My favorite alpine ride in Colorado

There is just something special about Lenawee Trail to me. #followcamfriday first lap with Janker Teddy Jaramillo.

There can only be one, Lenawee takes the cake for me. Colorado is littered with world-class alpine singletrack, but this one is somehow special to me. There is just something about Lenny that will always have a special place in my heart. Always a good feeling. 

Maybe it is the stunning alpine views. Maybe it is because of the death-climb required to access this one. Maybe it is the technicality. I have had numerous encounters with goats up here. For whatever reason, the alpine section of this one does it for me. On this particular day, we got a dusting of snow to make conditions absolutely perfect. 

Too add to the sheer magnitude of awesomeness that this trail is, this was Janker's first lap up here. Introducing Teddy to a trail that I hold dear and watching him dissect its nuances is hugely rewarding somehow.  Watching my friends have their minds blown before my very eyes will never grow old to me. That is what this game is all about. 

The rock strewn traverse at the top is reasonably technical. It has gotten some love over the years and is fairly easy to make it through these days, but the original charm is not lost. Dropping into this chunk and exposure above 12K and trying to ride loose is always a challenge. If you fall to the right, you are going to have a bad day. The goats will eat your mangled body and put on that needed weight to survive the harsh winter. And so the cycle continues. 

Why yes Teddy, that is the correct line. Very nice to see Janker interpret this carve on the fly. It has always been obvious to me, but I have rarely seen others pick up on this one. Good eye friend. 

We shot this a few weeks ago in late August. Yes, that is snow in the shadows. Yes, if you are going to ride in the alpine, you should always bring a jacket. I can't count the times I have been snowed on up here in the middle of summer. Its 70 in Keystone and snowing up here. Man I love Colorado. 

This has been quite the summer of riding around in the high country. There is no place I would rather be honestly. I do enjoy some bike park laps and tons of dirt jumping lately, but the alpine is where my heart lies. The leaves are just starting to fire this weekend and fall is in the air. Make the most of your time before the snow flies. It won't be long now.