The Final Crossing of Colorado's Continental Divide

A group of kindred mountain bikers set out for one last bikepacking trip before weather turned

The Final Crossing of Colorado's Continental Divide

Author

Thomas Woodson

Photographer

Thomas Woodson

Though winter in Colorado started late this year, it eventually did arrive. And with it came an end to another great season of trails. But before snow blanked the Front Range, a group of local mountain bikers, united by the local Yeti Cycles community and a shared love for riding in big mountains, found time to make the final crossing—a yearly pilgrimage across the Continental Divide from tiny town of Nederland to Winter Park, Colorado.

Night one of this two night bikepacking trip ended in the Guinn Mountain Hut. Nestled between the James Peak Wilderness and Indian Peaks Wilderness, it’s high in elevation and can summon some full on weather without warning.

Thomas-Woodson-DivideRide-14

It goes without saying that I wasn’t surprised when I opened my eyes, unzipped my sleeping bag, and saw a good two inches of snow outside on my bike. With more blowing in sideways…

Even still, up and over the Continental Divide we pushed, crossing at Rollins Pass, which we then followed all the way down to the bike park for a day of lift laps as Winter Park neared the end of it’s summer season.

Thomas-Woodson-DivideRide-7

Thomas-Woodson-DivideRide-9

Thomas-Woodson-DivideRide-8

Thomas-Woodson-DivideRide-6

Thomas-Woodson-DivideRide-5

As these things go, night two is all about sneaking as many people as possible into one cheap hotel room, stocking up at the resort’s liquor store, and fully preparing for day three’s mega ride to come. Winter Park to Boulder.

Riding home could be fairly direct, but where’s the fun in that? Our group had a diverse blend of trail knowledge and experience so we set about navigating a spiderweb of unmarked trails, whose names I’ve already forgotten, here, there and everywhere in an all out race to make it down by sunset.

Delirious, we sat at the local Nepalese restaurant. Our fleet of turquoise bikes were piled up against the fence, bikepacking bags still hanging on, and elusive dark mud decorating our frames. Just like the year before, we laughed at the absurdities of the three days, and started dreaming about next year’s Final Crossing.

Thomas-Woodson-DivideRide-2

Related articles
Battling Wind, Rain & Ego While Bikepacking Through Iceland's Westfjords
Battling Wind, Rain & Ego While Bikepacking Through Iceland's Westfjords

Four friends pedal 650 miles around a rugged, rain-soaked island to discover epic vistas and the pains of overconfidence in an unforgiving landscape

How Biking From Brooklyn to Boston Helped Me Find Joy Through Pain
How Biking from Brooklyn to Boston Helped Me Find Joy Through Pain

Reflecting on a 290-mile impromptu bikepacking trip where themes discomfort, kindness, and acceptance prevailed (alongside good food)

Rapha's New Photo Book Goes Inside Lachlan Morton's Alt Tour de France
New Photo Book Goes Inside Pro Cyclist Lachlan Morton's Epic Alt Tour de France

The inside story on how, instead of riding with the rest of the pros, Lachlan Morton bikepacked the entire 2021 Tour route by himself

Specialized & Fjällräven Collab on Gear for Everyday Bike Adventures
Specialized x Fjällräven's Gear and Apparel for Cycling Adventures Near and Far

The Californian and Swedish brands are building a collection for everyday two-wheel adventures they call “The Great Nearby”

Specialized's Turbo Creo Electric Lineup Makes Adventure More Accessible
Go Further, Faster, and With Less Effort With Specialized's Turbo Creo E-bikes

With power to assist up to 120 miles, the innovative Turbo Creo SL & Turbo Creo SL EVO e-road bikes help you go farther, faster, and have more fun in the process

Snow Peak x Rapha, Adventure Cycling's Most Minimal Collaboration
Snow Peak and Rapha Release Adventure Cycling's Most Minimal Collaboration

Two leading outfitters come together for one three-piece titanium collection geared at bikepacking, or just every day use

More articles
The Final Crossing of Colorado's Continental Divide

Gallery Mode

Photographer

Thomas Woodson

Back to article