The Summit is (Almost) in Sight: Into the Whiteout on Loveland Pass
A cyclist not easily intimidated by challenging riding meets a formidable match in a blizzard-condition ascent of Loveland Pass
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Comments
In the mid 80's I rode, with my Boulder club, over Berthoud pass comming from an overnight stay in Winter Park. This was the last leg of our annual September Tour of the Rockies. We began the ride mid-morning in a light snow that intensified as we gained in altitude. The road was mainly wet with the snow gathering on the shoulders. Finally reaching the sumit at 11,306 feet was a great relief and a welcomed surprise. As we decended, the snow changed to fine raineventually being replaced by sun. Once in the valley we had to stop to strip down as it warm and dry for our ride on through Idaho Springs on our return to Boulder, Colorado.
I have lived in the Denver area for over 30 years and am very familiar with the mountain roads and the radically quick changes in the weather. It can snow any day of the year above 13,000 feet. It can also warm up quickly after a front passes, including September and October. Had I crossed paths with Diego before he left for his ride over Loveland Pass, I would have told him to hang out for a day, maybe two, to take that ride. I'd hate to think that everything could have gone wrong, ending his trip prematurely. Cycling in Colorado is the best. Our lowest road is at 3,317 feet. Our highest paved road is 14,130. A buddy and I have ridden from the low to the high and would highly recommend that trip to anybody.
Well done, Diego. The Loveland Pass part was hard enough. The snow and ice part was a bit harder.
As a long time Denver resident and mountain road ride lover, I have been over Loveland pass a number of times. Yes, going over in October in a snowstorm is indeed... NUTS. But, more power to you. Even in mid-summer this climb has weather hazards from quickly developing T-Storms to high winds, and, yes, sometimes snow. I've encountered a number of times fully loaded Tourers heading out to do this in late morning/early afternoon (way too late in the day) who are absolutely clueless and continue on their merry way even after I stop to provide safety information. Even with visible T-storms forming over the ridge line. The west-bound folks seem like the least aware which I attribute to all the miles of riding the 1000+ miles of the flat lands before they encounter the Rockies. These mountains are not to be trifled with. The unprepared die every year in the high country. I always send hopeful thoughts their way. But, it is an absolutely beautiful ride!!!!
Georgetown is my old hometown! You are crazy to do this in October, and I f***ing love it! ??
This was probably one of the best videos on bicycle touring that I have seen. The craziness of it all and this unique experience of adventure of getting to the top. When he made it, we could finally go phew but he had to come down. This was from just watching the video. From time to time, I'll watch this video in particular because it's something I wish to experience sometime in my life. While some want to go to faraway places and exotic locations, the thought of seeing this part of the world by bicycle during a snowstorm speaks to me.
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