Day 21: A Little Bit of Cow Bell

Friday, July 9

Brush Mountain Lodge to Sarvis Creek, CO

67.2 miles, 4213 ft climbed, 1370.50 cumulative miles

Kirsten at Brush Mountain Lodge filled our bellies and sent us off with hugs and some cow bell. Aspen, wildflowers, lush green meadows were a pleasant change from the dry hot land we have enjoyed for the last few days. It was still hot though and no body part goes without sweating. Climbing over Mendon Peak occupied our morning with a hike a bike over the top. It was rutted and covered with loose rock but three hours over the top went by fast. We had a long rewarding descent although wishing that we were on full suspension bikes and stopped to rest our hands a couple times from braking too much. Then gravel got hard packed which was so exciting that we did our pavement dance/butt wiggle on the bike. We continued down down down into a wonderful valley, homes scattered throughout and cattle ranching turned to horse ranching. The Clark Store provided some refreshments and sorting out a bike shop visit and then we booked it on pavement to Steamboat Springs. Steamboat can be summarized by words starting with the letter B: bike shop, brewery, burritos (one for now and another one for tomorrow). 

With around 50 miles on the day, we decided to add some more miles and took the bike path along the river out of town with a plan to wild camp in the next 20 miles or so. We found the Sarvis Creek area within sixteen miles of Steamboat and although camping there was only allowed during hunting season - who knows when hunting season is! 

The creek provided a refreshing splash  shower and tents were up with us in them well before dark. We discussed camping options for tomorrow and further investigation of the reroute due to the fire near Lynx Pass. 

Published July 10, 2021