The Missionary Ridge Fire was the area's largest in the summer of 2002,
around 80,000 acres.
It closed the area until 2004, when some trails began to reopen, this
year everything is open. This was a solo ride, as many of mine are, it
was hot for the area, with little relief from the sun.
On a dirt road climb, a well burnt tree stands in defiance of the seasons.
http://www.brainstorm-media.com/users/brossman/pics/MissionaryRidge/OneBurntTree.JPG
Eventually, I turned off on a lesser used road past Wallace Lake.
http://www.brainstorm-media.com/users/brossman/pics/MissionaryRidge/WallaceLake.JPG
This started the hard part of the climb, and access to single track. The
trail was generally rocky and hardpack, but full of elk, steer and horse
footprints. This tends to make for difficult climbing, even when the
grade is not very steep. Not everything was burned.
http://www.brainstorm-media.com/users/brossman/pics/MissionaryRidge/downTheTrail.JPG
but plenty was.
http://www.brainstorm-media.com/users/brossman/pics/MissionaryRidge/TwoBurntTrees.JPG
When you hear that 80,000 acres burned, you imagine totally scortched
earth as far as the eye can see, but that is not usually the case. I was
in the middle of the burn area, and there were plenty of spots that were
not touched at all. I hope these become aspen groves, similar to these
that did not make it.
http://www.brainstorm-media.com/users/brossman/pics/MissionaryRidge/ColorfulBurntTrees.JPG
My pictures suck, I wish you could get the sense of different shades of
brown in these trees.
One more for Pete, as I topped out near 10,000 feet.
http://www.brainstorm-media.com/users/brossman/pics/MissionaryRidge/SaltParked.JPG
It was around 3,300 feet of climbing over 11.5 miles, with a loose
descent of 9 miles to 6,700 feet. I had a full camelback with 100oz, and
used it all, much to my suprise as I stopped for a swig during the
descent. It must have been very hot, because I don't normally drink that
much.
Missionary Ridge has many great trails, including Haflin Creek. It gets
very few riders, perhaps because of its status over the past couple of
years. The climbing is not all that hard, and 10K is about the highest
point. Riding from the Missionary Ridge Road side is probably not a must
do if you have not ridden in the area before, the trail is just plain
rough. But Haflin Creek is, if you like sketchy, long downhills, with a
few hard technical spots, high penalty, and lots of walking when you or
your bike breaks.
--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado
"Anyone who isn't confused really doesn't understand the situation."
Edward R. Murrow