Tour Summary

The BTC this year is entering new areas and even a new state.  I greatly applaud Kent and his crew for coming up with new and varying routes to keep the tour fresh and to showcase a spectacular and diverse state.  Given that he has promised two shower trucks and has hinted at additional vendors along the way, I don’t see how this can’t be anything but a great ride.  Having said that, be forewarned, the San Luis Valley can be a hot place in the summer (South Park Valley is worse) and, depending on El Nino, La Nina, global warming, and the whims of the weather gods, be prepared for some heat on this trip, but also pack for cold.  If you have any dormant pagan tendencies you might revive, make appropriate sacrifices to Zeus, god of rain and thunder, and Boreas, god of wind for moderate weather (like we had in 2009- less the rain).  The tour spends a good amount of time in the San Luis Valley this year and Gunnison could very well be the coolest location of the ride.

Also, the profiles and estimated routes are created with the help of mapmyride.com. At the end of each daily summary is a link to what I am guessing is the route Kent will use. Please note, the routes are just guesses based on my experiences on the tour. I was wrong for the first 20 or so miles of the Grand Mesa day last year.  

Day 1… Gunnison to Creede 106 miles, 7000 feet climbing. 

I’m going to make this easy on myself… Click here for my Slumgullion Pass Summary.  The summary gets you over the passes for the day.  At 106 miles, this is your hardest day.  You are climbing the hard side of Slumgullion where grades can exceed 9%.  Grit your teeth and get it done.  The views of Lake City as you climb, and again the view of the Rio Grand headwaters are spectacular.

The lead-up to Lake city is interesting.  A few miles along the Blue Mesa Reservoir, enjoying the cool of the morning, will come to a very abrupt end as you turn south and start a nine mile climb, followed by a short descent, and then another long climb and descent into a nice hot valley.  With luck, you’ll have a tailwind to push you on your 1% to 2% long climb into Lake City.  It’s a very shallow climb, but it is a climb. Before you even start climbing at Lake City, you’ll have already put in 55 miles and 3300 feet of climbing.  You have a monster day.  By the way, the Spring Creek downhill lasts most of the way to Creede (with the exception of a small climb near the base).  The run-out is shallow so a headwind down there could negate gravity.   Note, watch for a rough downhill road off Spring Creek due to frost heaves and a rough RR crossing out of Creede.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/co/gunnison/378125962606622414

 

Day 2 Creede to Alamosa (69 or 75 miles)  170 ft of climbing.

Day two and already a question.  The BTC website says the tour goes by the Monte Vista Wildlife refuge and is 69 miles long.  As far as I can tell, there is no way to get a 69 mile ride AND the refuge.  So either this route is 75-79 miles long, or you miss the refuge.  The profile I show here is 75 miles and includes the refuge, ending on the south side of Alamosa.  Note, except for the total mileage, the description of the ride is virtually the same.

In short, except for a grueling and leg busting climb of 170 feet for the day (must be a couple of overpasses here) it’s a downhill day!  Now mind you, the steepest downhill, in the 2% to 3% range, is the first few miles out of Creede.  After that, it’s 1% or flat.

From Creede to South Fork  you follow the Rio through a beautiful wide valley that occasionally closes into a bit of a canyon.  This is the most scenic part of the day.  The last time through, I even saw a bear sitting on a ledge over the road sizing me up for a quick dinner.  It’s a fascinating desert like landscape with a river running through it.

From South Fork to Del Norte, it’s east into the San Luis Valley.  You pull away from the hills and find yourself in a more or less treeless agricultural valley surrounded by high mountains.  It’s quite an impressive valley.  Every few miles you’ll run into a town where you can rehydrate.  The biggest geological features here are the alluvial fans created by water runoff into the valley.  It’s hot and flat here and into Alamosa.  Drink lots of water, get there early to avoid riding in the heat of the day, and in Alamosa, find a nice tree to sit under to get out of the sun.  By the way, the Rio passes east of the town and the Dunes are not a far drive… certainly worth the trip.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/co/creede/557125968237378848

 

