News from the Colorado Trail Foundation WINTER 2011 Bikepacking (and Hike-A-Biking) the Colorado Trail By Judd Rohwer (Rohwer, of Sandia Park, New Mexico, is a member of that’s NUTS. Back of the Pack Racing, a team of riders that describes But then the wheels started turning. And I’m not itself as “a fundamental movement that supports the talking about the 29 inchers on my Black Sheep single- theory of ‘me against mainstream.’ Our team attempts speed. I started thinking about the adventure, the to do everything the ‘right way,’ but not your way. We glory ... and the risks. I started thinking about the are a group of engineers, pilots, dreamers and UFO mental preparation, the physical training, the gear ... chasers. One thing is certain. If the race is long enough, and the danger. we will catch you – maybe.” What follows is his The challenge of The Colorado Trail seemed so description of his bikepacking adventures last summer massive compared to the usual 24-hour mountain on The Colorado Trail.) bike races that we train and live for at Back of the Pack Racing. But I wanted to face the challenge head on, so I made a commitment to myself and started planning for a 2011 attempt at the CTR. Then reality hit: the reality of a 500-mile self- supported race hit me straight in the face. Racing myself to the edge of exhaustion and beyond didn’t sound like much fun. So, I quickly convinced myself that the best way to experience the CT was to approach the adventure as a self-supported tour, not a race. I wanted to see all the sights in daylight. I wanted to take it “easy” and smell the roses. I wanted to take time to document the CT in the only way I knew how – with a mountain of data and a bit of humor. In other words, I bagged the idea of racing The Colorado Trail. After a year of preparation and a few short bikepacking trips in New Mexico and Arizona, my brother and I believed we were prepared for the adventures unique to The Colorado Trail. We knew what we were getting into, or so we thought. We grew up in Durango in the ’70s and ’80s. We experienced Colorado jeep roads in the summers and lived at the ski areas in the winters. We were prepared for the high altitude, the weather, the terrain. It’s Colorado, right? Nothing new, just a crazy challenge on a single-speed mountain bike. Yeah, right. Nothing new. Well, the initial goal of a two-week end-to-end Bikepacker Judd Rohwer’s brother and trip partner, “The TeddNeck” adventure quickly evolved into a 10-week period (July 1 to Sept. 5) and four adventures on the CT. I logged I first heard about the mother of all more than 700 miles: 300 miles with friends and 400 ultra-endurance mountain bike races, the Colorado miles solo. I traveled every bike-legal mile on the CT at Trail Race (CTR), in 2009. My initial impression ... least once. (For those who don’t know, a bikepacking - CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Tread Lines is the newsletter of The Colorado Trail Foundation. It is published two to three times a year. The Colorado Trail® is 500 miles long in the Rocky Mountains between Denver and Managing Director’s Update Durango. It has been described as one of the Wow, 2011 “Board Chairman Steve Staley of best trails anywhere, one of the most scenic has been a Centennial, CO, told me that thru-hiking and among the best maintained. The Trail is a favorite of enthusiasts who hike, mountain tremendously the trail would be a ‘life-changing experience,’ ” bike and ride horseback. positive Tim says, “and he was right about that.” The Colorado Trail Foundation is a 501(c)(3) year for The Beyond such fully engaged volunteers, and nonprofit corporation funded almost entirely Colorado Trail just as essential, are our CTF donors. These by private sector individuals and companies. Foundation. CT Friends are vital to our continuing efforts Our mission is to keep The Colorado Trail in You’ll read a lot to preserve the trail. Individuals and businesses good condition, maintaining and improving it about the many who contribute, whether $50 or $500, one-time with the help of many volunteers. We recruit aspects of that in or annually, sustain the CTF and enable us to and train volunteers, provide leadership, this newsletter. continue to provide a great trail experience for organize The Colorado Trail (“CT”) work crews, supply and support the crews, and Among the bright spots is the great number thousands of users – hikers, bikers, horse riders manage the Adopt-A-Trail program to of contacts we’ve had this year with CT – each year. accomplish annual maintenance on the entire users who have praised the trail. Some, like One such great supporter is Dan