The Pearl Pass Tour with a 1986 Cunningham
The 36th edition of the Pearl Pass Tour, a 39 mile ride from Crested Butte to Aspen, was held on Saturday, September 8, 2012. The weather was perfect, with unseasonably early fall colors. The goal of this ride was to pilot one of Charlie Cunningham's personal bikes, 1986 Cunningham #CBC, over challenging terrain without crashing and putting a dent in this special beauty.
Arriving in Crested Butte on Friday afternoon, there was enough time to get settled and head out for a ride up and over Paradise Divide. This dirt-road ride offers spectacular views. At 28 miles with 3,650 feet of climbing it is a nice warm up for the next two days of strenuous riding. Of course, the sun was starting to set. A look up toward the Divide,
Arriving in Crested Butte on Friday afternoon, there was enough time to get settled and head out for a ride up and over Paradise Divide. This dirt-road ride offers spectacular views. At 28 miles with 3,650 feet of climbing it is a nice warm up for the next two days of strenuous riding. Of course, the sun was starting to set. A look up toward the Divide,
The terrain had plenty of steep climbs with amazing views,
At the Divide and looking down at the road connecting to Schofield Pass and the start of the popular Trail 401 ride.
Once over Schofield, one is treated to amazing sunset views in the Gothic valley.
Saturday morning saw just 9 riders toe the line in front of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame on Elk Avenue. Everyone knew it was going to be a perfect day, with no threats of thunderstorms or winter weather.
At the junction of Middel and East Brush Creek, the bike was handling the moderate terrain with ease.
But the reality was that this ride was no cake-walk, especially as it went farther up. The leader of this ride, the legendary Don Cook (1989 Hall of Fame inductee), was cleaning this on a modern bike optimized for this type of riding.
Turning back gave a nice view of Cumberland Basin,
A perfect vista for a photo, with the Pearl Pass summit off in the background to the left. The bikes represent a 25 year span of mountain bike technology.
At the summit with Castle Peak in the background.
A look up and down the road on the way down. This is a road? Bigger tires were put on the bike with this section of the route in mind.
A view back at Pearl Pass on the Aspen side.
Heading down.
At some point the creek and the road become one, which is a wise section to walk.
The fall colors were out in full on the Aspen side. Brilliant.
Once down in Aspen, the obligatory shot of the bike after completion of the ride. The Hotel Jerome was closed this year for renovations, so the celebratory beer at the bar will have to wait for next year.
Sunday morning saw just two people heading back over to Crested Butte by bike, taking an amazing and more strenuous route up to Taylor pass, a traverse to the Crystal Saddle, and an amazing singletrack descent down East Brush Creek.
The climb up Express Creek Road was beautiful but plenty tough.
The climb up Express Creek Road was beautiful but plenty tough.
Photo by Don Cook
Photo by Don Cook
Taylor Pass summit at about 12,000 feet,
Approaching the Crystal Saddle on a trail that Don Cook built in 1983.
Photo by Don Cook
Photo by Don Cook
Photo by Don Cook
Photo by Don Cook
On the Crystal Saddle looking back into Taylor Park.
The beautiful singletrack descent of East Brush Creek.
Some fall colors and the end of a beautiful weekend of riding.
Photo by Don Cook
Photo by Don Cook
Photo by Don Cook