We started in Bergen Park vs. Idaho Springs as we did on our last few times up Mount Evans. The road to Mount Evans from Bergen Park is 32 miles (vs. 28 from Idaho Springs) but the route to Echo Lake is muuuuuch better than from Idaho Springs. There is much less traffic, better surface (for the most part), and loooong, sweeping curves.Here we are at the start (me and then Terry and Dave):
We were unsupported so we had to carry everything we needed for the day. The temperature was about fifty degrees (F) when we started at Bergen Park and it seemed to stay that way as we rode to the top. The peak, however, was advertised to be 36 degrees and somewhat windy. Descending a mountain in 36 degree weather is a bit chilly so we carried jackets, hats, long pants, etc. needed for the descent.
I took note of the road conditions as we rode to Echo Lake. The road seemed well suited for a nice safe (and fast) descent. Here are some picts of the terrain and us as we neared the top of Squaw Pass – about 11,000 ft., I believe. The peak in the distance in the middle photo is the top of Mount Evans.
The weather continued to be just perfect. From the top of Squaw Pass, we descended a couple of miles to Echo Lake (ele. 10,600 ft.). We took a short break and filled our bottles with water and Gaterade from the lodge at the lake. After we paid our $3 to the wonderful park ranger we started the final fourteen miles to the top of Mount Evans.
Here’s a photo of Echo Lake from some thousand feet above it. We had just rode above the tree line and the temperature dropped about 10 degrees pretty quickly. I donned my jacket and knickers.
Even more pix of the terrain and wildlife.
We finally make it to Summit Lake (13,001 ft). Yes, that’s snow in the crook of the two ledges in the middle of the picture. We also begin to see other riders who passed us starting their descent. A quick nod of the head is all they can muster in the cold as they descend the mountain.
A few pix of Dave and Terry as we all near the top. Note the lack of guardrails on the road. Don’t tell my wife about that……
And we made it to the top! We eat whatever food we had left, chat a bit with the other cyclists who are also resting at the top before they descend and prepare our way for the wild ride down.
Dave quips that ‘It doesn’t get any better than this’. I think he was right. Of the three attempts I’ve make on Mount Evans, I’ve succeeded on two of them. This was the best — weather, conditions, conditioning, etc.
After a bit more reminiscing and back-slapping, we start our descent. The top portion (above Summit Lake) is the most treacherous. The road is quite bumpy, narrow, and contains many low-speed switchbacks. Remember the lack of guardrails, eh?
We stop at Summit Lake for about thirty seconds and take off for Echo Lake. The route from Summit lake to Echo Lake is better, but still a bit hazardous and still no guardrails so we take it easy. I had forgotten, but the road gradient is very gradual and rather easy to descend. This is in sharp contrast to the Pyrenean roads we traveled last year.
Another quick break at Echo Lake and we start off on the final section. The temperature is quite warm at Echo Lake (70ish), but we retain our jackets and leggings. We have to climb for a couple of miles to the top of Squaw Pass and then start our descent to Bergen Park.
It takes me a couple of miles, but I finally get the hang of riding that section of road. The gradient is very consistent and easy to ride, 5% I would say. And the looooong, sweeping curves are a blast.
We descend, descend, descend for sixteen miles all without stopping. What a blast! A couple of sections were filled with potholes; Dave reminded us that he dumped his bike last year on one of those holes as we he was flying down the hill. Ouch.
I (roughly) remember where the nasty section of road existed and rode the yellow line down the hill. I made it with no problems. Both Dave and Terry, however, mention they had to maneuver around a few of the potholes as autos were trying to pass them in those bad sections. I, however, have learned to not worry about riding the yellow line. We, as cyclists, were not going that much slower than autos and so if they wanted to pass, they had to use the left lane rather than trying to sneak by using only a portion of the left lane.
Maybe I’m just a bit preachy today as I just found out last night that a good friend was forced off the road a few months ago by a commercial vehicle as she was cycling in St. Paul and she suffered three broken ribs and spent a month out of work. Grrrr.
Anyway, we all made it to the bottom and the temperature was about eighty degrees in Bergen Park. The before picture was at the top of this page; here’s the after picture:
Dave was also waxing a bit poetic and mentioning that he might not attempt Mount Evans again because this ride was just about perfect. Well, we’ll see how he feels about that next year…..
Well, that’s about it for this trip. We sat around yacking, drinking beer, and chowing food the rest of the day at Dave and Pattie’s house. Terry took an early flight out the next day. My flight was later in the day so I took a short recovery ride in the morning before Dave took me to the airport.
Soooo, where’s our next trip? We’re all thinking of somewhere in the Dolomites in Italy. Hmmm. Stay tooned…..
End of day 3. Statistics:
- Start: Bergen Park
- End: Bergen Park
- Distance: 64 miles
- Climbs: Mount Evans
- Total gain: 7200 ft
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