Again just before 2 I headed out, this time thinking of reaching San Isabel Trailhead. It’s the next big creek north of N Crestone Creek and, along with up to about 11000 feet (and that’s as far as I’ve ever walked of it folks) of Willow Lake Trail, are the only bike legal trails that go way up high.

The routes from here to San Isabel Trailhead all involve miles of soft sand in summer. With the right amount of snow – like now – they transform into legit fun.

Going up the fluff is tuff; save for the last climb to the trailhead itself, the roads had been driven over plenty since the last snow which made climbing physiologically possible; I walked often going up in unpacked snow.

The combo of the snow and the sections without which were either rocky or sloppy sand made any degree of a descent justify the climb and then when there was a turn too holy smokes it got positively spicy.

Hands were ok today. All the hike a bike in the snow did make my toes cold though. 😕 82 flights. Supposedly in the low 30s.