Monarch crest conditions?

[Crinkle]

Anyone Bueller? I imagine its probably dry and there is plenty to ride in Salida besides Monarch. but just doing some scouting

[homerjay]

My friend tried to ride it 2 weeks ago and had to bushwack down a drainage in several feet of rotten snow. I'd wait a bit.

Call Absolute Bikes in Salida or the place that runs shuttles in Poncha....if they're open, the trail's open.

I fucking love that ride.

[kidwoo]

One of my favorite rides in the country.

That's all I have to add.


No wait........I'll add this: ride down green creek sometime in lieu of the rainbow descent. It rules (also)

[FrankZappa]

Just looking up there (divide above Garfield) today, there's still pretty good snow coverage on the E aspect above TL. - maybe 30-50%. But thats all the lee side.
Just talked to Tom at absolute bikes - "Not yet... around the solstice ???" & check thier web page - they will have updates. http://absolutebikes.com/ Says that everything below about 10,000 is dry & good.

[Crinkle]

crap was thinking about next weekend, have to check back, thanks for the links.

Was also thinking about Steamboat, but it appears that they are still under a lot of snow as well.

Maybe I'll head to Wyoming, heard some good things.

[danadog]

Crinkle,
I was in the boat last weekend the trais on the lower mtn are in great shape. Check out the trails across the street from the mtn.

[freshies]

I heart that fackin' trail, it

that is all

[Particle]

Does anyone know if you can find affordable housing and/or land in Salida still? The wife and I are looking forward to her being done w/ residency in 3 years and are trying to scope out cool mountain towns that haven't 'blown up' on the real estate market yet. Buy now, rent...and still be able to afford it b/c in 3 yrs everything is gonna be out of control more than likely. Looking for that undiscovered great place, ya know? Salida is definitely in the running...

[LIP]

Salida/Buena Vista are still quite affordable. Downright cheap even!!
http://www.realestatelistingsonline....nder&pr=160000

[FrankZappa]

Does anyone know if you can find affordable housing and/or land in Salida still? The wife and I are looking forward to her being done w/ residency in 3 years and are trying to scope out cool mountain towns that haven't 'blown up' on the real estate market yet. Buy now, rent...and still be able to afford it b/c in 3 yrs everything is gonna be out of control more than likely. Looking for that undiscovered great place, ya know? Salida is definitely in the running...

It hasn't been affordable here (Salida) for ten years. There is a 20-25 year supply of subdivided lots (almost everything you see that looks like ranchland is actually chopped into 2 acre parsels). Aspen or Vail are proly cheaper - at least there are jobs over there.
I'd try Del Norte...

[Particle]

thanks for the linky. it's cheap! del norte...don't think so, but I've actually thought Pagosa sounded kinda cool. we got really depressed recently looking at real estate everywhere we wanted to live...even Gunny is out of control

[lemon boy]

watch out if you choose Pagosa cause we'll be down there all the time (and have thought about buying a place there as well).

[Dside11-11]

Monarch Crest - gooooood shit

[FrankZappa]

It's open now.

Monarch Crest Trail Status: SOME MELTING SNOW DRIFTS, MUDDY PLACES
Important: you MUST walk over the drifts, do NOT skirt around the edges. Do not ride up on the side of the trail to avoid mud, you MUST ride in the trail. The high-country tundra is extremely fragile, especially during melt-off. Riding and walking off-trail damages newly emerging plants. STAY ON THE TRAIL, EVEN WHEN DRIFT-COVERED!

Check these pics from http://absolutebikes.com/CrestTrail.php

[grskier]

Jerk didn't even stay on the trail

[FrankZappa]

May 19th, 2007 FWIW update.
The Mrs & I drove a nissan to within 200 yrds of the top of Marshall pass - east side (just shy of the toilets). Really muddy & still quite a bit of snow on northerly aspects up high (w/n say 1,000 ft elev of Marshall summit). I'd bet it might be doable in 2-3 weeks if this hot weather keeps up. - a couple weeks earlier than normal. Even this early, butt-load of lightning mixed with hail flying around by noon.

