COLORADO, GHOST-TOWN Exploring + Camp-Out: JULY 25th - 29th 2024

[RCinNC]

Well, I hope your surgery goes well, and you recover quickly.................If you can make it, that would be great.
I'd say just blow-off the surgery and come anyway, but I'm not going to give that kind of advice....................

If it was anything else, I would blow it off for this. Unfortunately, it's one of those "you better do this now rather than later" kind of things.

Hopefully I'll be able to return to Colorado next summer and see some new stuff.

 

[SkunkWorks]

Ghost-Town Ride #1
Friday, July 26th 2024

I'll be easing us into the Weekend with a shorter Ride-Day on Friday.

Have all of your Coffee, Breakfast, and morning "Duties" out of the way, and be preparing to Ride around 10:00am.
Anyone that might be Lodging elsewhere (in Town), be prepared to meet us at the Campground around 10:00am.
Please have your Bikes fueled-up already prior to meeting at Camp.

We will depart the Campground (Kickstands-UP) at 10:30am

Today's Ride will be 80-Miles total, including 30-miles of easy graded-gravel or hard-packed solid Dirt Road.

*I encourage everyone to wear protective Riding-Boots!*
Be aware that we will be walking around while viewing the Sites.
Either wear Boots that you do not mind walking around in, or have a way to carry a spare pair of comfortable footwear for walking.

We will be away from Town for approx 4-5 hours or so, and I do not have a Lunch-Stop scheduled for this day.
There is no place to buy Food along today's route.
I would encourage everyone to pack some snacks or a lunch to bring with you, that we can eat at one of our stops.
Have a way to bring Water with you as well!



Map of today's destinations:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pccAHaBHJRoAYx3g9


Once we leave the Campground we will head East on Rd-306 towards Buena Vista.
We will turn North onto Rd-361 to bypass the majority of the busy part of Town. (this road is paved)
Once we meet back up with Hwy-24, we will continue North until turning West on Rd-390 at Clear Creek Reservoir.
This is where it turns to Dirt/Gravel. this is easy-flat road.

The first Site we come to is the former location of "Beaver City"

Apparently the one Cabin by the road is all that remains of the 20 or so buildings that once stood here.
We'll make a quick stop here.

After this we will continue West until we arrive at a small Parking-Area for the Ghost-Town of "Vicksburg"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicksburg,_Colorado

There is a "Museum" here that may, or may-not be open to the public........
We'll spend about an hour here wandering around.
There is also a Vault Toilet across the road at the Missouri Gulch Trailhead, in case anyone needs to use this.

Next we'll continue to head West to "Crescent Mining Camp", which I have also seen referred to as "Rockdale"
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recarea/?recid=12461

We'll spend maybe a half-hour or so at this location with time to wander around.
The first 2 Cabins are reserve-able by the Forest-Service, and being a Friday will most likely be occupied.
Remind me to tell you a story about this while we are there..................
We can have a snack/lunch break while we are here.

We will continue West from here to the Ghost Town of "Winfield"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winfield,_Colorado


There is also a "Museum" here, which also may or may-not be open to the public?
It's neat to peer into the windows also, of the buildings you can see into.
We'll make a stop at the Cemetery, which is just past the Town, before heading back out the way we came.
Maybe spend 45-minutes to an hour or so wandering around.

I'll attach the GPX files in case anyone wants them.

 

[SkunkWorks]

For the return Ride back to the Campground, we will be taking a slightly different Route.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/gLanwBJP1MsSgzVq6


We'll start by heading back East on the Gravel/Dirt road towards Hwy-24.
We turn South on Hwy-24 until we reach the cutoff at Rd-371.
We'll cross the River here, and turn South on 371. This will be hard-packed Dirt-Road as we follow along the River.
Continuing South, we'll ride through the "Midland Tunnels". A series of three short Tunnels through the Rock, as we head towards Buena Vista.


After we reach Town, we'll make a quick stop for Fuel, before a short Ride over to "Maxwell Schoolhouse"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Park_School


From here, we will Ride back to the Campground.
Those that want to break-away here to head back into Town to eat on their own, or back to their Lodging, are welcome to do so.
I'll be preparing my own Dinner at Camp.
Those that want to prepare their own Meals are welcome to join me!

If the weather is nice, and the Day is still early, I "May" go for a Pavement-Rip just for fun, up over Cottonwood Pass and return to Camp if anyone is interested?

There will be a Campfire for those that want to hang-out after Dinner.
Bring your Beverage-of-Choice.............Adult or otherwise...........

I'll attach the GPX file.

Stay Tuned for Saturday's and Sunday's Rides posting shortly!

 

[SkunkWorks]

Hopefully I'll be able to return to Colorado next summer and see some new stuff.

Give me enough of a Heads-Up, and we can certainly get together if you'd like.

 

[RCinNC]

Give me enough of a Heads-Up, and we can certainly get together if you'd like.

I'll certainly do that.