Great Divide (NOBO) - Day #15 Breckinridge, CO to Kremmling, CO

June 27, 2022

Great Divide (NOBO) - Day #15

June 10, 2022

Breckinridge, CO to Kremmling, CO - 72 Miles

Start 9:03 AM Finish 4:26 PM

Total Duration 7:23

Moving Time 6:13

Stopped Time 1:10

Ascent 2,713 Feet

Descent 4,957 Feet

Tour Total 1,062 Miles

Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/92911429

I slept great in room 4317 at the Village Lodge in Breckenridge. I had forgotten to close both curtains last night and woke up with the sun blasting in at 7 AM. I took a look at the Tour Divide Race which had started at 7 AM, and I reached out to TransAm buddy Steve, who would be beginning his NOBO tour today in Antelope Wells. I folded up my dry tent and sleeping bag, cleaned my water filter, and inspected my rack bolts, which were fine. My body was sore from the past two days.

I rode the gorgeous bike trail out of Breckinridge along the Blue River down to Frisco. I had been on this path in 2018 on the TransAm, and managed to get lost on several forks. I was wearing my cycling shorts and short sleeve shirt, and had skipped sunscreen today. The sun was strong and the air was cool. I tried to have breakfast in Frisco, but the service was horrible. I’m used to New York City restaurants, and the slow service out here can often be frustrating. I rode around the Dillon reservoir, which seemed low, and then I dipped down into Silverthorne. I stopped at Timberline Craft Kitchen for breakfast and ordered the Buffalo Mountain breakfast with a lemonade.

I was still riding on a bike path along the Blue River, where I met northbound divide cyclist Ryder, from Santa Fe, NM. He had started in Horca, and had taken yesterday off in Breckenridge. We rode north together on State Highway 9 against a headwind. We eventually took a right on Ute Pass road, which was also asphalt. We would be riding around the Williams Fork Mountain Range. We met southbound divide cyclist Kevin who warned us that the climb ahead was a bitch. He also told us that there would be a trail angel with a cooler full of water mid-ride. The hill was steep and we took a water break. The snow-capped mountain views to the west were breathtaking.

We eventually reached the top of 9,524’ Ute Pass, and sped down the other side. We were shocked to come upon the enormous Henderson Mills mining operation, a molybdenum mine. It was a large scar on the pristine landscape and seemed out of place. Conveyer belts went for miles up into the valley and the large drainage pipes near the road smelled toxic. Down below in the valley was a large lifeless tailing pond, supported by a half mile long earthen dam.

The asphalt ended after Henderson Mills, and we found ourselves on gravel. Homes and small ranches soon appeared, along with cattle grazing on open range. We eventually came to Steve the trail angel with his large cooler full of bottled water. He’s been providing water to divide cyclists for years, and said that he’d like to ride the route some day. He was excited about the racers who would be coming through in a week or so. We came to a herd of cattle that were lying in the grass to both sides of the road. Clouds had moved in and the temperature was comfortable. The grass and scrub were lush green. I was noticing a lot of dandelions in addition to other colorful wildflowers.

We came to Williams Fork Reservoir, where people were fishing. We rode around the reservoir and had a strong headwind as we neared Kremmling. We eventually rejoined highway 9 and took a right going north, and crossed the Colorado River. I'd been to Kremmling in 2018 with Eileeny Beenie and Scotty on the TransAm. Ryder and I said our goodbyes at a Kum & Go. He would be continuing on today to Radium. I headed to Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant, where I had gone in 2018. I ordered a strawberry margarita, a few Dox Equis, and the enchiladas suizas. My plan was to sleep in the very same picnic pavilion as 2018, but this time not get doused by the lawn sprinklers.