It's actually a nod to "the rest" of the riding in Durango that I've never done the Highline Loop. Generally, the rides which make up our Durango High Country tour are so good, the season so short, we have to "make hay while the sun is shining" and rep those beautiful routes as often as possible.
Well, we finally took a day off from the standard routes and made our attempt at the Highline Loop. Myself, Lisa, KP and Dr. Siggins packed a lot of food, water and raingear and set off. The Highline Loop can start from any of a few points I suppose, but we started from Kennebec Pass after dropping off a Hermosa Tours shuttle. Our route: short section of the Colorado Trail, turn and climb on Sharkstooth Trail, descend Sharkstooth to Upper Bear Creek/Highline, start a massive grind up Grindstone Trail, rejoin the Colorado Trail and traverse over the daunting Indian Trail Ridge and finally back to Kennebec Pass. Phew!
Without further delay, the photos....
Lisa and KP climbing the scree and talus to what I call Fall Gulch Pass....
Dr. Siggins and KP on the pass checking our whereabouts....
Sharkstooth Peak in the distance....
Lisa and Ryan spend some time trailside jiggering some cleat shims....
Lisa and Siggins blazing down Upper Bear Creek...
A rest on Grindstone Trail...
Dr. Siggins continues the slog up Grindstone Trail...
Finally we rejoin the Colorado Trail. I downed a ridiculous amount of these Honey Stinger chews....
Home stretch high atop Indian Trail Ridge....
One of my favorite perspectives on Indian Trail Ridge....
Taylor Lake far below and we're pretty much done....
I can safely say this was the burliest 17-19 mile I have EVER completed. Remote, gorgeous, challenging....everything I ask from a true mountain bike ride...
Is it better to climb the Bear Creek drainage and go South to North on the ridge and then drop down Grindstone? We were going to approach from the Delores side up the Bear Creek Trail and make it a lolipop loop... let us know! And great shots by the way, thanks for the "recon"!!!
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