The car was loaded and heading south out of Breckenridge shortly after 5a. The outside temp gauge on my car read 39ยบ as I cleared Hoosier Pass, good thing I brought my puffy jacket.
It's a long haul back to the Valley of the Sun and I wanted to fit in a quick ride...or two?? The Monarch Crest was an obvious choice. I could do an out-n-back to where the Colorado Trail drops down Fooses Creek for a nice 10 mile high alpine spin.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGzWDEQtAAj6w1fVrrvvaN5FFJhqrlOpEBXhvWS8OpSv7d5Y9MAYweb5SsyXC_geOOeV5HcKjxXG4KzqGnE-n4GeXvYLugJlpABixwDSLzZ6JNvxc7P9XGtpw0pxDVVEWaKqXuqnW5Khm/s400/MVIMG_20180806_060702.jpg) |
Captivating early light in the Arkansas Valley. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYpIBCo3MlrWsKqC3oGsTa7UUrZJuunIjlkDe3L_QHS01pDjWTgRJ42VeAqSSWQNx4NLnjHWQLEh0kRlEMSRnES55yxgbKcYOxAc4Oj1YuJwuKZpHW-HRCWr1lEGJI5GYPNF1Gd2PPlrJ/s400/IMG_20180806_061443.jpg) |
Fire in the sky. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3WG-3vrq4Xt5NjMiOClNQVhaB-3ewQXjrCAuU7jcErlIjH122FgMcUFV_i16-NaSVUXKCRtCVOxokauLZfe0_nEBsiwsDOe8yqgRKWyb1MXqjJv_Kr-GETsU-LhU5Tl8qSyou6y9JyhM/s400/IMG_20180806_063045.jpg) |
Collegiate Peaks overlook. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ExTxIf6WRgvdGYGk4PzY8wq8BVmbrz7gyDVQnKjAQfYOBLDkiSgMtkuN0TOqrbh_3basu74kzvdaXmqg7PLSVqe8zSHNynk890-ZtTp0mm6qz6UFPytEOaK4_3_xiTJMNFdHueKiB_If/s400/1533927200539.jpg) |
3 panel labeling of the Collegiate Peaks. |
Monarch Pass was relatively quiet for an early Monday morning. I donned the jacket and began pedaling before 8a.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgm6R3pCISNtXxKPZvs5CXGSc4i8JqwUoEypKHkq6nZSLseDk-UOAHIbAvtTDgsWxuoN2bHd4U-HRP_NIRp0zVwsMXDltJcx8YGHoflSjiu3zgja-kLd8Mh_di_dzzgJUBxdNOcslIoX7/s400/IMG_20180806_073858.jpg) |
The trailhead is easy enough to find. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgD4fBtTAV0_wuJA88iuZyxF2BXNRz_-bkWiR7HnuJx1Vqu2T46RncnZDUl4_BaCV6ihMYEXupFAnZGaPpssQZdHYIY70WfEZrsz2k2LzZf7KJ2B6cm8cAqLzAwAXjGCwriy0Gi9sjdtM2/s400/IMG_20180806_075209.jpg) |
The Monarch Crest also doubles as the Continental Divide trail & Colorado Trail (Collegiate West) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqQ9Q3mf4XYibdZYA0Fp3PDj0Q2qMI75LscQ4fqQ54mwznMzKjn-XJ-2gRHrSujRX4JIn80IMSjOLfDMbFmxXngGoDPjGyURU-s_4e6hbM9n5R-PtjtWvE245HEyWYoEvaRenen_7wiaN/s400/IMG_20180806_075222.jpg) |
The first mile follows a contour through the trees before dumping out on a chunky steep-ish dirt road for a bit. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3YQoP24SayC5gmeb0iRIFomy7cVakpPOkupy8jB5012i0ibWdO9imZGNgb-80R0JCQOEljle3MPSubyNWTKBbpKdb-mfhXC4YzTI5Nibrwgoxg1I9-bz9jzwZ5a1CQ6Z0KyMTYHklYPc/s400/MVIMG_20180806_081336.jpg) |
Soon, the route is back on pristine singletrack flirting with treeline. Monarch Pass is on the far left where the pavement meets the ski runs. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfk0QbEUwr0FNDOHK09zIPIP5wgy1a-uzlIV7xIPubQtYACUoxtDD4gNsD4woJv3FQwqxpSTIeVPwGuZTy9pCZ6imPHRiRBrloMhGwaNuQU_IspQLLZtp-A7FkS9sb3Yi-ktYwGwi4Y8f/s400/IMG_20180806_081342.jpg) |
