Sunday we arose to bright sunny skies and 40 degree temperatures. Since we had planned on riding about 35 miles we decided to wait a couple of hours before taking off.Deer Creek Canyon Road starts about two hundred meters from Dave and Pattie’s house so we did not have to pack the bikes, we could just start from the house. The climb starts quite quickly and with the newly paved shoulder, we didn’t have to worry about vehicles.
We also noticed a significant number of bicycles both climbing and descending Deer Creek Canyon. In fact, we figured there were about ten times the bicyclists vs other vehicles. We did, however, have to keep a keen ear and eye out for motorcyclists zooming up and down the canyon road. As we have found on all other of our trips, any good paved road favored by bicyclists is also favored by motorcyclists. But that logic could be reversed, as well…..
Here we are at the start:
On the way up Deer Creek Canyon. Dave is on the left and Terry is on the right.
Our route took us on South Deer Creek Canyon Road off Deer Creek Canyon Road from Philipsburg and then High Grade Road to the school house. We rested a few minutes at the top talking with some interesting folks (er, cyclists, what would you expect). They were sitting next to a few coolers of food and drink. Apparently, they’re part of a group (a trust?) that provides support to cyclists in a number of ways — trip sagging, bike maintenance, etc. Nice.
Here we are at the top looking northwest. Is that Mount Evans in the far distance?
And looking east to Denver. No, that’s not Buck Hill in the distance with the snow capped peaks, that’s the Denver International Airport main terminal.
We had a great descent down Deer Creek Canyon Road. Terry, of course, beat Dave and I down by about a minute. We had no problem with other vehicles or cyclists. I had forgotten how much fun descending is.
Pattie, off course, had set out a great spread as a late lunch for our efforts when we returned. The temperature was rather warm so we sat outside and yacked and drank and ate and yacked and drank and ate.
That evening the four of us had dinner at Maggiano’s in Denver in celebration of Dave’s and Terry’s birthdays.
End of day 1. Statistics:
- Start: Dave and Pattie’s house
- End: Dave and Pattie’s house
- Distance: 38 miles
- Climbs: Deer Creek Canyon
- Total gain: 3200 ft
Recent Comments