Colorado's 12000ft Rocky Mountain Passes

Its just incredible riding through the Rockies here by Ouray. 

Literally straight out of town, you can be at 3500m in just a few kilometres via steep, narrow, rocky, 4wd trails through pine forests with their numerous water crossings, before emerging into the exposed alpine environment that is the Rocky Mountains.

This is a map I pulled off the net, showing the 'Alpine Loop', accessible after snowmelt and before snowfall (high summer only) by all wheel drive vehicles between the towns of Ouray, Silverton and Telluride.

The Alpine Loop falls on Colorado's 'Back Country Discovery Route', a 1000km, north to south route of dirt trails through the state. This is currently the route Kevin and I are taking north.

Heading up Imogene Pass (lots of water!). We didn't actually make the pass, as my bike, being Darby crapped itself about 3000m. I dogged it to 3200m with it cutting out (it couldn't breathe!) as im clutching it in first until I decided it was just too dangerous and best to turn around and re-use that jet I still have from my time in the high Andes.

Coming up Corkscrew Pass with our new friend John (from the whisky\gin distillery in Ouray - great local whisky BTW) who came out riding for the day with us (and by that, I mean 'who showed us the trails for the day').

Hurricane Pass, still good weather!

Hurricane to California Passes (clouds rolling in).

Heading to Animas Forkes towards Silverton off the California pass.

We got wet just after that cool little ghost-mine town. Coming into Silverton, we caught the usual afternoon storm which saw torrents of water running down the streets and us rushing into the nearest restaurant dripping wet.

Taking the million dollar highway back to Ouray after lunch was pretty interesting to say the least, with its famed steep drop offs into the ravine below.

Black Bear Pass, a second day ride via the million dollar highway for lunch over at Telluride.

Coming off Black Bear towards Telluride was pretty rough in one spot in particular, a section of rock steps covered in loose gravel with a huge drop off to one side.. Suffice to say, we aced it like pros ;)

Heading up Ophir pass now from Telluride, which was mid afternoon, a bit drizzly for us, then back again to Ouray via the million dollar highway.

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Leaving Ouray was a sad day, but onwards as always and we took the now fully loaded up bikes back AGAIN down the million dollar highway to Silverton and Animas Forkes to pick up Colorado's Back Country Discovery Trail heading out over Cinnamon Pass.