US50 cuts a swath along the mountainside. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoRvtBQ_Hw7XZLz3R6ZM7zYS4X3zQ4wuN3kx0xvQExLFwX9MTRs6BXqEri0BcemoFeLLllAmcMcb2WdplrVfwqxBfL6VAquvhkUSLk3X-7qYZt6bWnhVaNf_Gtm0a6qbn0COkZZKSofVc/s400/IMG_20180806_081413.jpg) |
It was a perfect cool morning to be up here. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdaohNcOEADNCvW4njzCu_kgzm4qEDU7iDixWRLkNmgzl4HpBW-Uat-1srJ2LlLFH0_FePnrvWj7rpb7BQ_UTTASNUUDN6S654sXgwoIDK4xDExkr5zHUDXMmHLiHlfrn2gDZf3c2USp2/s400/1533927409548.jpg) |
Some notable peaks to the south. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihS5WU21bhIRBbXGYn6xHDxuU9AX1c6rEZ5lL6jVIcx0pJ3zFA8xK56ZHFvXtUDhyphenhyphenaD5KNx55_GwGzAh2FNVqL8H5Tm3djloAJ42l5uT1bXRMi9DSiZiRtZ3eUXFFfeTTf9fSc7Mf8QxtL/s400/IMG_20180806_083745.jpg) |
This is what makes the Crest so popular, easy access to singletrack above treeline. There's also the argument about the mega-long downhill for the shuttle riders. One of these days I'll do the full ride down to Poncha Springs. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_kQrILDm4R2RwKYQbya691YM0KtQ4VJUqMUJB8yVMfMnvFakhF9axWYzmWHjhpXToVDRygPwIZZbLU4W4FMkRJFI4okQcbx6hwnldmqpPSS9aRypP3hUyUtvJd-zSG7MuUvcIndglgB2/s400/IMG_20180806_083757.jpg) |
I had the whole place to myself. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW02_4KbO9JxU6XYWnQc9B_6JlIo4Et0Uw57_kU8bdCAJIajC_m-JcAxEVeBZPq4AuNc7dK_wc0GN5mnVhmK1sB9q5VV7uqec0w7jFHFzBls2ojSq7eZuGJUGgjxAQdmepiRiq2XMgR4gD/s400/IMG_20180806_083952.jpg) |
Singletrack to the edge of the Earth. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhXOIrUznZJZdRhAGK3u10PkHZTQo__M1tj6Exmj7C4LnW_aWPedhWVMxdrYQ-xp6vISVxyZ5EJp4_H8JNQpN_0AIKE3F39cd_tthALfyd9X3_YezO4CYU1CKTXDGfBLPMHgJRli4RLyl/s400/IMG_20180806_084037.jpg) |
The ride season is short up here, get it while you can. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAfcjugQQLnO5H4P-svOtgD-ubKKGBm5_G_Mu2-NbBh4NhbkZlTln11ZeusrdEoL69qCp1sY-YBvtKdUAGHU3TOH3VJw1DlnNsTRyWQMdoxNaDkdCXk5ANxJCevps3PRGUEL9TGy_yTQu/s400/IMG_20180806_084856.jpg) |
Postcard photos every which way. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLgKkL1iE5rVAhdk5U8vd6y2u2ScvMHt7HRbVPh-PbgzK8BHcSDHGvuK3ok1L8bqndy7wA0jGaz1KLtrnWQKzmvg513dpGNtQBvHQvwK00Wul0SQMph8VKAQTjtdrl3UKoqEQc4yLRLpd/s400/IMG_20180806_084906.jpg) |
The trail doesn't quite reach 12k, coming a few feet short. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNR20y8bJsIvGkH5yQlBoBj0-Sp60GlQ9DIg9ydvFu0VoWjvotyw4jWFjz1mAWZMTJY76iA5-_9uaNSejG11qpVac4iNtWM92_2fClKMvic8ONAInQgDVXvFV4kYLoyHoHONlZ07d0pHo/s400/IMG_20180806_085147.jpg) |
Halfway to Marshall Pass from Monarch lies Fooses Creek. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEYbvvgwcTRMz2pIR4-RE0o71oVBdRhqpu9Sa44JNz2qWl83Ddzhe-MA7dQVtNHpSDrXiWLZi-vHzOrclZyWbERweo3lk7DGZTgSM8iU0D-ZKLGmdzXTUryUrKVruiI1piiWVDFSWePpT/s400/IMG_20180806_085157.jpg) |
