Love Dump: 2023 Colorado Trail Race
I completed my second Colorado Trail Race a few days ago. I’ve finally emerged from the fog far enough to start writing down some thoughts.
First, I did it! Second, I did it faster than I ever thought I could. Third, I did it on a single speed. Fourth, I did it with my rowdy friends, and made sooooo many new ones. I’m SUPER proud of ALL of these things, but especially the last. Time to off-load a little love for those that made my journey so special:
Sunrise on Day 2 from Cataract Ridge.
Jefe Branham: You’re my hero dude. Thank you for making all this possible. It was so amazing sharing the Bolam and Rolling summits with you (and some rips before and after). You were clearly in your happy place. I was so excited to chase you to Denver, then so sad to hear you crashed out. I thought of all the sacrifice it takes to get there, and that it could all end in an instant. It reminded me that my opportunities to tackle this beautiful beast are numbered and convinced me to go for broke at the end of day 3. You inspire in many ways. Can’t wait for Jefe’s Redemption Rip!
Jeff Branham rolling off of Bolam Pass after a rain shower on Day 1.
Colorado Trail Race: I’ve heard Jefe call you a “brutal and beautiful teacher.” I saw that so clearly this year. Last year (on my first traverse), I was there to learn. You gave me a rough, yet welcoming, embrace. This year, I was there to steal time, so you showed me the fucking yard-stick. Holy hell you are a hard-ass. Like the morning of day three when you chocked my first pedal stroke sending me face-first into the ground and cracking Badger’s bar-end. Or when I leaned Badger against a small aspen tree near Tiger Run to clean the chain and a sudden gust of wind swayed the tree causing Badger to roll down an embankment. I looked up to find the tree giving me the finger (literally). Or, when I decided (without consulting you) that Strontia Springs Dam would be my finish line so I would not have my single-speed journey end with the indignity of getting passed by a geared rider in Waterton Canyon. Just as I exited the trail, and let both the bike - and a “whoop” - rip, you sent a bee-sting into my left eyelid at 40mph. I very nearly wrecked! But I am eternally grateful for the lesson you taught me descending Searle Pass (in the dark, rain, and severely sleep deprived). You let me survive a massive mistake, while both humbling and empowering me. Thank you! I love you! You will always be my favorite teacher.
Morning of Day 2 on Cataract Ridge.
Karin Pocock: You are the best trail sister. Thanks for organizing and getting Tom and I to Durango. I felt like a god damn hero charging through the pack with you on day 1. So bummed you fell ill, and so proud of you for fighting through it. I know where you would have finished if not for the early troubles. Someday the world will get to see you stomp out a clean CTR run. Look out ladies (and gents)… KP is all scrap!
Two Barncats on the start line, missing the third.
Ana Jager: The trail brought us together so many times on day three. It also seemed to throw you an unfair number of curve-balls that day. I was so impressed with how you faced each successive challenge with such grace. I still can’t believe how much ground you covered - on so few calories - and the speed with which you did it. You are amongst the fiercest to walk this place. I was proud to follow in your footsteps. I hope you found the rotisserie chicken of your dreams 😉
Climbing Indian Trail Ridge with Lilly Hacker and Ana Jager.
Mike Soucy: I really looked forward to our little chats when you ran me down every afternoon (until you got so far ahead, I couldn’t cheat sleep enough to catch you anymore). Glad your rear hub held together. What an epic, and well managed, ride you threw down! Congrats!
Lizard Head from Bolam Pass. One of many epic San Juan views.
Matt Schumaker: You crazy bastard! I can’t believe you brought a fully rigid bike and not only finished, but rode fucking fast! I super enjoyed the miles we spend together on the last night. It helped me stay awake and kept me motivated to keep going. Congrats on your super strong race.
Matt Schumaker approaching Kenosha Pass on his fully rigid bike!
My singlespeed brothers and sister: It was such an honor to turn cogs with members of the most badass SS family on the planet. John Price: the sunrise greeting we shared in the middle of Sargents Mesa stuck with me well after you stomped me into the dust. The size of your heart is rivaled only by mountains. Bodhi Roether: so glad we got some time together on Sargents. Thanks for chasing me into the last night. You almost broke me. Almost 😉 Alexandera Houchin: I’m truly bummed we didn’t get to share trail time, yet I always felt your powerful presence. You move us all. Kyle G Peterson (tour mode): I’ll never forget the reptilian chicken-like noise you made when you golemmed out from under a tree at Goose Creek at 1:30am on my last night. It was the icing on my SS crack-cake. Sooo fun! A heartfelt thanks to each of you for welcoming me into your midst.
Sunrise of Day 3 on Sargents Mesa.
Somehow, I was also gifted fleeting, but very memorable, moments with a few giants of this edition of the CTR: with Katya Rakhmatulina on Cataract Ridge for a brief viewing of the thinnest sickle of moon as it rose through a break in the dense cloud deck; traversing High Point with Miron Golfman as he fought nature’s call to blow chunks into the thunderheads; racing distant lightning strikes across Jarosa Mesa’s rock-henge with Dustin Eroh; grinding out the final groggiest miles of the Tarryall detour with Lael Wilcox. True trail magic!
Thunderheads building over Coney Summit around noon on Day 2.
“Badger,” my forever bike. Oh my gosh we had a time! Thank you for once again carrying me across this treacherous landscape with zero mechanicals. Sorry for my piloting errors, especially the few that put us into the ground. Your new bar-end is already on order. Most of all, thank you for guiding us to a gentle/upright stop the dozens of times I fell asleep atop, or beside, you. I’ll never understand how you do that. I don’t need to. I trust no other to take me across the sky.
Badger during a snack break at the top of Fooses Creek. Unfortunately an untimely rain squall greased all the roots and rocks just as we began to descend.
Dennis Heffern: Thank you so much for unexpectedly scooping me up from the finish line, feeding me, and giving me a place to get clean and rest. It has made such a huge difference in my early recovery. Just wow. Love you brother!
The view from my final sleep spot - a 15 minute nap in a roadside ditch on the Tarryall Detour.
Susan Baruch Annabel, Maya, Caleb, and Juno: I couldn’t/wouldn’t do this without your love and support. I’m so grateful for your understanding of the war that wages within me, and the freedom you give me to fight it. Love you always.
Family bonding the night before I left for Durango.
I had the time of my life out there, thanks to you all, and the many others I shared trail with along the way. Love to all.
