Adventure Catalyst : Colorado Trail

Words: Dylan Stucki
Photos: Dylan Stucki | Ben Kraushaar

Going in search of the things in life worth enduring, two good friends and I departed on the Colorado Trail. With no real expectations, and a vague outline of what we assumed would be possible, we set out on the trail with really only one goal; to ride our mountain bikes from Denver to Durango.

Surely the traditional, jaded bike packer will scoff at this adventure, likely out of jealousy, but regardless we chose a different approach than most. Nellie, our 1989 Lazy Daze RV met us at the end of each day along with her driver and expert coffee-presser/chef-du-camper, Barry. We carried the essentials for a long day in the vast Colorado mountains, accompanied by our plush, 6-inch travel trail weapons, allowing us to fully experience the rough backcountry terrain.

Over the following 12 days, we endured some of the hardest and most rewarding riding we had ever seen. Record rainfall in Colorado this summer changed the dynamic of this ride, really testing our determination and preparedness. Hours of short breaths spent battling the ice-cold rain and fog were rewarded with some of the most exhilarating singletrack descents in the world.

341.3 miles of remote Colorado singletrack featuring 50,722’ of climbing and descending was our catalyst for adventure, bringing a fresh perspective and a new appreciation for our own backyard.