Deer Creek Trail

Today's ride was the Deer Creek Trail loop, aka as the ride that almost killed the meeker madness. We had not done this ride the past two years, only about 8 years ago with our buddy Chris Meeker on our second big trip out west. It begins up Brush Creek, following that road up about 5 miles or so as it starts very level and very passable to quite steep and only suitable for high clearance jeeps. It winds up through a very beautiful open meadow valley eventually finding single track and heading up the deer creek valley.

The first mile, while steep was rideable and still somewhat enjoyable. The next half mile pretty much sucked as it was a hike a bike up through aspen finally topping out at a saddle point at 10,600 feet, starting at 8600 feet with a 200 foot up an down in there. Basically the ride went around Mt Crested Butte, and this vista was of the ski village we eventually make it back down to. The deer flies were terrible so we didn't stick around along. Down then up then down then up we went, more down than up for a few miles with views like this




we wound our way down through aspen and fields of wild flowers and 10 miles after we hit the single track we popped out on Gothic road, just below the town. A car had just pulled up and one to the occupants asked if it was OK to park there. We said sure, but don't trust us. He noticed my NMBA jersey and said he had just road the tues and wed evening group rides in State College last week. We talked a bit more then were on our way, heading down, actually up, the road to Mount Crested Butte where we picked up Upper Trail, then Upper Upper trail, which took us back to Brush Creek Road and the waiting beast. We didn't expect quite the amount of climbing in this section, a good 400 feet but it was all good.
Total of about 25 miles, 4.5 hours or so and something in the neighborhood of 4000 feet of climbing.