MOUNTAIN BIKING MT. ELBERT
AN ENDURO BRO’S DREAM?
By Jason Sommerville
When I think Leadville mountain biking, the Leadville 100 and the Colorado Trail come to mind. As an enduro bro, not really my cup of tea. I recently learned Mt. Elbert, the highest mountain in Colorado, is mountain bike-able. Big up, big down. An enduro bro’s dream. I had to go check it out and see if there is enduro in Leadville after all.
PREP:
I’ve hiked a few 14ers but never biked one. I had to put some thinking into water, food, and clothing. For water I packed 2.5 liters in my pack and a 24 oz bottle of Skratch Labs Hydration Mix on my bike. For nutrition I brought two Honey Stinger Waffles, two Honey Stinger Energy Chews, and some beef jerky. I wore a long sleeve jersey, shell shorts, and bibs. I also threw in knee pads and a light rain jacket in my pack. For early August, this seemed to be ideal as the weather can change quickly. (Always make sure to check the weather before heading into the alpine!)
THE CLIMB:
Starting at 5 a.m. to beat any potential bad weather, I began the climb. From the South Mt. Elbert Trailhead lower lot, I climbed the Colorado Trail Section 8 for about three miles, which was mellow and easy. A great warmup. Once at the South Mt. Elbert Trail, the real climb began. Below tree line, the climb was sustained but never too steep. A few sections with steps required hike-a-bike, but the first 2 miles were mostly in the saddle.
Once above tree line, things started to get more hikey. A meadow made up the next mile of the climb, which was about 85% rideable due to a few big steps and steep grades. The last two miles were made up of rock steps, scree and loose dirt on a steep pitch. I walked about 80% of this. A better climber could’ve likely ridden more of this. Don’t let this last section discourage you, my total time to the top was about 3 hours and 45 minutes, much faster than I anticipated.
AT THE TOP:
The reactions from hikers were the best part. I do not consider myself a great climber or crazy advanced rider, but hikers thought I was insane. I got a real kick out of that. The views are amazing in every direction. Mount of The Holy Cross and Mt. Massive to the north, Aspen and Maroon Bells to the west, the Collegiate Peaks to the south, and Pikes Peak to the east. Being on top of Colorado at 14,438’ with your mountain bike is a surreal feeling. After a few pictures, snacks, and throwing on my knee pads, the real fun began.
MAKE IT DROP:
The upper section was steep and loose, but rideable. After getting through that and past some mandatory hike-a-bike rock steps, things opened up big time. The trail is setup in favor of bikes, and you can really let ‘er rip. There are water drops, small sections of stairs, natural jumps, rollers, and not an inch of uphill riding. Just make sure to watch out for hikers! In the trees, more of the same. It feels endless. After 5,500 feet straight down hill, I was back to the trailhead in 50 minutes grinning from ear to ear.
SHOULD YOU RIDE IT?:
If you’re an intermediate to advanced rider who can handle longer climbs and some altitude, this trail is an all-timer on the list. If altitude and a little exposure make you uneasy on a bike, this might not be for you. You don’t need to be in killer shape, but it won’t hurt. If you’re up for a challenge, go for it! You can hike every section and turning around at any point will lead you downhill.
CONCLUSION:
This is one of the best natural descents in all of Colorado, and as a bonus you can knock this 14er off the list if you haven’t yet. The thought of the climb was daunting, but it ending up being much easier than the 5,500 feet of climbing sounded. If you think you have it in you, go ride this ASAP. Just be prepared for altitude, weather, and some hiking. I’ve already planned on riding this trail again in the fall when the leaves change. Checkout my Strava track below for the exact route.
Ride well!