[Rontele]

May 19th, 2007 FWIW update.
The Mrs & I drove a nissan to within 200 yrds of the top of Marshall pass - east side (just shy of the toilets). Really muddy & still quite a bit of snow on northerly aspects up high (w/n say 1,000 ft elev of Marshall summit). I'd bet it might be doable in 2-3 weeks if this hot weather keeps up. - a couple weeks earlier than normal. Even this early, butt-load of lightning mixed with hail flying around by noon.

Thanks for the update, FZ. I am going to be down at Indy Pass the weekend of June 3rd for the telemarktips weekend and kind of over skiing, so bringing the bike. What is the status of the Rainbow Trail? Dry?

[FrankZappa]

Thanks for the update, FZ. I am going to be down at Indy Pass the weekend of June 3rd for the telemarktips weekend and kind of over skiing, so bringing the bike. What is the status of the Rainbow Trail? Dry?

I'd say everything but the very highest stuff is dry. - like below about 1,000 ft of timberline - with exceptions for some northerly aspects or places where the snow gets deep (read: contintal divide). By 2 weeks even a lot of that will open up and be dry. I think melt/run off and every thing else looks to be about 2 weeks ahead of schedule - as in almost over already...

Prolly a good idea to bring wheels, or a boat... Like those pics on an Ice Mtn TR from this last weekend... melt is w-a-y- ahead of due time.

disclaimer: opinions expressed are clearly my own. but i pay a lot of attention to water 'round here bein a redneck wanna-be and all.

[Rontele]

I'd say everything but the very highest stuff is dry. - like below about 1,000 ft of timberline - with exceptions for some northerly aspects or places where the snow gets deep (read: contintal divide). By 2 weeks even a lot of that will open up and be dry. I think melt/run off and every thing else looks to be about 2 weeks ahead of schedule - as in almost over already...

Prolly a good idea to bring wheels, or a boat... Like those pics on an Ice Mtn TR from this last weekend... melt is w-a-y- ahead of due time.

disclaimer: opinions expressed are clearly my own. but i pay a lot of attention to water 'round here bein a redneck wanna-be and all.

Thanks, mang! Any other trails you can suggest in the Twin Lakes, Buena Vista, east side of the pass area would be appreciated.

The only suggestions I have gotten thus far are to ride the jeep road up towards La Plata until you reach the wilderness boundary, and some portion of the CO trail as it gets near the reservoir.

[FrankZappa]

Sorry, man, don't know much up that way. There was some "summer guide / junk to do" inserts in the local paper last week. Seemed like lots of promo stuff from Lake county. Try looking up a shop in Leadville or there's the Trailhead shop in BV - they can send you in some directions along the upper, upper Ark I'm sure.

I know the wilderness boundary is fairly close around the Indy coridor, so I wouldn't expect distances to be very far. Nice country tho. Maybe up the gulch between Elbert and Massive (search portion of "troopers traverse" on Dawson's site). There is a "treasure" close to the top and if there is a gap in the wilderness you might be able to hop over to the big switchback on the E side of Indy for a hudge ride all the way around Elbert. Also Haggarman pass.

[hev]

Hey Crinkle -

I would be into a trip down to the boat this weekend. My bro lives down there and I have done a few XC rides in the area. PM me if your gonna go down that way. I am looking to get out of town for the holiday.

Cheers
Hev

[homerjay]

Thanks, mang! Any other trails you can suggest in the Twin Lakes, Buena Vista, east side of the pass area would be appreciated.

The only suggestions I have gotten thus far are to ride the jeep road up towards La Plata until you reach the wilderness boundary, and some portion of the CO trail as it gets near the reservoir.

Some chick left an old-school "Mountain Biking Salida" book at my house....let me grab that tonight and report back to ya.