Colorado Springs to Taos. 2 Day trip - Feb 4th/5th 2012

[Clovis]

Hola mi amigos!

Grab your winter gear and let's go south!

The weather forecast calls for highs in the mid 50s everywhere we'll go and the roads have been exceptionally clear thanks to the mild winter. Lows in the low 30s.

Meet:

Shell/Circle K station located in South Academy and Highway 115 in Colorado Springs. The gas station is right next to the Safeway.



10:45 AM -- KSU at 11:00 AM. Eat before you leave because we won't be stopping until dinner in Taos.

Gear

Full leathers is recommended. Besides that, dress in layers. A pair of thermals or sweat pants under your pants works wonders. A fleece and neck fleece will keep you (relatively warm). We'll be ridding 6-7 hours each day.

If you have $400 burning a hole in your pocket, consider heated gear. Some local vendors carry them. I ordered FirstGear stuff from Motorcycle Super Store. If you order it over the weekend you should have it by Friday.

Heated Jacket Liner (goes under your main jacket) is $179.99. It's meant to go over a thin layer and beneath your jacket. The entire jacket including sleeves and collar is heated. Comes in 90watt and 65 watt versions. The 65 watt is for bikes with less excess electrical power.

Heated gloves are $115 to $150 depending if you want just leather or leather with carbon fiber knuckle protection. Both are water proof and warm.
A dual heat controller is $90-107 depending if you want a portable unit ($89) or mounted unit ($107). I have a portable unit but I decided to replace it with a mounted unit so not to have wires running from my tank bag. The gloves plug into the jacket liner so you can use a single troller but a dual controller is recommended to control the gloves independently. Typically the gloves are run on max heat while the jacket is 50%.

Route

http://mapq.st/yPLVvn



Day 1: 316 Miles. Colorado Springs > Canon City > Rye (Bishop's Castle) > Walsenburg > La Veta (Highway 12) > Trinidad > Cross into NM and head to Taos for the night.

Day 2: 385 Miles. Taos > Chama > Pagosa Springs > South Fork > Salida > Colorado Springs

Estimated Cost: $100 or so.

Fuel cost - $45
Lodging $30
Food: $30

Questions? Want to go? Reply here.

[Clovis]

Depending on road conditions (if there is ice or not) I may skip Wolf Creek Pass (the Pagosa Springs) and return to Colorado through Alamosa.

[Justin]

FYI, Wolf Creek pass is almost always slick in the winter. Check out the live cams on the following site. They are very helpful when planning winter routes in CO.

http://www.dickgilbert.com/coloradocams.htm

[blakebird]

FYI, Wolf Creek pass is almost always slick in the winter. Check out the live cams on the following site. They are very helpful when planning winter routes in CO.

http://www.dickgilbert.com/coloradocams.htm

you found that site after riding 550 in January...huh?


@clovis - advice on riding gear for people that live/ride here in winter....really?

[Justin]

you found that site after riding 550 in January...huh?

I also rode Wolf Creek on that same trip   - and it was packed snow and ice.

Funny thing was, had I been a few hours earlier hitting 550, I'd have been fine. Made for some good memories though. Only had to pick up the XX once in 20-30 miles of snowy 550 - not bad  

[blakebird]

I also rode Wolf Creek on that same trip   - and it was packed snow and ice.

Coming back from the west coast in late May, it was toasty warm coming thru Monument Valley and Four Corners. I unpeeled a few layers at lunch in Kayenta.

....and put them back on going over Wolf Creek. This is before the pass and descending the east side by the ski area - which had a lot more runoff and slop on the roadway. It was brisk up there.

[Clovis]

@clovis - advice on riding gear for people that live/ride here in winter....really?

I originally posted this on my local riding club. Most of the riders there are summer and warm weather riders. I should have re-tailored my post for the STN crowd  

[Justin]

I originally posted this on my local riding club. Most of the riders there are summer and warm weather riders. I should have re-tailored my post for the STN crowd  

Next time, get it right.

 


I hit Vail, Tennessee and Fremont passes today - based on their conditions, I'd be careful with Wolf Creek in Feb if you will be leading a group. Check the lives cams for the day before you head over. And planning a mountain ride a month out in CO? Good luck with that   - The weather changes on a daily basic in the mountains.

[Clovis]

It's next weekend and the weather says 50-60 degrees. I'll probably head north to Alamosa from Chama and skip Wolf Creek.

Last September I rode to Durango and hit rain/sleet/snow for 7 hours. Going up Wolf Creek Pass, freezing, shield fogging on the inside and ice coating on the outside. That sucked, lol.

[Justin]

It's next weekend and the weather says 50-60 degrees. I'll probably head north to Alamosa from Chama and skip Wolf Creek.

Last September I rode to Durango and hit rain/sleet/snow for 7 hours. Going up Wolf Creek Pass, freezing, shield fogging on the inside and ice coating on the outside. That sucked, lol.

Just check the cam before you go  .

Back in 2005, I got caught in snow storm in Feb on the million dollar hwy. Decided to do a 4 corners 1000 miles in 24 ride based on the weather in Littleton. Weather was 60 and sunny down here and forecast looked good. That was the longest 20-30 miles I have ever ridden, going over Molas and Coal Bank passes in 5 inches of snow. Luckily I had side bags on the XX, so when it fell over in the snow, it didn't get hurt. And I managed to only fall over once going uphill at @ 5 MPH. Picking up a bike in the snow is not easy - getting going again uphill is even less easy  . That ride report died with the old ST.n sadly .

[blakebird]

It's next weekend and the weather says 50-60 degrees. I'll probably head north to Alamosa from Chama and skip Wolf Creek.

Watch the north side of La Manga as you're heading down, just above Ponderosa Campground. It there's been weather, that north facing downhill can stay icy.

http://g.co/maps/rm7ew

[Clovis]

The weather forecast has changed significantly (Colorado? Say it ain't so). From 55-60 degree highs to revised 30-38 degrees and snow Thursday and Friday.

This trip is post poned until we get another decent window.

[Justin]

The weather forecast has changed significantly (Colorado? Say it ain't so). From 55-60 degree highs to revised 30-38 degrees and snow Thursday and Friday.

This trip is post poned until we get another decent window.

CO weather is funny huh?  

[Clovis]

Clear skies, warm weather during the winter in Colorado... IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!? IS IT??  

[DenverC-14]

Doesn't look like you're gonna make this trip  

[Justin]

Doesn't look like you're gonna make this trip  

Sissies .. I'm going out for a ride.

[Trinity]

Was following this post and even considered going. But after 4 hours of shoveling snow off the driveway, I don't think I'm up for it. We got at least 18 inches up here in the foot hills. Yep, you got that right. Spent all our money on motorcycles and can't afford a snow blower.

[bikerfish1100]

consider shoveling to be a free workout, no gym membership required. it's all good, eh?

yeah, bike is staying planted for a bit. this will take a while to melt out.

[blakebird]

yeah, bike is staying planted for a bit. this will take a while to melt out.

at least a few, yesterday before it was close to being done - another 8" fell after I took this.




We had a pretty good melt today though, you can actually see pavement

[Clovis]

Sorry that the weather didn't cooperate.  

I'm keeping an eye out on the extended forecast but I'm not seeing any particularly attractive dates.