group of 4-5 going down next weekend (assuming we've got a shuttle lined up) if you want to come along.

**Rontele** · 07-26-2007, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

Hey Rontele, I've got a group of 4-5 going down next weekend (assuming we've got a shuttle lined up) if you want to come along.

Thanks for the offer, Steve. probably can't get downn there until after I get back from Michigan for my dad's birthday

**rotorhead** · 07-26-2007, 08:59 PM

Bags
If you're thinking what I'm thinking I still remember the way From Keystone to Pagosa Springs.

**kidwoo** · 07-26-2007, 09:05 PM

Bring your xc bike.

I've done it on a hardtail. But an FS xc bike is best.

Run two descents (two shuttles if you're a wimp) and do green creek at least once. Ask the boys at abosolute bikes if they remember the guys from florida. If they do say hi. If they don't, kick them in the nuts.

The standard rainbow trail descent is great and should be done but green creek is rowdier (and should also be done)

**homerjay** · 07-26-2007, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by bagtagley

...tell me about it.

shuttled singletrack heaven.

**FrankZappa** · 07-27-2007, 08:31 AM

I live just west of Poncha and would be glad to help you guys out on a shuttle here and there. You supply the vehicle and I'll leave it down around Poncha. PM me.

Road racers - Salida omnium starts today. Sat features road race with 1,200 vert climb per lap with low base at around 7,800 ft asl.

**grskier** · 07-27-2007, 08:53 AM

We're looking at doing it the first weekend of August....

**FrankZappa** · 07-27-2007, 10:08 AM

Not to hijack, but I figured you guys might as well see what's part of the omnium I mentioned above.

From todays Mountain Mail

Loading up the bikes

Gabriella McClure of Denver checked her bikes at First Stop Thursday afternoon. McClure will be racing in the Salida Omnium today, Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Matt Kroschel

From what I've seen years past of the gals in this race... She'd kick my ass

and I don't care.

**Staircase** · 07-27-2007, 11:16 AM

Hitting the Crest Trail tomorrow.

The Crest is a great ride; however, it is not all downhill as some will describe. There are a couple of good uphill sections, one in particular after Marshall Pass on the CO Trail. Still one of the best rides in CO.

Total time with Rainbow is 5 hours, good pace, not hammering. Start early, clouds move in quickly.

The shuttle costs $19, I think that is getting a little pricey, used to be $10.

Another ride to check out in the area is Canyon Creek, goes from Whitepine to Tomichi Pass, good 2.5 hour climb on jeep road, then sweet downhill.

**freshies** · 07-27-2007, 12:52 PM

i did it on a hard tail 8 yers ago or so and it was heaven...buff single track with sweet views, etc.

**LeeLau** · 07-27-2007, 01:25 PM

fantastic trail

http://www.leelau.net/2005/Utah2005/...05/monarch.htm

**smitchell333** · 07-27-2007, 02:23 PM

Great ride.

Bring plenty o water and spare tubes and patch kits...for some reason both times I've done this ride I've gotten multiple flats...

In fact the 1st time I attempted it solo I had quite a trip: hit a flat within the 1st mile...then realized my patch kit had fallen out on the ride the day before CB to CBSouth/Cement Creek...but decided to keep going as I hadnt had a flat in a couple years. Well sure enough I blew the spare tube at, I shit you, mile 6.66. Waited for 2 hours for someone to ride by - finally a guy came by and gave me his spare tube. I started to ride back as clouds were moving in and I'd lost those couple of hours. Boom 2 miles back and I blew that tube too. WTF. I had to walk my bike back the last 4 miles to my car.

**kidwoo** · 07-27-2007, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by LeeLau

fantastic trail

http://www.leelau.net/2005/Utah2005/...05/monarch.htm

Didn't even ride the rest of the rainbow trail across the highway...........

I'm ashamed of you lee

Is there anywhere in north america you haven't ridden?

**goldenboy** · 07-27-2007, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Rontele

well, I think some of us where going to head down there sometime over the next couple of weeks if you wanted some additional company for the ride.

From what I have hear from brett. there is monarch crest proper and the west side of the pass towards agate creek, which is arguably better. I think both involve some climbing high above treeline, so your big bike might be a little much. It is monsoon season around here so afternoon thunderstorms are pretty much a given.

Personally, I like the traditional crest ride a bit better than Agate, although it does kick ass as well. Just do what I did- ride old Monarch pass, do the crest, skip Rainbow, go up Marshall pass, then do Agate. 80 miles later, you can decide which one is better (A friend of mine was doing Transrockies a couple of years ago and she talked me into it)

Greens and Fooses are pretty sweet too, all the local Freeride/DHers set up multiple shuttles on those.

Once school starts back up, MBSC and I will probably try to do a weekend around there- probably the crest one day and Whitepine the next, which is better than anything mentioned above, IMO. Anyone else is welcome to ride...

**backcountry1pr** · 07-27-2007, 08:49 PM

Sweet ride, Im in gunnison, sooo, if a group is going out looking for another rider let me know, (i am willing to be used for my truck/shuttle as well) haha

**scrublover** · 07-28-2007, 07:47 AM

Another vote for Greens, Fooses, and Agate. Did the "traditional" Crest ride a few weeks before a trip down that hit those three in one weekend. I'd for sure rather ride them than the regular route. Sure, they are shorter, but if you get an early enough start and have the ambition for it, you could do two of them in one day...

**bagtagley** · 07-28-2007, 07:51 AM

Nice, thanks for the info folk'lls. I'll contact some people once we pin down some details

**steadieflow** · 07-28-2007, 07:55 AM

Cross post from MTBR, but the more comments and awareness the better. This would really suck, as this potential closure could affect some of the best single track in the state.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=322962

**goldenboy** · 07-28-2007, 09:17 AM

^^^ Thanks for the heads-up. I hadn't heard a word about this. That would really suck if they closed the Crest and other trails. I used IMBA's form to send a letter, here's the link--

https://secure2.convio.net/imba/site...doixqz1.app14a

**smitchell333** · 07-30-2007, 01:48 PM

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...647282,00.html

"The aim of the proposed directive is to clarify the nature and purposes of the trail and align it with Forest Service land-management planning processes, said Greg Warren, Continental Divide Trail administrator for the U.S. Forest Service.

The trail was established to provide scenic and nonmotorized recreational experiences while conserving natural, historic and cultural resources along the Continental Divide. Warren said he biked part of the trail near Monarch Pass last weekend and encountered 90 mountain bikers, about 10 motorcyclists and four hikers in a three-hour period.

"That's why we need to wrestle with this," he said. "It was an epic ride and it was fun, but there's no way you'd want to have a pack string up there because of the intense mountain biking use. That wouldn't be safe. So we're trying to figure out how to set guidance for local management decisions to deal with those issues."

PS here is an email address to submit your feedback to the forest service - cdnst@fs.fed.us