Riding 14ers

#followcamfriday ticking 2 fourteeners off the bucket list before winter settles into the high country. Type 2 things with Tall Guy. 

As I type these words, it is snowing heavily in the alpine. We snuck this one in, just in the nick of time. I have skied around these beauties and stared at their majesty for 20 years. Hell, I can actually see Grays and Torreys from my back door. Strange that I had never been up there in the summer, really. I ski in these mountains, all winter with Ryan. He is the man for the job. Ryan has completed the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent, doubling up, for 25 years straight. Yes, you read that right, Type 2. This is a rest day for Tall Guy. Ryan doesn't talk much about his accomplishments. 

Majestic AF. The United States is home to 96 fourteeners, 58 of which are east of the Mississippi, in Colorado. 18 of these are outside of Wilderness designation and open to cycling endeavors. The only one I have ridden prior is Mt Elbert, Colorado's tallest at 14,439ft above the ocean. No, I didn't make a sign for the summit, to later post on the IG's. I did however, take this sweet photo. 

So just because it is "legal" to ride up here, should you? This is type 2 fun, at its finest. We carried and pushed about 80 percent of the ascent. Not everyone's cup of tea. There is no flow trail up here. How very refreshing. If I never ride another flow trail, other than Dirt Merchant, that is fine with me. Just square rocks and dust. The descent was about 95 percent rideable for us. 

Basically like riding through a sea of toaster ovens, mixed with microwaves. Throw in a solid coating of baby-heads, and you have yourself a "trail". I honestly live for this. How we made it through all of this without double-flatting is beyond me. The terrain here is rougher than anything I can recall riding in the world. The Bolivian Andes come close. I suppose this is why they are called the "rockies". It all makes sense now. 

This photo represents everything that I find appealing about riding mountain bikes. Exposure, unknown, open spaces, adventure. Seriously, would you just look at it..... Dropping of the top of Grays was surreal. Not knowing what is coming, not being able to see the "trail". Into the abyss of chunk. I wouldn't have it any other way. 

We began this route at 3:15, giving ourselves just under 4 hours to do the loop, before darkness. The goal was to summit Greys, and then Torreys, no later than 6. The beauty of starting late is that you don't run into other trail users. This would be far to late if traveling on foot. This is one of the most hiked 14ers in the state and we managed to only encounter about ten people total. It should be noted that everyone we encountered was very pleasant, despite us looking so very out of place, carrying our bikes uphill at 5pm, as they were racing darkness on foot. 

We honestly couldn't have picked a better day, or timed this any better. Standing on the continental divide, devoid of wind, nearing sunset, was an experience I will never forget. Just Ryan and I, and our mountain bikes. No one taking selfies, no one talking loudly and saying "rad" or "epic", just hanging out in the alpine,  on a peak with one of your best friends. I took some photos. No selfies.... 

Just the tips and the moon. I couldn't think of a better way to end fall in the high country. Very thankful for these mountains, in which we recreate.
​Now put your phone down, and go ride your bike!