Sometimes the most challenging and arduous adventure is the one in your own backyard. The Colorado Trail links up the state’s largest metropolitan region with some of the best mountain bike trails in the country, spanning over 500 miles through the rugged and scenic alpine wilderness from Denver to Durango. Once summer rolls around, the trail clears of snow and those daring enough to attempt a through-ride set out into the unknown. This past summer a group of Colorado based Yeti Ambassadors set out to give it a go for themselves. Heading the charge was Olympic snowboard athlete Justin Reiter, along with good friends Craig Jones, Joey Schusler, and Sam Seward. The team encountered deep snow, high mountain passes, pristine single track, and views beautiful enough to convince you to never leave Colorado again. Averaging over 50 miles per day above 10,000 ft while carrying all of the gear needed to survive was exhausting. The days and miles passed. Some passed slower than others, and others passed too quickly. Adventures like this calm the mind, rekindle the simple love for riding, and will never be forgotten by those who experience them.
 | The first few days were eye opening. I don't think any of us thought it would be as hard as it has been so far, but we're finally settling into our pace and things are going much more smoothly. - Sam Seward |
| We've been riding for half an hour now, and it's official. We've gone 1% of the way, 5 miles. It's going to be one hell of a ride. - Justin Reiter |
| BWe were slowly falling behind our daily goal of 50 miles a day. It was looking like we were destined to spend a few extra days out there, until on the 6th day we had a random boost of energy and were able to cover almost 80 miles and get back ahead of schedule. From that point on, we set our eyes on Durango and never looked back. - Justin Reiter |
| You don't really realize exactly what '500 miles' means until you are out there day after day. At 200 miles, I was feeling exhausted and having a hard time wrapping my head around another 300 miles. You just have to keep on trucking. - Joey Schusler |
| The ASRc has been the perfect bike for the job so far. Light and nimble, but still a nice smooth ride. You really get to know a bike well when you're riding it for 8 hours a day, day in and day out. - Sam Seward |
| It's a scorcher of a day out here and we haven't been able to find water for the last 20 miles. You really have to think ahead and plan wisely when you're out here on the trail. - Craig Jones |
| It's so cool to have a group of friends that is willing and eager to get after it like this. The memories formed on a trip this epic certainly won't be forgotten any time soon. - Joey Schusler |
| It's been brutal so far, but 100% worth every grind and push up every hill. Once we got to the San Juans on day 7, the scenery went from great to unbelievable. - Justin Reiter |
| We're running low on food, and we still have a day to go until our next resupply. Planning for a trip like this has been a real challenge, but we're learning every step of the way. - Justin Reiter |
| We did it. The end is in sight and it feels amazing. Tomorrow we roll down to town, get a nice greasy breakfast at the Durango Diner, and then it's back to normal life. - Joey Schusler |
Sam Seward, Justin Reiter, Craig Jones & Joey Schusler.
Film, Photos, & Story by: Joey Schusler
www.yeticycles.com
My wife and I were in Durango summer before last, and had Hermosa Tours shuttle us up to Kennebeck Pass. We rode the last 20 miles of this trail back to town and for us, that was plenty epic! We are flatlanders from Texas admitted, but I'll have to tell you when we encountered a brown bear up the hillside from us it was quite spooky, and exhilarating! That's something you just don't see where we live...