Devil's Gulp!

The above gmap screen shot shows the out and back route that I had the pleasure of cycling with 9 other members of Club Hypoxia on Saturday. We started at Little Dam on US34, just a few miles outside of Loveland Colorado at the entrance of Big Thompson Canyon. The elevation at the start point is about 5400'. At one's right as one enters the canyon is the Pillar of Hercules, a large rock face rising above the water. The strength of Hercules will be needed later in the day. The climb begins.

Eventually one comes to Drake and the turn off of US34 onto Devils Gulch Road at about 6200'. The ride is going quite fine as the climb has been steady with only one steeper portion. US34 is quite busy as many day trippers are heading to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park to see the elks bugling and the fall foliage. Devils Gulch Road is much quieter and beautiful. Beautiful like the Sirens, enticing mortal men to their doom between the cliffs and sharp rocks. But our impending doom was not realized and we were entranced at the entrance to the North Fork of the Big Thompson River.

Up to Glen Haven and a stop at the General Store for fresh cinnamon rolls at 7200'. The rolls were massive so I split a roll with Valygrl, a Hypoxiette from Boulder and strong climber. The rolls are all part of the Sirens call and this flatlander was ready for his fall.

Then it started. The steep part. Devil's Gulch. The steeper part. Devils Gulp. The steepest part. Oxygen depletion. Started off too fast on the steep part. Quads burning. Quivering legs and arms. Stop at the first switchback. Off the bike. Dry heaves as if one has just completed an all out road race. Curse that cinnammon roll. Back on the bike. Make it to the next switchback, turn the corner. More super steep part. Up one third of it. Off the bike, shattered. Walk the bike up to the next switchback. The Siren has her victim. Back on the bike, slalom back and forth across the road to the next switchback. Ride to the top on the steep but not insanely steep finishing section. Off the bike and pitch the helmet into the roadside at 8000'. It looks easier on the topo map.



Regroup, several of our ride mates have made it up Devils Gulch for the first time and it is celebration all around. I'm OK with walking a portion, I'm just a flatlander. Maybe next year I'll be stronger and wiser.

We dropped down to Estes Park at 7500' and then back up to 8200' at the Falls River Visitor Center, which is at the entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park. From here it was back to Estes Park for lunch. After lunch, we retraced our steps past the Stanley Hotel, up to the top of Devils Gulch Road for the hair-raising descent down the canyon propelled by gravity. Our most experienced riders hit 50mph. Yours truly did not have an odometer, so I don't know how fast I went. It was fast, but fear had my hands squeezing the brakes quite often, so I doubt I went over 35 to 40mph.

In total we did about 55 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes of riding. We made several stops along the way as it was a no drop ride, a ride with three flat tires among us, and a ride to enjoy the company as much as the ride itself. So it was an additional 3 hours door to door.

A great time with a great group of people.