Day 3 (Tuesday): Sylvan Lake to Mirror Lake
Sylvan Lake: 8,510'
Mileage: 164
We got a decent start today. After coffee and breakfast we were loaded and ready around 8:30. This was a good day with four passes (Crooked Creek Pass, Hagerman Pass, Weston Pass and Cottonwood Pass) and some beautiful areas. Leaving Sylvan Lake through the White River National Forest and over Crooked Creek Pass was probably the prettiest section of the day with nice off-road tracks with great scenery.
Mileage: 164
We got a decent start today. After coffee and breakfast we were loaded and ready around 8:30. This was a good day with four passes (Crooked Creek Pass, Hagerman Pass, Weston Pass and Cottonwood Pass) and some beautiful areas. Leaving Sylvan Lake through the White River National Forest and over Crooked Creek Pass was probably the prettiest section of the day with nice off-road tracks with great scenery.
Still following the Continental Divide, Hagerman Pass was the next pass up. The cliff side road leading up to the pass was pretty cool. There were several decent campsites along the way. As you head up past Ivanhoe Lake things get just a bit spicy with fully loaded bikes. I imagine this would be handful on 1,000 cc bikes loaded down. When you reach the top at just under 12,000' things mellow out before ramping up again as you head back down. We passed a Honda Pilot that was stranded with two flat tires - Not a place I would want to take my Honda Pilot.
When we got down to the trailhead parking we met an older fella on a GS 1200 that had to get help from some Jeeps to get his bike turned around and pointed back down the pass after trying to go up northbound. He looked pretty spent. Probably a good call on his part to abort. Once off the pass and near Turquoise Lake Jim and I stopped for a snack as waited for Shannon and Bob to regroup.
When we got down to the trailhead parking we met an older fella on a GS 1200 that had to get help from some Jeeps to get his bike turned around and pointed back down the pass after trying to go up northbound. He looked pretty spent. Probably a good call on his part to abort. Once off the pass and near Turquoise Lake Jim and I stopped for a snack as waited for Shannon and Bob to regroup.
We leave the White River National Forest and skirt Turquoise Lake moving south just west of Leadville. We are in route to pass number three, Weston Pass, again just under 12,000'. We go through San Isabel National Forest and Pike National Forest as we cross the pass. The road up Weston Pass was rough but nothing challenging. The water breaks could get you if you're not paying attention though.
It was very windy at the top of the pass and cold. We didn't linger long before moving on. We passed a lot of of cabins but either they weren't accessible or I didn't take the time to stop. But, dropping off the top of Weston Pass there was one right off the road. Finally, one close enough to check out. I still respected the no trespassing warning but at least it was close enough to check out.
It was very windy at the top of the pass and cold. We didn't linger long before moving on. We passed a lot of of cabins but either they weren't accessible or I didn't take the time to stop. But, dropping off the top of Weston Pass there was one right off the road. Finally, one close enough to check out. I still respected the no trespassing warning but at least it was close enough to check out.
There was another road closure reported on the route due to a washout. This had also reported as having just reopened as we came out. However, the reroute I had mapped out was a good road and would save some time. It was agreed that we should take the more direct and expedient route. This was a fun section as we snaked through some open areas and then up through the forests before dropping down out of the Pike National Forest to US 285 near Buena Vista. As we sat waiting on Bob poised to buzz down the road it started to sprinkle rain. The planned route had us run down the road and then back into the San Isabel National Forest. After studying the map while we waited we decided to stay on US 285 and run it straight into Buena Vista.
In Buena Vista we fueled up and grabbed some water and snacks and had a look at the rest of the track to Mirror Lake. It was a little over an hour over Cottonwood Pass to Mirror Lake. Shannon had decided he didn't want to camp and would rather get a hotel. But, the rest of us wanted to camp. Since Mirror Lake wasn't fare from Buena Vista and easy enough to navigate we made the unusual call to split up and rendezvous in the morning. Shannon went in search of a hotel and we headed for Cottonwood Pass, still on the Continental Divide.
Cottonwood Pass sits a bit over 12,000' and was just recently paved (2019). Probably a dream for big bikes, road bikes and cars. But, I'd prefer it was still unpaved. Being paved makes it easy. Easy makes it crowded. There was quite a few people at the top and people waiting for their picture to be taken in front of the sign. We snapped a few pics of our own and the headed down into Gunnison National Forest toward Taylor Park Reservoir.
Cottonwood Pass sits a bit over 12,000' and was just recently paved (2019). Probably a dream for big bikes, road bikes and cars. But, I'd prefer it was still unpaved. Being paved makes it easy. Easy makes it crowded. There was quite a few people at the top and people waiting for their picture to be taken in front of the sign. We snapped a few pics of our own and the headed down into Gunnison National Forest toward Taylor Park Reservoir.
In Tin Cup we made a left out of town and headed for Mirror Lake for what we expected to be a prime campsite. However, we were a bit apprehensive as Mirror lake sits at 11,000' and three flatlanders camping at that elevation can be iffy.
We got to Mirror Lake a few miles out of Tin Cup and laid claim to a couple of campsites. We set up camp and started fixing dinner. As we unpacked Jim found that one of the cans of Skyline chili and popped a leak in his bag. Fortunately, it was only a small leak but, the odds went in Jim's favor for attracting bears.
The back story to the chili is that the lady we made reservations with in Almont for later in the trip asked that we bring her some Cincinnati chili...Jim give it an honest go but she was not going to get her chili. But, the couple camping nearby was going to get to try Cincinnati chili for the first time.
Mirror Lake did not disappoint. It was cool campsite with a great view of the lake.
We got to Mirror Lake a few miles out of Tin Cup and laid claim to a couple of campsites. We set up camp and started fixing dinner. As we unpacked Jim found that one of the cans of Skyline chili and popped a leak in his bag. Fortunately, it was only a small leak but, the odds went in Jim's favor for attracting bears.
The back story to the chili is that the lady we made reservations with in Almont for later in the trip asked that we bring her some Cincinnati chili...Jim give it an honest go but she was not going to get her chili. But, the couple camping nearby was going to get to try Cincinnati chili for the first time.
Mirror Lake did not disappoint. It was cool campsite with a great view of the lake.