Pedaling from Durango to Moab - Day 1

August 10th

Route: Little Molas lake to Bolam Pass Hut (via the Colorado Trail)
Mileage: ~20 miles
Elevation gain: ~3,800 Ft.
Mechanical: (1) flat
Medical: (1) dislocated shoulder
Lost riders: 2

All shiny at the start of the ride

"Fellas, we've had some luck today, and not all of it has been good......". That's how Brice summed up day 1. At the time is was after 7 p.m., we were all tired from a long day, and 2 of our team were still out (presumably on/near the trail). But I am getting ahead of myself......
The start of the ride was at Little Molas Lake trailhead (10,900 ft.) which got us onto the Colorado Trail. Single tack through spectacular alpine terrain - YEE DAWGIES UNCLE JED!

Bob-O!

For the first 4 miles it was PERFECT. Then John got a flat (no biggie), and shortly thereafter I stepped off my bike at a place where there was NO TRAIL and tumbled down the slope a ways - DOH! At some point my shoulder got itself dislocated (tumbling can do that.....). Since it had happened before, I knew how to reduce it (put it back in) myself, and as soon as I knew what had happened, I did just that. Nothing else (including the bike) seemed too worse for the adventure, so I decided to keep going. Hopefully the rest of the day would go better!

It's only funny until someone gets hurt....

We made some good progress until a thunderstorm chased us all into the bushes for cover - time for another stop.

Jason wondering what he has got himself into

Off and on rain would be constant companion for the rest of the day, but the lightning stayed a safe distance away. And the scenery was pretty swell.

Nearing Rolling Pass (12,600 ft.)

Abundant flowing water on the route

Streams were crossed

John putting game face on for the final climb

After Rolling Pass, we thought we would just downhill our way to the hut (a better review of the map revealed that we still had some climbing to do....). We all pushed hard, but this 20 miles was talking a long time! After a last minute navigation challenge, four of us were at the Bolam Pass hut around 5:00.

view right before the hut

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Bolam Pass Hut

Food-o-plenty

By 7:00 the other guys were still out, and we were starting to get a bit concerned and started talking about what we would do if they didn't show up before morning. When they finally arrived around 8:00 p.m., they fessed up that they had taken a wrong turn and had to back track a bit to remedy the error.

So as Day 1 ended, we were all safe and sound in the hut and a little wiser about what it would take to get through the rest of the trip without anymore mishaps. Doesn't mean we would act on what we had learned - but at least we knew better now!

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