Colorado, USA – Resplendent in the Fall – Simply Stunning – and Cycling Up Some Very Steep Hills – Cycling the Great Divide

We are currently in Breckenridge, Colorado, and are about to embark on the highest part of our Great Divide route, which will involve cycling over passes of around 12,000 feet. So far we have cycled more than 1720 miles since we started in Calgary, Canada, and have done 81,000 feet of climbing.

The bleak, treeless, MartiaN like landscape of Wyoming — We had spent a week cycling across the bleak, treeless, Martian like landscape of Wyoming

We were now back on the Great Divide gravel tracks. Sometimes we were glad of the Wyoming wind as these pickups never slow down to reduce the dust and stones they through up, unlike Australian drivers on our previous trips who were always very considerate. — We were now back on the Great Divide gravel tracks. Sometimes we were glad of the Wyoming wind as these pickups seldom slow down to reduce the dust and stones they through up, unlike Australian drivers on our previous trips who were always very considerate. American drivers are very considerate when on tarmac, it is only on gravel things go down hill.

So on reaching Colorado we were exited to see our first tree for a week — So on reaching Colorado we were excited to see our first tree for a week

And to cycle down the famous Aspen Alley

The colours of the Aspen were simply stunning

So I will apologise for putting in so many photos of them

As Aspen spread by under ground roots each clump is basically the same tree and therefore the same colour. This gives a wonderful patchwork effect from the different family groups — Aspen spread by under ground roots, each clump is basically the same tree and the same colour. This gives a wonderful patchwork look from different family groups

Autumn is the hunting season in Colorado so there are more people up in the hills than usual. It starts with Bow and Arrow for a few weeks then they are allowed to use progressively more powerful guns. This meant we had to be careful and be seen! We had heard a male elk calling during the night, a beautiful, eerie sound like a mixture between a bugle and someone tuning bagpipes. The hunters were very nice but I hope the elk got away.

Autumn is the hunting season so there are more people up in the hills than usual. It starts with Bow and Arrow for a few weeks then they are allowed to use progressively more powerful guns. These two, who we met just as it was getting dark, where after a male elk they had heard calling. We had also heard it the previous night, a beautiful, eerie sound like a mixture between a bugle and someone tuning bagpipes. The hunters were very nice but I hope the elk got away. — These two hunters, who we met just as it was getting dark, were after a male elk they had heard calling.

There are also lots of people fishing on the rivers. As we sit with our tired legs watching them being rowed down the river I can't help thinking that it looks like a very pleasant way to spend the day. — People fishing on the river. It looks like a very pleasant way to spend the day.

These guys were working a bit harder rounding up cattle

Colorant, of course, has some very steep hills to climb — Colorado, of course, has some very steep hills to climb

And there have been several days when the campsite was 5 miles further up than my legs thought they could go. Cycling at this altitude certainly takes its toll — And there have been several days when the campsite was 5 miles further up than my legs thought they could go

But when you get to the top you get some stunning views — When you get to the top you get some stunning views but cycling at this altitude takes its toll

This campsite was at the top of Ute pass. We were the only people there and these there was no where bear proof to hang our food bag overnight, so we left it in toilet building — This campsite was at the top of Ute pass and nowhere bear proof to hang our food bag so we left it in toilet building

In the morning there was a hole through our thick waterproof bag and into our trail mix that was about the size of this guy — In the morning there was a hole through our thick waterproof bag into our trail mix that was about the size of this guy

We saw our first black bear. It crossed the road in front of us and shot up the bank at great speed. It looked like quite a young one but luckily mum and dad were not around. In fact it caused a bit of a pile up as I was all for cycling on quickly and Bernie was trying to stop and take a picture.