Fooses is where the CT splits into an east & west section. Collegiate West is mostly Wilderness beyond US50, so bikers & CTR riders take Collegiate East. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcMiv1OczQ3ritkiGJkz8IunJbAFs-WIwHbKPUVeb1HcMzry_QOImtSTjHRsMCsC7XXn5f-G0LhIpCJBAxiO2ocRqxMzW5PbmmAwcHWwGg0CN8YkDZW4DmmKo42KeWaVLIgyqTSPBrIbF/s400/IMG_20180806_085235.jpg) |
I had to pause here for a few moments and reflect on my CTR. The Fooses downhill really changed my outlook on the entire ride. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_BxU-oMqXv_C3qqvBMX8UMPqgK4um0RClSyqi5GSCBoHpOOgsZTdMDJ6F_ZqBowp4cTRM2jvJ1T45337E0k3ULwPQmyxquzfLY3sTQ0raUv2kKhqZrndcyM0cbUlrSx0Z7rSvOE4CSpJ/s400/IMG_20180806_085256.jpg) |
Fooses Creek trail drops abruptly off the ridge, then mellows out for a few miles of downhill ripping. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtclvQYTwNyehgiXHDGPWOCLpd15NsLKOPGsPMIRMdMzfacQ32DiBW8GcqLydE1Lsl1SgrnxPWgtpSpfRbGJQ-bCeAQ-aDIImNdeebzegZE4yrtXvHcqiCztZx2rKJxFOLX_pXrf-UlYbn/s400/1533928277014.jpg) |
Peaks to the north. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVu8DWgZoYtj9Gy1ulVHzYwnPE10VaAkgn0ulHiVz1s0udsbFHmRpdhcTvEpgJYWBByhCxQilg67mlpgA5C3quxX5cfFFsjO5HBERXZRc-MuRNOkGSPi6RF12_BF3OXh8ueLiGQjSjXxDA/s400/1533928317080.jpg) |
Looking south. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iUTujELNRjjGKqvcYl96J0gc06d-Ru-nBpOpHpNNrSZvwfarSdUyBAU9kno99VvhZzfrLIQ8nI_SBK_qV5RysRoWLgHfLNgs9hFBx1LdN8ZDme39fnphIZg5bLCVYFeD8GeJmo7AsZrF/s400/MVIMG_20180806_085542.jpg) |
Time to head back. I wonder how I'd feel about this trail if I had come up it? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ4X3WrmaEFS4at-7_CjAiEFfQWHc1aaA4vk6_XBKP2JabuA0VBpGk_iqsND9RXkOAjF_pHOak3-9DyRL-W591lLxrbtbtDHTQ72sijWl6PHuV9RaRzxiIKXp-U7oLVAWzcTaI-Zq3Sqv/s400/IMG_20180806_090608.jpg) |
This was a particularly interesting area. |
The shuttle riders must've been about 45 minutes behind me as I now began to see a steady stream of riders coming at me. I think I counted about 30 in total, everyone of them grinning ear-to-ear. Only one guy yelled at me in jest: 'You're going the wrong way!!' Ha!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-vJ4ipgGc7twy411diQNdmdHd6hRrYllbpY4RY06abWAWBWoYW3Pf81Y0gw5VPOnJhIb56Mf0KFESrHjOyPon-l_BtbfG_XZrHZuu-TA78fADl2UYDmoNZxqE8kSQE_rxCZBQCTPntp5/s400/IMG_20180806_093111.jpg) |
Back at the car by 9:30a. Right on schedule. |
I'm really glad a made the stop here. The Crest is a really fun ride with an abundance of payoff. Fooses was a solid choice for the out-n-back too, just long enough to feel that high alpine experience, yet short enough for a drive-by ride.
As long as I made good time through the Gunnison Valley, I had my sights set on an early afternoon ride in Telluride...
Route:
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