Day 1 Aspen Alley, WY to Steamboat Lake State Park, CO

Day 1: Aspen Alley, WY to Steamboat Lake State Park, CO (50 miles)

Wed 8/13/2008

This was a fantastic but challenging day given my fitness level.

We spent a relaxing night at the Saratoga Inn, and drove an hour to Aspen Alley. By the time we got there it was 10:00, 65 degrees, perfect weather.

I decided that Aspen Alley would be a fun place to start our big ride. It is a scenic spot on a dirt road (48 miles south of Rawlins, just 15 miles from the CO border.) The road straightens and goes through a grove of Aspen trees...it was a beautiful spot.

Aspen Alley, fitting spot to start our big ride!

After just 2 miles climbing on a dirt road, we headed down a dream paved highway (WY 70)...gorgeous scenery, downhill, and almost bereft of traffic for 13 miles. Richie had a thrill/scare when he heard a sound near him on a bomber downhill...he slowed a bit, and a big deer shot across the road in front of him, very nearly hitting him. Mom witnessed it.

We had two choices to get to our destination for the night...both are described as being very scenic. The main route has a major hill at the end of the day that it described as gnarly, steep, and rocky. 4-miles up then 4-miles down, and the guide book describes this as a 'pusher'. Yikes. We opted for the 'easier' alternative route through Columbine. While I fully believe that the Columbine alternate route was probably indeed easier, it was by no means easy!

We turned on to route 129, a dirt road that first heads east, paralleling and criss-crossing the CO/WY border. (For those doing the full ride, there is no 'welcome to CO' type sign as a photo op for your crossing into CO.) We meandered upstream along the Little Snake River, enjoying several modest but scenic ranches nestled in the valley. The road then turns south, and the map ominously says 'cross Little Snake River and begin climbing'. What ensues is almost 20 miles of uphill, with alternating gradual and steep stretches. We climbed almost 2000 feet here...on par with the 'named' passes we hit later in the ride. Halfway through this section we passed the ridiculously fancy Three Forks Ranch...with a multi-million dollar lodge.

This section kicked my butt. Richie was up front, Grammi was in 2nd, and I (pulling the BOB trailer) was well behind. It was a very nice road, and other than the 3-mile section of 3 forks ranch there was very little traffic.

Hahn's Peak is in the background...close to our camp spot for the night. It is a bit nerve-wracking to ride into the cattle, but Grammi and Richie are doing it.

The climb ended in Columbine, CO (not much more than a general store here.) We then had a sweet 5-mile downhill to our campsite at Steamboat Lake State Park.

I saw a deer today and we encountered several herds of cattle along the road. I was disappointed that I didn't see an antelope during the ride today, though we saw lots yesterday, and one cluster tonight driving to Steamboat Springs for dinner.

I'm beat, ready for a good nights sleep at our little cabin at the park.

Richie chillin at said cabin

Oh yeah, I was a total numb-nut today. (Go figure.) While I was bombing down the paved WY 70 early in the day, I caught a glimpse of two menacing, huge, dark colored animals lurking in the trees just off to my right.

'BEEEEAAARR!!' I shout, and hit my brakes to turn around for a better look. Grammi was behind me, so she slowed down too.

I pedal back, and see two docile black cows munching grass. Duh. I turn back around and tell Mom that it was a f***ing cow, not a bear.

Tomorrow should be an easier day, and we are all ok with that. the scenery today and the remoteness of the ride was just fantastic.

LINK below to photo album (More pics, and much larger, plus I have written clever captions for all the pics. I suggest you hit the 'slideshow' button to view the pictures in the album.)

Click here to open Day 1 album in a new window

Click the 'View Elevation' button above to open full size, interactive map of the Day 1 ride