A bright and sunny day today here in Colorado with temperatures in the low 30s forecasted. I started off today's ride after running an errand in the Denver Tech Center. I headed west on Orchard Rd until it junctions with Broadway. Broadway Blvd I took northwards until I got to it's intersection with US285.
This is the usual road I take to cross Denver and get into the foothills gateway town of Morrison. It's a good location for a starting point for several mountain rides. I tanked up and headed west on CO74 and through the three mile stretch of this road known as Bear Creek Canyon:
On Soda Lakes Rd, east of Morrison
Bear Creek Canyon
CO74 winds it's way into the mountain towns of Idledale, Kittredge and Evergreen and was mostly clear in terms of snow cover. Still, there were numerous stretches of ice and snow covered lanes not conducive for two-wheeled riding today. Since I was on my Ural Sidecar Rig, Natasha, this was not that big a concern.
At Evergreen, I stayed on CO74 as it made its way north towards Bergen Park, shortly before the city of Bergen Park one can take Squaw Pass Road aka CO103 towards CO5 which is the road up to the top of Mount Evans. It's currently closed for the season but I figured there would be the usual nice scenery on CO103.
The road up towards Echo Lake and CO5 was pretty much snow-covered with packed snow and lots of sand. Traction was good though and I kept a steady 25 mph all the way to Echo Lake, pulling over when the sporadic cager caught up with me to let them pass. I was, unlike the cagers, in no hurry.
I finally found the actual summit sign for Squaw Pass this time, you have to turn onto CO Rd 470 to get to it.
This is the view of the far off mountains from the summit of Squaw Pass
Typical road conditions on CO103 today, not too bad for the sidecar rig
Natasha and the mountains
Nearing the Echo Mountain Ski Area
Panoramic shot of the distant mountain ranges visible from CO103
Echo Lake
This is the large rock formation at the entrance to the West Chicago Creek Road or CO Rd 114Since I was alone, that was my stopping point for this trail. I slowly backed down the slight slope to a point where I could turn around:
I got back to CO103 and made my way down to Idaho Springs without any incident. The road was much clearer but still sported some ice patches in the shady areas. This road is not the best for motorcycling in the winter, unless you've a sidecar rig of course! In the summer, its curves and steep grades make for some awesome twisting and turning rides.
I got on eastbound I-70 at Idaho Springs for a few miles of highway riding in medium to heavy traffic. I successfully did the death-merge maneuver to exit onto US6 from I-70 and used US40, a two lane road, to make my way to the town of Bergen Park. My rig does not like doing more than 55 mph on flat ground, and has real difficulty achieving even that on the steep grades in this part of I-70.
From Bergen Park it was a virtual retracing of my outbound route, through Evergreen, Kittredge, and Idledale. Traffic was minimal, and road conditions while not really even close to optimal for regular motorcycles, was fine for my sidecar rig. I got to Morrison and made my way to US285 and from there into Denver and eventually my home neighborhoods. Over 120 miles of riding I think and about 7 hours in the saddle. Not too bad.
If I didn't make it clear in the posting, this road was really not safe for two-wheeled vehicles with all the snow and ice on the pavement. Sidecar rigs and their inherent stability due to the third wheel can handle these conditions if you take things nice and slow.
Comments
I am so glad to see you still out there, the biggest motorcycling spirit I have ever seen Keep up the great work.
While I cannot relate to riding in snow, in the mountains, I can totally relate to the "death-merge maneuver" as can, I'm sure, all motorcyclists who live near or travel on high speed interstates.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!