After leaving the Graham Ranch on the morning of the 18th we found ourselves biking through more beautiful high country before dropping 4,000 feet to the desert country near Gateway, Colorado and the Colorado/Utah border.
About 6½ miles into the days ride we decided to leave the main route and take an alternate single track route down the Ute Creek trail. The first section was a fairly technical downhill but then it moderated and was a lot of fun. The Canadian group decided on taking the main route, which was probably easier, but this trail was a great break from all the roads we had been riding so far.
All smiles on the single track of Ute Creek.
The lower section of the Ute Creek trail.
Once back on the main route it wasn't long till we started down the steep switchbacks and 3,000 foot descent to the Gateway Hut. Here you can see the road in the distance that we would be riding down.
Another look down from the Uncompahgre Plateau to the road far below that would take us to the town of Gateway, Colorado and the Gateway Hut.
One of the beautiful towers that rose right behind the Gateway Hut.
The Gateway Hut with Bob Weston doing his regular post-trip stretches.
Leaving the Gateway Hut we were faced with one of the most challenging sections of the trip -- the 4,000 foot climb up to the La Sal Hut through John Brown Canyon. Here Kim is pushing his bike up one of the steeper sections. Like he said, "it got to the point where I could walk as fast as I could ride so I may as well walk."
Looking back down John Brown Canyon and the steep section we climbed the morning of the 19th. We were fortunate as the weather was cool and rainy making it a lot less difficult than it could have been. In the end it only took us a couple of hours to climb the 4,000 feet in 6 miles from Gateway to the top of the canyon.
Brian making his way above John Brown Canyon to the Manta-La Sal National Forest.
Myself, Kim, and Brian at the Utah/Colorado state border.
The night before it rained fairly hard but by the time we got up to the upper plateau it had dried up nicely. The colors were spectacular as we road through a number of private ranches.
Looking ahead at the La Sal mountains of Utah.
We made it to the La Sal Hut before noon and were met by our good friend Jim Germain delivering cold beers.
Jim Germain.
My bike leaning against the La Sal Hut with the road mud I picked up along the way.
The Canadian group left Gateway after us and had the pleasure of navigating through a band of sheep a local rancher was moving down the road. Bob Weston took this picture of Ron and Len figuring out how to ride through the sheep without scattering them all over the countryside.
It looks like the best way to do that is to just stop and wait till the passed around.
The La Sal Hut.
After dinner we all took a little walk back to the road to take some pictures. This is a view of Fisher Valley from the main road.
Evening sunlight on the sandstone cliffs near the La Sal Hut.
One of the spectacular thunderheads glowing from the light of the setting sun.
Ron Miller making french toast on the morning of the 20th before descending to Castle Valley and Moab.