Help planning a ride through Colorado

[asp_125]

How about this insane trip?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...9,3.812256&z=8

Strings together the other one from asp_125. We could stash a cooler in Denver somewhere to restock the camping food and clothes perhaps and pick it up on the way home.

Sure wish we could fit in that southwest loop though from asp_125, that one looks good.

Yes, you sir, are insane!

[pekowski]

Hey guys, looking for more advice. We are now thinking about two loops. This first one starts out a Salida and goes like this:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...5,5.432739&z=8

We are thinking about doing this in three days, going clockwise. The first night we think we will stay somewhere between Durango and Ouray. The second night maybe stay in the Crested Butte area. First off, should we make any camping reservations or just go seat of the pants? We will be doing this the first week of August. The second question is about Crested Butte. It looks like we could either get there from Gunnison or from CR 133. Either way, we think we will backtrack the way we came, since we don't want to miss CR 92 near Gunnison.

The second loop looks like this:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...52&ie=UTF8&z=9

Again, we are thinking three days and again, clockwise. We think the first day we will take the CR 14 upper loop, staying the night in the Estes Park area. The next day, we will do CR 72/40 lower loop and either make it over Trail Ridge to Estes Park again or just stay at Grand Lake. Either way, we will do Trail Ridge road through RMNP both directions and head back to the car.

Again, do we need to make camping reservations in the Estes Park area or go seat of the pants?

If we need to make reservations on any of these overnighters, does anyone have a suggestion as to where to camp? Heck, does anyone have any suggestions as to where to camp at all! Any help is greatly appreciated.

Finally, we are going to need a place to park the car and trailer in Salida and in Woolcott while we are on our ride. Any suggestions on that one?

Are we crazy? Is this too much for a 15 year old on a 2008 Ninja? Heck, it's not too much for this 49 year old man on a Suzuki VZ800 Marauder, lol. As for the 26 year old on the CBR, he'll just have to keep up with us, haha.

Thanks,
Ray

[pekowski]

The idea is to do both loops in 6 days total time.