Unpaved Roads? I Don’t Think So. ☹

We’ve almost committed to memory our route out of town, and probably you have, too. For the last time, we head south on CO-133, past Redstone, and over McClure Pass.

Seventeen miles south of the pass, there’s a turnoff onto Gunnison County Road 12. Sounds innocuous enough. We could turn east on County Road 12, and end up at our destination, Crested Butte, in about 31 miles.

The road would take us over Kebler Pass, a 10,007-foot summit that brings into focus one of the world’s most spectacular aspen groves. Kebler Pass is a segment of the West Elk Loop, which we’re riding today.

Kebler Pass. A must-do. With the right vehicle.

Since Sarah and I have been in Colorado, everyone tells us Kebler Pass is a must-see in the summer, and especially in the fall. Autumn foliage is world-class, among the best in the Rockies.

Unfortunately, Kebler Pass is mostly gravel and packed dirt. I don’t do unpaved roads on the Harley. It’s just not gonna happen. Call me a pansy. It’s still not gonna happen.

So, we’ll take the long way to Crested Butte.

Instead of going Carbondale-to-Crested Butte in 73 miles (2 hours and 40 minutes), we’re riding the long paved way. We’ll arrive there in 3 hours and 40 minutes, after a 170-mile ride.

Kebler Pass, in the fall. Awesome colors.

Sarah and I will eventually do Kebler Pass. In her Lexus. In the fall, as the aspen leaves are changing colors. I’ll blog about it, and share photos with you.

The road over Kebler Pass, in the fall.

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We continue south on CO-133, rolling past the turnoff to Kebler Pass, riding down the mountain toward Paonia and on to Hotchkiss.

In Hotchkiss, we turn south on CO-92, part of the West Elk Loop. It soon becomes a twisty mountain road that follows the contours of the Gunnison River gorge for nearly 50 miles. It’s paved, it’s spectacular, and it’s one of the top motorcycle roads in Colorado. That’s saying a lot.

At a scenic overlook on Colorado Highway 92.

The views are awesome. The road is amazing.

After about 40 miles of riding that requires one’s A game, we arrive at the west end of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water entirely in Colorado. The Blue Mesa is America’s largest lake trout and kokanee salmon fishery.

On the Blue Mesa Reservoir, we pulled off to check out fishing conditions. Sadly, it was too windy, so maybe we’ll try tomorrow on the Gunnison River.

Here, we turn east on US-50. In 26 miles, the same distance as running a marathon, we arrive in Gunnison, a small college town and ranching community. Gunnison was named in honor of Captain John Gunnison, a US Army officer who surveyed for the transcontinental railroad in 1853. The city is home to Western State Colorado University, originally founded as the Colorado State Normal School for Children in 1901.

Gunnison is tonight’s lodging, and tomorrow’s, too. But we’ve had Crested Butte on the brain all day and need to check it out first, before settling down in Gunnison.

Crested Butte is only 27 miles north of Gunnison. To get there, just roll through Gunnison, get on CO-135, and follow it to Crested Butte, a charming ski resort town designated as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado.

(Note regarding town nicknames: Carbondale is considered the Dandelion Capital of Colorado, and holds Dandelion Day every May, a celebration that spring is in full bloom.)

In Crested Butte, we stopped at Avalanche Bar and Grill for an afternoon pick-me-up.

A former coal mining town, Crested Butte is a year-round resort, like so many in Colorado. There’s just so much to do, and to see at the Butte.

It’s taken us nearly four hours to get here, and we’re gonna soak it in before heading back to Gunnison for dinner and bedtime.

Cooling off in Crested Butte.

We grab a beer, the official beverage of bikers everywhere, relax, and ponder what might have been if we’d done Kebler Pass. Colorado has more microbreweries per capita than any other state, and one of them is right here in Crested Butte – the Irwin Brewing Company.

Dave gazes lovingly at the Crested Butte mountain, wishing he could be here in the winter, too.

I, too, enjoy the ambiance of a quality ski area. It’s my first visit to Crested Butte.

Disappointingly, there’s not a rib restaurant in town. So, after one beer, we’re still riding legally, and we return to Gunnison for dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Dinner in Gunnison at 5 Bs BBQ.

Ribs at 5 Bs BBQ.  We’re finding that Slow Groovin in Marble set the Rib bar extremely high and we haven’t yet found anything to give Slow Groovin a run for their money.  Tonight was our sixth rib meal in six days.  Tomorrow, I’ll update the rankings after day seven.

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Day Six Summary: The long and winding road to Crested Butte.

Click here to see today’s complete route from Carbondale to Gunnison.

Glad you’re along for the ride.

Vroom, vroom.

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Today’s Colorado Fun Fact: Nederland, Colorado is home to a body that has been frozen cryogenically for decades. It’s the namesake behind Nederland’s annual “Frozen Dead Guy Days” festival.

Today’s Rocky Mountain Rib Rally Fun Fact: Today, we rode Colorado’s West Elk Loop, named for the animals common to the Rockies. Colorado has the world’s biggest elk population, with an estimated herd of 280,000. Elk, one of the largest species in the deer family, are social creatures usually traveling in herds, especially during fall breeding season.

Today’s Colorado Food Fun Fact: Colorado now has more than 90 craft distilleries; there’s even a Colorado Spirits Trail for tourists so inclined. Carbondale, where our day began, is home to the Marble Distilling Company. Awesome Gingercelo! And Montanya Distillers in Crested Butte offers mountain rum from family-grown Louisiana sugar cane and pure Rocky Mountain spring water.