Day 3 Alamosa to Chama, NM.  76 miles and 3000 feet of climbing

For ease, see my pass summary of La Manga and Cumbres passes, it handles the route from Antonito to Charma.
Except for the first 28 miles, this and the next day should bring some incredible scenery.  For Alamosa to Antonito, think only two things… Flat and agriculture.  The first 16 miles are completely flat, and after that you start a grueling (not) 1% grade for the next 12 miles to Antonito.  In this 28 mile segment, you gain an amazing 375 feet.  I mapped this route going down Hwy 285.  It’s very possible that Kent will use side roads here to get you off the highway.  However, whether you are on 285 or any of the roads that parallel it, it’s still flat and still the same scenery.  The advantage of 285 is that you will pass through five or so villages so you might be able to stop for a snack if needed and you find something open. The side roads will have less traffic and no services.  Please note, this segment is the calm before the scenic storm.  Once you get to Antonito, the scenery changes for the much better.  From that point, take a look at my pass summaries.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/co/alamosa/577125968749895102

 

Day 4 Charma to Pagosa Springs.  50 miles and 1850 feet of climbing.

Rolling rolling rolling.  Keep those wheels rolling.  Rolling rolling rolling, Rawhide!

Other than looking at the profile for this day, there’s not much I can tell you about as Kent has found a route I’ve never been on.  I can tell you this part of the state is scenic, hilly, and hot.  It will be fun to ride some truly new terrain.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/nm/charma/106125968788951050

 

Day 5   Pagosa Springs to Center.  75 miles and 3800 feet of climbing

Click here for my review of Wolf Creek Pass.  The review will get you all the way to South Fork.
From South Fork, you are on your way back into the San Luis Valley Banana Belt.  After the fantastic downhill off Wolf, you coast into South Fork and head east.  I’m also going to make an assumption here. While I have no confirmation of this, I don’t think Kent would have us ride on Rt 160 twice, and would bet that he takes the tour across the Rio and rides the side roads into Center.  The scenery will be much the same regardless of the route, it’s just that the side roads are less traveled.  The ride into Center will be flat and most likely hot as you’ll be arriving in the early afternoon.  If you can find a tree, stake out a spot and relax for the rest of the day.

The most scenic pasts of this ride are in the morning out of Pagosa Springs and the climb and descent on Wolf.  As noted in my write up, the view back toward Pagosa Springs is fantastic and you may be inspired to take a picture.  Don’t stop on the curves/switchbacks for that picture.  There is a nice view area and parking lot about a mile and a half from the waterfall that is a great place to take a breather and a picture.  If you choose to ride to the parking area, you’ll be crossing the road on a sharp curve, so downhill traffic may be blocked from your view and uphill traffic may be looking at the view and not see you moving over. Be careful and cross the road with great caution.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/co/pagosa%20springs/264125968842283482

 

Day 6 Center to Gunnison. 95 miles and 2700 feet of climbing

The first 20 miles or so will be pancake flat.  If the winds cooperate, you should be able to do some nice cruising through the agriculture of the San Luis Valley as you head north.  I mapped most of this ride on Rt 285, but I suspect Kent will have you on parallel roads as much as possible to avoid traffic (though there isn’t much traffic here to start with).  After you first 20 miles, you’ll have another 20 or so where you are faced with climbs of up to 2%, but mostly 1%.  All you are really doing here is putting miles between you and Center.

Around mile 46 the scenery starts to change and you finally begin your 9 mile climb up North Pass.  For the most part, this is a desert like pass with low trees, open views at the base and as you twist and turn toward the summit, you’ll find more and more trees, but don’t expect to find wide open vistas.  Having said that, this is a rather fun and fairly easy climb for a pass.  The grades max out in the 7% range and are really more in the 5% range.  If you look at the 30 miles from Saguache to the summit, it only averages a touch less than a 2% grade.  Once at the top, you have a 40 mile downhill into Gunnison.  But note, the grade on the downhill is rather shallow with only a brief steep period.  In fact, after the initial steeper descent near the top, I’d equate the long downhill to be more like last year’s downhill from Aspen to Glenwood Springs.  You know you’re going down, but you still have to pedal.

Pat yourself on the back when you get to Gunnison.  You deserve it as you’ve just completed a beautiful and challenging ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/co/center/729125968875858792