Steve Green goes in search of French Gold, Part II

French Gold Ride, Part II

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain, but the rain in Colorado was falling mainly on me. So far the rain had slowed me waaay down. I redecided looking for the next piece of single track that would take me to Big Lake and La Jara Reservoir. I would leave that for tomorrow. Instead I decided to go up the Alamosa River to Jasper, over Stunner Pass and to Platoro for a cup of coffee. I was wet and cold.

But first I stopped off to ride in one of Colorado’s most contaminated sludge deposits. I figure I got a bit of cadnium plating for free.

You know why this is so contaminated? Because these hills are so full of metals.

Even the Alamosa River is orange (like my KTM).

Going towards Jasper

Full of metals and thus the colors

Far below the hamlet of Platoro. (plata=silver, oro=gold)

Platoro is barely known to most Coloradans. Seems like it is mostly a place Texans go. I like Texans they are not as legally encumbered as Californians. A lot of Californians have moved to Colorado lately.
So after coffee, a sweet roll and exchanging stories with the Amarillo owners I blasted back into the rain for the long, fast, high dirt road to my campsite.

On the way I past the remnants of old Summitville

…and past the new Super Fund clean up site. What would we do without the Great American Stimulus Act ?!!
Them thar hills gonna bleed metals til the earth quits turning, Super Fund site or not.

Rain and clouds all the way back. It was a 135 mile all dirt day.
(that’s Bennet Peak)

Dark and cold as I descended 5000′ through the clouds to Del Norte.

My 2006 525 EXC was working perfectly. All the mods were adding up to make this ride quite enjoyable. First the inherent capabilities KTM built into this bike – its so smooth, powerful engine capable of sustained 70+ mph speeds with a 13:48 final, relatively light weight make it so much easier than a KLR or LC4, 40-50 mpg, add to that the 24 liter tank, electric vest outlet, the large (warm) hand covers, electric grips, and HID light and I was in heaven riding it even for a 180 miles in these cold 40F temps. All it needs is a pair of Kibblewhite intake valves (this winter) and it will be done. It is perfect for this rough and ready kind of riding.

What would you do if while kicking around the back woods of Colorado you found a pile of gold bars ? If you called the authorities – fool. If you kept mum – rich. Well there you go, even if the stories are true who would ever tell ? Rumors in the San Luis Valley are that some have been found. I read that it was documented that back in the 1940s some cowboys actually found an old set of rotted leather saddle bags with some bars in them along Rio Conejos. But was the main stash ever found ?

Thursday awoke to a beautiful blue sky and a dusting of snow on the peaks. I would take Bennett Creek trail up to Blowout Pass and beyond.

Bennett Creek trail is another seldom used trail. a bunch of tight switch backs and not a track on it. Add to that a 100 foot wide 2 foot deep beaver pond. Unfortuantely I did not get photos as I was being chased by a rabid dog and property owner who’s yard I ventured into. I did not stop to chat.

My boots were full of water, my long johns were soaked so I stopped on Blowout for a blow dry.

yep, same ole rainbow shorts, soon to be retired due to terminal tears

First snow dusting.

Down through Jasper and to the single track that crossed the ridge to Big Lake. Again not a track on it.

Big Lake was beautiful. Looked to be natural too.

Far in the distance I was headed to La Jara Reservoir.

The mountains in this area ascend very gradually from the San Luis Valley. However, these uplifted areas are cut be deep river canyons, its easy to get in from the east and difficult to get across to the west, north or south as you will see. This area has long been influenced by the Spanish culture due to its proximity to Taos and Santa Fe.

At the far south end of La Jara reservoir Bennett can be seen to the north.

From here I wanted to take the back routes to the Valdez Trail down the steep walls into the Conejos River Canyon.

Talking about Valdez… if it were not for that big tank rides like this would not be possible.

Down below lies the fork of hwy 17 and the other road leading to Platoro.

I went astray and ended up far south of where I wanted to be. There was another single track down the milder slope seen in the phot below but I could not find it from on top of the canyon. I ended up going to Fox Creek and riding the pavement back up the canyon (20 miles) and was able to find the bottom of the trail. It was only 2 miles back up to where I had been a couple hours earlier.

Mount Blanca to the NE in bground

Up the Conejo

Gold strike – the trail. Up and down I went to check it out.

These pictures don’t do the steepness justice.

Up and over the rim that is highway 17 leading to Chama in the bground.

Found my tracks from 2 hours before so it was time to head back down.

looking down the switchbacks, accompanied… not a second thought, alone… one big burst of adrenaline !!

There are only two places on the south side of the Conejos River that a trail is possible. Unfortunately I only rode one the next will have to wait for another day. (in hind sight I should have rode it too)

Steep sided canyons cut the land all through this area.

The sun was sinking fast. Blasting through Platoro I took the same high dirt roads home as the day before but this time no rain and no clouds. The 525 behaved superbly.

This is the area that the French mined in. Looking towards the Weiminuche Wildernes Area