One of the best mountain bike rides in the world, starting at 11300 ft. climbing to just on 12000 ft. before dropping back down to the valley at Poncha Springs.
I have ridden it twice, the first in 2002 on my Cannondale F700 that I had shipped to the US from Australia
and then again in 2005 on my Ellsworth Id that was bought piece by piece in the US and then built by my mate Rich with some very limited help from me.
Both times I have ridden this trail the weather has been perfect but it's not a place I would like to be caught in if the weather changed or had to spend the night there. A map from the bike shop in Salida is essential, its exxy at $12.00 but worth it. The big problem is oxygen or rather the lack of oxygen, the first hour is spent climbing with frequent stops to fill burning lungs with air. The reward is magnificent scenery as you climb past the tree line.
There are a number of cutouts if you don't want to do the entire trail but having come 12000 kms. to get there there was no way I was going to use them. The good part about this ride is that the last 25% is mainly downhill as you descend about 5000ft. Some rocky sections and a dry river bed but then its onto a dirt road before joining the highway for a smooth hot mix descent to Poncha Springs.
This was the last ride for the 2005 trip before heading back to Austin and then packing the bike for the trip back to Australia.
