ColoradoTrail Bikepacking part 2 de 3 (BuenaVista - Silverton)

Colorado Trail infos of interest in part 1

Segment 13:
Strongly hard segment with rocky hills. Before finishing the segment we pass through a spa resort with thermal waters (super with few things and luxury hotel restaurant).

Segment 14:
Strong climb with stones, dragging a lot of space and a very dry atmosphere (they are chalk mountains, plaster mountains). Long segment up and down very entertaining and stony, many pieces on foot. At the end we cross the road and we can turn aside if we want to a village called Garfield that is 4 miles on the rise (we have no morale).

Segment 15:
The first track and path is very hands-on flat, but it goes away complicating in a long climb, to end up with a very strong climb up to the Marshall Pass.

Segment 16:
First good panoramic views. Continue on a hard stretch, a lot of stone and finish cycling to the Sargeants Mesa (very inhospitable plateau).

Segment 17:
Very hard segment, constant up and down through the forest, rock climbing and downhill, little cyclable, few views. For me one of the ugly segments of the trail.
Here, I say farewell to an Alabama biker with whom we have agreed for 3 segments and we had dinner and thermal blankets because I spent the night at the Sargeants Mesa. He picks up his wife and brings us a few envelopes of lyophilized, bars, bread and cheese, many thanks JC.

Segment 18:
Pleasant piece, in general, until the variant to avoid La Garita Wilderness area. Night in half.

Variant La Garita:
Long 80km crossing through large plains with some ranch and good tracks. Beautiful landscapes and two long climbs. We cross with enough motards and quads but no service available. We sleep before finishing the variant in an abandoned recreational area. Continue along a long road to the junction with the trail. From the place where we sleep we have the town of Lake City but we have to divert 9 miles and 500 meters down the road (we have no moral to go there).

Segment 22:
Segment for large tables (plateaus) that seem flat but rise up and some pieces with quite enchanting stones. That yes, fantastic views. Long pieces by dragging the bike and other bucolic ones. At the end we pass through the highest point of the Colorado trail (highest point 4045m) with a very hard rock climb.
The segment with a steep descent ends, arriving at Carson Saddle, which is a neck with remains of mines and landscapes very curious for the colors of the terrain. Night in the valley that follows the segment, in a bucolic balcony over the valley where we see deer, marmots, mice and Mooses.

Segment 23:
Very long and clear segment with fantastic landscapes and views but with all the climbing pieces, almost dragging the bike, endless trails that are endless. At the end of the segment we reach the track at the Stony Pass where we already contacted civilization, full of quads and motorcycles. Here is another variant to avoid Weminuche Wilderness Area.

Variant Weminuche:
Very strong downhill track with a lot of dust and quads and terrain traffic since we have the town of Silverton very close. Town with all kinds of very picturesque and tourist services, the home of the famous ultratrail race Hardrock 100 and full of quads and 4x4. Night in motel, showers, dinner and food ressuply (very grateful recovery after 6 days without going through any town).

Continue to review part 3