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We Got A Thing Goin' On - Jones Pass to Herman Gulch on the CDT

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,483
7,526
Exit, CO
There are two trails in Colorado that deserve your attention. Nay, demand it. One is the Colorado Trail, from which I have posted several ride reports from various sections. The other is the Continental Divide Trail, or CDT, of which I haven't ridden much of. There are a few sections that coincide with other rides I have done, but I hadn't yet concentrated on a particular section. And sure there are pictures taken on the CDT already posted on the internet, surely. But these are views I hadn't seen with my own eyes, only through the lens of others. So I made some time with a few friends to rectify the situation this past weekend. Our plan was to start at Jones Pass, near Berthoud Falls, CO and ride the CDT south to the Herman Gulch Trail. With Jones Pass clear of snow, we could shuttle all the way to the top and start the ride there. We placed our chase vehicle a ways down from the end of Herman Gulch in the town of Silver Plume, with intentions of riding up to Panorama Point or even routes farther if time allowed.

We enjoyed stellar weather for the entirety of the Jones Pass to Herman Gulch route, and then a deluge of pissing rain soaked us pretty thoroughly as we made our way to Silver Plume from the Herman Gulch trailhead via bike path. Opting out of any further climbing and adventuring, we inquired at the Sliver Plume station of the Georgetown Loop Railroad how to pick up the rest of the bike path to our vehicle.

"Well, it's right there by I-70", said the Railroad Bro. "But you don't want that, not how you're rollin'. There ain't no jumps or rocks or anything on the bike path. Head up this dirt road a bit, straight past the left-hand switchback, and look for the singletrack just after it. That'll get you to Georgetown."

Sold.

Yeah, we might have gotten turned around a couple of times but it was well worth it. With the rain subsided, we enjoyed some of the best pine-needle strewn loam I've ever ridden in Colorado, winding all the way through the forest to Georgetown. At one point, the trail paralleled the railroad tracks and we rode along side a train filled with tourists.

"Look, honey! Mountain bikers! Wait until we tell the folks back home!"

What follows is what I captured with my camera from Jones Pass to the top of Herman Gulch. Turns out, descending Herman Gulch, with it's myriad of roots and tricky rock sections, is way too fun to stop for pictures. And once we got soaked the camera was put away in a dry place and didn't come back out until it was time to edit and upload pictures. Enjoy.

From the top of Jones Pass, looking back towards Henderson Mine:


Pushing, this early in the ride? Yup, we're well above 12,000' at this point:


A little reprieve from the hike-a-bike, looking down the ridgeline the CDT follows:


Philosophical question: do you herp while you derp? Herp Derpington and Derp McHerp provide some insight:


I love the high alpine patchwork tundra, especially on top of a fairly narrow ridgeline under bright blue skies:


Ever onward:


Wow. Just, wow. This:


On the descent of the CDT towards Herman Lake. Plenty of narrow flowing singletrack and wide open views:


Lake Herman selfie. No one fell in:


Parting gift, some alpine beauty just before descending Herman Gulch:
 

Joe Pozer

Mullet Head
Aug 22, 2001
673
0
Redwood City
Great ride report FT...and thanks for the ride idea.

If the pass stays clear, I plan on doing this ride at the end of the month.
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,483
7,526
Exit, CO
After Nate Hills posted this to #followcamfriday I had to come take a look at this ride report.


Me and @mtg on tiny little wheels, pre-GG days. Lots of herpaderping and faffing about in the high alpine. I really should give that guy a call to go for a ride... it's been a while.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
Nice, I was going to ride a few of the trails in the area of Herman Gulch a few years back, but did something else instead.
 

mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
Oh yeah, that's such a good ride. @Full Trucker we stopped riding together when you retired. Now that you've unretired, our schedules are probably more in line again.
 

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,827
13,062
Hey @Full Trucker, here's your ride report, except we got the climb up Argentine in to Panorama.

Wifey and I loved the ride yesterday, 2nd time getting high this summer. Now to decide on some other high country rides for the rest of the season.
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,483
7,526
Exit, CO
Hey @Full Trucker, here's your ride report, except we got the climb up Argentine in to Panorama.

Wifey and I loved the ride yesterday, 2nd time getting high this summer. Now to decide on some other high country rides for the rest of the season.
Gawddammit. But also, fine. This ride report works. New photos for the 2018 version, courtesy of Carey...