37: Buffalo Pass
First day of the second half of my ride. Spent all day yesterday in Steamboat Springs. The bike got a full overhaul, and I even managed to get my front wheel relaced. With a few new parts (tires, brakes, drivetrain) and all the tender bits (e.g. hubs) cleaned and greased, I hit the trail this morning (after multiple breakfasts and multiple rounds of coffee) with a bike as dialed as it has ever been so far this trip.
I enjoyed the climb up to Buffalo Pass immensely, both for the aspens and foliage already showing some fall colors, and for the nicest trails I’ve ridden on the route. Steamboat’s purpose built mountain bike trails winding through glades of aspens and thickets of thimbleberry bushes is about as good as it gets!
The section from Buffalo Pass to Rabbit Ears pass was a mix of double track and some really nice singletrack. There’s a bit of a gap in the CDT where it crosses into the Rabbit Ears Range necessitating some road riding and making for quick, easy miles. After some of the extremely seldom traveled trail in Montana and Idaho, I’m anticipating enjoying being on well traveled trails through much of Colorado.
