The Monarch Crest Enduro

More pics at PinkBike's photo Epic, link on image

What an epic. My first enduro was a Keith Darner event (BME Buffalo Pass, 2012). Maybe that is why I feel like this is the way enduro ought to be. Tough, long backcountry stages on the juiciest trails around. Veritable IMBA epic trails that people come from far-flung foreign countries to ride. Grueling transitions that have the strongest mountain bikers in Colorado shouldering their bikes to get to the top. And then rushing up to the race director to thank him with a huge grin and a high five at the end of the lung-busting, technical, descent-that would-not-end.

Day 1 consisted of the classics. We pedaled up to the top of Starvation Creek, then pedal-transferred again to the top of Silver Creek. By any standards, a big day in the saddle. Followed by bottomless barrels of Ska brews and a quality dinner at the River's Edge in Salida. Racers sprawled out on the deck and watched the river flow and the sun set. I was happy to be sitting in 3rd, only 20 seconds back from 1st (which was remarkably a tie between Megan Rose and Sarah Rawley).

Day 2 had me quite nervous. After the long pedal up Tomichi Pass, we had 2 miles of steep, loose hike-a-bike to the top of Canyon Creek. This is a seldom ridden trail in Gunnison County, and one that I did not enjoy while pre-riding. I was intimidated by the dirt-bike rutted creek crossings and their intricate roots. I had a hard time finding a flow 2 weeks earlier when I pre-rode it, and I found myself wishing I'd brought a moto to race on, despite the fact that I've never ridden a moto in my life.
Come race day I trudged up the climb, proudly learning that the best way to shoulder my bike was to heave it over my head, similar to the way I would do with my Army rucksack for road marches back in the day.
Dropping in 30 seconds behind Sarah in the huge high alpine cirque, I was able to keep her in my sights for the first few riveting minutes of the stage. When we dropped into the trees and the moto-whoops, I excitedly saw little clouds of dust on the trail and thought I was about to catch her. Instead, I passed 2 dudes before I came into the finish line. Sarah caught 3 dudes. Somehow she and I tied for the stage win.

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Day 3 consisted of my favorite stage, Greens Creek, and Fooses, (which I had a hard time remembering much about, other than the fact that the entrance was gravity defy-ingly steep). We transitioned to both stages on the Monarch Crest. Early in the first pedal, it began to groppel. Which turned to sideways snow. By the time we arrived at the start line, there was a fire going at the shelter. We warmed up our hands as best we could, and prepared for some good-ol' wet, off-camber roots. Somehow I managed to have another clean run and finished overjoyed to have survived, and to have conquered my crippling fear of wet roots.

See more at MountainFlyer, link on image

I stalled at the bottom of Greens and tried my hardest to savor every moment of the race. By the time I arrived back to the top of the Crest and was preparing to drop into Fooses, I was one of the last riders still on course. I felt good about Fooses and prepared to pin it. After cleaning the entrance and the first few turns, I put my bike down in a loose corner just as I was preparing to pass a rider in front of me. Eventually he broke his chain and I did pass him. Shortly thereafter I rode off course, over a log and into the woods. Suffice it to say, Fooses was not my strongest stage of the race. But I still managed to finish in my happy place.
Rest assured, I'll be back to race the Monarch Crest Enduro again next year.

Thanks to Keith Darner and everyone who had a hand in putting this one together.

Thanks to all my sponsors for helping me have an amazing year of racing.