Bereck of Trail. We also conduct week-long supported thru-hikers James “Muleskinner” and Eva Boulder, CO, who has been donating annually treks on the CT and distribute information “Woodrose” Johnson of Englewood, Florida, for several years. Dan is an avid climber who about The Colorado Trail and Trail Crews. have visited our office in Golden to share their has bagged all of Colorado’s fourteeners and We work in cooperation with public agencies excitement. Later, these two wrote, “Dear CT thirteeners. A few years ago, after careful and acknowledge great support from the U.S. folks, thanks for offering up such a magnificent consideration, he chose to become a major Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, trail experience; (it’s) the highest and most CTF donor because he values our work and Rocky Mountain Region. Donations are needed, much appreciated and tax deductible handsome trail we have encountered of more appreciates that the CTF is funded by such a Non-profit ID #84-1057336. than 5,600 miles of backpacking.” broad and numerous base of supporters. This We love to hear this kind of feedback year, Dan became a CTF trail crew volunteer and being able to share it with all of our and even ended up leading the crew when the Board of Directors: CTF Friends, you wonderful volunteers and scheduled leader got sick. Steve Staley, Centennial, supporters. It’s your involvement that makes The CTF is lucky to have such dedicated Chairman The Colorado Trail the gem that it is. supporters, who despite these challenging George Miller, Manitou Springs, In this 38th year, The Colorado Trail economic times, have continued to contribute Vice Chair Foundation remains “Volunteer Driven” and to the Foundation and our trail maintenance. Carol Foster, Estes Park, Treasurer “Donor Supported.” Dedicated CT volunteers The CTF truly appreciates all of our CT Carolyn Burtard, Littleton, assist in a myriad of ways. Among them are Friends. Each year we recognize all those who Secretary the members of our board of directors, whose contribute, either with their time or money or Jack Berryhill, Black Hawk various skills and input are key to the success both. Look for that list in a future mailing. Jerry Brown, Durango of this organization. And again, a big thanks to all. Tim Burroughs, Lakewood Our newest board member is Tim Bill Cartwright, Durango Burroughs of Lakewood, CO, who joined the Dan Cohen, Golden board in February. Tim grew up backpacking Sam Davis, Centennial as a Boy Scout and YMCA camp counselor, Larry Eads, Durango John Lipe, Castle Rock and has continued to hike extensively in the Ernie Norris, Durango Rocky Mountains. After a career in journalism, Ken Swierenga, Parker including 21 years as an editor at the Rocky Ex Officio Members: Mountain News, he was determined to “give Greg Warren, Golden, back” to the outdoors he so loves and agreed USFS Liaison in 2009 to help produce Tread Lines, and later Gudy Gaskill, Golden, to serve on the CTF board. Last summer, at President Emeritus age 63, Tim thru-hiked the CT “to get a closer Staff: look at the entirety of the trail and form a Managing Director: Bill Manning closer bond with this Colorado treasure – and Office Manager: Aimée O’Malley also to fulfill a dream of mine since moving to Colorado in 1986.” Tread Lines: Content: Tim Burroughs, Bill Manning Graphics: Welch Creative Group, Inc. Muleskinner and Woodrose complete their CT thru-hike in Durango What was your favorite segment of the CT? There was no one favorite over the other. They were all different, and all good. Your crew made it easy to follow and we enjoyed every step! Thanks for a great trail. 710 10th St., Room 210 DALE TALLMADGE Golden, CO 80401 DILLON, COLORADO Phone: 303-384-3729 (24-hour voice mail) Email: [email protected] www.ColoradoTrail.org - CONTINUED FROM THE COVER tour of the CT requires five detours around wilderness areas, • Know where the water is. Some sections have water at every where bikes aren’t allowed.) I documented each adventure with turn. Other sections are COMPLETELY dry. And if you words, data, pictures and videos. And the more I think about find a small stream in July, it will likely be dry in late August each day of each adventure, the more I want to do it again. or early September. I learned many lessons. Some were learned the easy way, some • Don’t be in a rush. Take it all in. And make sure you have a the hard way. Some lessons were humorous, some serious. It’s big memory card for your digital camera. the experiences that produce the lessons and the lessons that • Enjoy the isolation because you will be alone for most of the define the experiences.