Buried in the Rio Grande National Forest, close to nothing, we rode a loop of 22.3 miles with 3,034′ of climbing. This one honestly felt like that much climbing! We started out on a nice wide gravel Forest Road 271 that climbed up into forest. The climbing keeps going and going, and then we hit Alamosa Rock Trail. This singletrack is so pretty as it gets deep into the aspen forest. It was a surprise to crest the top and have the big views off the other side!
After a fun descent we were at the trail junction with Cat Creek aka Treasure Mountain. This trail had it all. Sometimes is was fast a buff ribbon across hillsides and through meadows and sometimes it was giant shale rock fields where you had to maintain speed and just hold on for dear life. We crossed over Cat Creek a few times and then dove into a veritable jungle. The trail is a bit overgrown in places, meaning my arms and legs got a bit scratched up but wow was this section fun! We didn’t see any cats, but we did see two giant turkeys and a bunch of baby turkeys. So cute! The singletrack pops out on the gravel road we climbed up earlier in the ride and as the thunder rumbled, we pedaled back to the start satisfied.
Looking at the map we noticed a reservoir nearby so we drove out to take a look. It’s pretty but I’m not sure I’d ever eat fish out of it or swim in it. The EPA Emergency Response Branch assumed responsibility of the toxic site on Dec. 16, 1992 and it was placed on the National Priorities List of Superfund sites on May 31, 1994. All this stemming from a toxic spill of cyanide-laced water from the treatment plant at Summitville Mine. Supposedly it’s cleaned up and fine now though. Maybe?
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