Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

**Danno** · 09-15-2017, 09:51 AM

gonna take next Wednesday off to go ride in some aspens. Anyone got the word on where to go within, say, a couple of hours of the front range?

**doebedoe** · 09-15-2017, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Danno

gonna take next Wednesday off to go ride in some aspens. Anyone got the word on where to go within, say, a couple of hours of the front range?

Kenosha -> Jefferson loop.

**Danno** · 09-15-2017, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by doebedoe

Kenosha -> Jefferson loop.

I have ridden Kenosha many times (and may do so on Wednesday), but have you been up there or heard leaf reports?

I should have clarified that I wasn't looking for generic ride recommendations (and maybe you weren't giving one, maybe you have specific info), I am looking for reports on where the leaves might be going off 5 days from now.

**The SnowShow** · 09-15-2017, 04:41 PM

Took a hike this morning off Mt Evans Road up the Chicago Lakes Trail - the aspens were on fire already.

**zartagen** · 09-15-2017, 05:33 PM

Danno, Vail area is still a little ways off from peak. At least a week away.

**Hott Butt Mud** · 09-15-2017, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

I have ridden Kenosha many times (and may do so on Wednesday), but have you been up there or heard leaf reports?

I should have clarified that I wasn't looking for generic ride recommendations (and maybe you weren't giving one, maybe you have specific info), I am looking for reports on where the leaves might be going off 5 days from now.

Crested Butte. Gothic and Irwin areas.

**smmokan** · 09-15-2017, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Hott Butt Mud

Crested Butte. Gothic and Irwin areas.

You should check out the I-70 thread, a couple hours from the Front Range to Crested Butte would most certainly make the drive-time PR list.

Danno, have you ridden Meadow Mountain in Minturn? It's one of the best fall rides I've ever done. You can tack on some stuff on the backside of Vail to make it a nice, long full-day ride (like Grand Traverse and Game Creek, which also has amazing aspens) since it's only ~10 miles by itself.

**doebedoe** · 09-15-2017, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

I have ridden Kenosha many times (and may do so on Wednesday), but have you been up there or heard leaf reports?

I should have clarified that I wasn't looking for generic ride recommendations (and maybe you weren't giving one, maybe you have specific info), I am looking for reports on where the leaves might be going off 5 days from now.

Yeah. Good aspens up there. Also a good ride in general. The S. side of Kenosha has great aspens but a medicore ride.

Stuff in Golden Gate State Park and Stauton St. Park also had a good bit of aspen viewing.

CB is great. But not a day-ride from Denver.

**Danno** · 09-15-2017, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

You should check out the I-70 thread, a couple hours from the Front Range to Crested Butte would most certainly make the drive-time PR list.

Danno, have you ridden Meadow Mountain in Minturn? It's one of the best fall rides I've ever done. You can tack on some stuff on the backside of Vail to make it a nice, long full-day ride (like Grand Traverse and Game Creek, which also has amazing aspens) since it's only ~10 miles by itself.

I've not ridden Meadow Mountain though I've heard of it a bunch, and I know my riding partner has ridden it. On the list.

**MakersTeleMark** · 09-15-2017, 11:01 PM

It's a grind up a forest road to a beautiful summit with a 4 mile single track decent.

Maybe I'm spoiled, done it at least a hundred times and would just say meh, but, hey, free cold beer. I live a mile away. You know that.

Leaves here are 1%. Going to be at least a couple of weeks before blast off.

**Lindahl** · 09-16-2017, 05:04 AM

Meadow Mtn gets better the more you ride it. Its a little overgrown with tall foliage so there's a lot of surprise last minute turns. Hard to keep your speed up and flowing if you can't see where the trail is going. That said, once you memorize it, its a good time for sure and flows pretty well. And yeah, the climb is a boring dirt road, but it is kinda aesthetic in fall I guess.

**smmokan** · 09-16-2017, 07:43 AM

The trail is WAY easier to ride in the fall once all the brush and bushes die down.... it's almost impossible to ride in the summer at peak growth.

I know the dirt road climb is a dirt road and all, but the top mile or two is absolutely beautiful with the views and the aspens. It almost makes you forget you're climbing. Almost.

**goldenboy** · 09-16-2017, 08:23 AM

Funny, I prefer going up dirt roads vs singletrack. Guess that's good since most rides in CB are like that. Back to the leaf question, CB is probably around 20% or so close to town. Also, my PR from Golden to CB is 3 hours. But that was a long time ago and that was probably too fast.

**The SnowShow** · 09-16-2017, 08:49 AM

DEPTH HOARZ

**Danno** · 09-16-2017, 09:33 AM

Maybe we'll go to twin lakes. Or maybe Kenosha reports will be good.

**Elkhound Odin** · 09-16-2017, 04:55 PM

leafy update from our multi-pass road tour
Kenosha Pass - near peak
Weston Pass - at peak
Tennessee Pass to Red Cliff - about 1/3 peak
Shrine Pass - less than 1/4 peak

Kenosha was like Berthoud on a powder weekend. I've never seen it so crowded.

**zartagen** · 09-16-2017, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Elkhound Odin

leafy update from our multi-pass road tour
Kenosha Pass - near peak
Weston Pass - at peak
Tennessee Pass to Red Cliff - about 1/3 peak
Shrine Pass - less than 1/4 peak

Kenosha was like Berthoud on a powder weekend. I've never seen it so crowded.

Peeper.

**Danno** · 09-16-2017, 08:49 PM

Think Kenosha will last until Wednesday? Sounds like it would, unless it was a little past peak.

**smmokan** · 09-16-2017, 08:56 PM

Make sure to ride the east side too... it's pretty freakin awesome over there.

**Elkhound Odin** · 09-17-2017, 06:42 AM

Kenosha will be great on Wed

**Danno** · 09-17-2017, 10:09 AM

thanks mang

**bean** · 09-17-2017, 01:05 PM

I was just up at buff creek and most of the bushes etc. have changed, but the aspens are at about 1% yellow. I bet by next weekend they're pretty good.

**The SnowShow** · 09-17-2017, 05:35 PM

Are there any good trails to ride or hike off the Peak To Peak Highway, that go through great aspen groves like you see up at Kenosha?

**Danno** · 09-17-2017, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by The SnowShow

Are there any good trails to ride or hike off the Peak To Peak Highway, that go through great aspen groves like you see up at Kenosha?

not close. Some good leaves up caribou, and there's a great huge standby the highway, near the south terminus of sourdough. But maybe someone else has more info, I'm mostly looking for biking trails.

**The SnowShow** · 09-18-2017, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by Danno

not close. Some good leaves up caribou, and there's a great huge standby the highway, near the south terminus of sourdough. But maybe someone else has more info, I'm mostly looking for biking trails.

Me too (that and hiking). Peak to Peak Hwy always comes up as such a great fall spot but I don't care about driving in the foliage. I want to hike/bike in it, and I couldn't think of any trails up that way, off the highway. Is Sourdough good for riding or super rocky?