The turn around at the top of Elkatraz. Uncompahgre Peak is in the photo, but you have to look hard.
It’s supposed to snow; as much as foot in the high country. We take our chances and our heavy weather jackets. Suzee and I are both on MTB’s with slicks and 9 miles west of Gunnison on 50 we turn south onto a very lonely road: Colorado 149. This ribbon of pavement is the best/closest road climbing to Gunni. It’s really just two summits but since it’s an out and back, that makes 4 pretty good climbs if you drop into the Lake Fork Valley. Never getting much over 9,000 feet of elevation, these are not the classic, high-mountain passes of Colorado. But with very little traffic (we saw maybe 6 vehicles), grand views in all directions and authentic, old-school visuals of rural Western Colorado, I never tire of this ride.
A little slice of Americana, West Slope Colorado style
Suzee turns back at the top of 9-Mile Hill and I go on to the top of Elkatraz, not dropping into the Lake Fork Valley for the entire enchilada. It’s early in the season and I’m stoked my legs and lungs have gotten me this far. Nary a drop of water, frozen or otherwise, makes contact and the temps, not bad; no wind to speak of. I’m a bit blown by the time I hit the 10 miles of flats back to Gunni and the zucchini bread Suzee made pays the price when I finally roll in. I favor the crusty end pieces and they go down pretty well with an ice-cold root beer. We’ll see if the snow actually comes.
Looking into the San Juans before the descent into Powderhorn
