COSF01 FAQ - Last update 8/25/01 (Rick Ramsey, minion)

Colorado SpodeFest 2001

Dates: September 7-9, 2001. There will probably be groups riding either side of this weekend as well.

Location: Taylor Park, Colorado (See "How to get to Taylor Park Trading Post" below)

Non-organizer: Jeff Deeney

Camp Central will be at the Taylor Park Trading Post (overlooking Taylor Park Reservoir). They have a store, gas station, cabins, and a cafe. To reserve a cabin, call or write:

Taylor Park Trading Post
23044 County Road 742
Almont, CO 81210-9704
970-641-2555

As of early June, there were only 3 of 33 cabins remaining. Get your reservations in now if you want a cabin. They require a one night deposit. They told me they would refund the deposit if you gave them sufficient cancellation notice (a couple of weeks). All cabins have electricity, full kitchen, and showers. Costs are:
$58 -Single room cabin, 2 double beds
$68 -Single room cabin, 3 double beds
$72 -Two room cabin, 2 double beds

There is some tent camping allowed around the cabins. The fee is $7/night. They will often let motorhomes park near a cabin for a couple of nights (for a fee).

If the Trading Post is full and you would like a cabin or site with hook-ups, try Holt's. They are 2 miles east of the Trading Post.

Holt's Guest Ranch
1711 CR 55
Almont, CO 81210
970-641-2733

16 cabins ranging in price from $43/night to $75/night. Each cabin has a gas cooking stove, fridge, dishes and flatware, pots and pans, linens (towels, sheets, pillows, etc)
15 cabins have toilets, 1 cabin does not
8 cabins have showers, 8 cabins do not (Central Shower House provided)
Extra roll-away bed $6/night
Extra person with own sleeping bag $4/night

Trailers and RVs - full hookups - $17/night for 2 persons, $5/night for each additional person

Campgrounds
There are several USFS campgrounds in the area. Campgrounds can be reserved at <http://www.reserveusa.com>. Nearby USFS campgrounds include:

• Dinner Station (about 7 miles north on gravel road) The last night the campground will be open is 9/9. Reservations are not available after 9/5.
• River's End (about 3 miles northwest on paved road).
• Lakeview (about 2 miles southwest on paved road) Upper loop (hookups) is closed for renovation; lower loop (no hookups) is open: first-come, first served.

Primitive Campsites
There are several primitive campsites if you want to camp amidst the trees. One such is about six miles east of the Trading Post on FR765; turn left off of the main road and follow a 2-track to a meadow. If you reach the 20 mile green and white paddle, you've gone .2 miles past the turnoff.

Maps
Trails Illustrated has excellent maps of the area. I would suggest the following maps:
131 - Crested Butte/Pearl Pass
132 - Gunnison/Pitkin

TI maps can be ordered through your local map or book store, or on-line at: <http://www.trailsillustrated.com/store/>
(under topo maps, click on state series maps).

Motorcycle parts
Bring what you need. The nearest motorcycle parts are in Gunnison, 1.5 hours away.

Jetting
Pearl Pass - 12,725 (highest)
Taylor Pass - 11,928
Taylor Park Reservoir - 9,300
Almont - 8,000 (lowest)

Most trails are in the mountains surrounding the reservoir. Jetting for 10,000' at 70 degrees would be a good starting point.

Difficulty of trails
The single track trails in Taylor Park should be considered intermediate to advanced.

There are also a lot of 4WD roads through Taylor Park. Most of them would be suitable for beginer riders or dual-sport riding.

Legality of bikes
It's an advantage to have a licensed bike, but not required. If you limit your road riding to the Taylor Park area, it's usually not a problem. There will be one long ride with a gas stop in Almont where licensed bikes are recommended. Riding into Crested Butte for lunch also requires a licensed bike.

Colorado riders should have either a license plate or OHV sticker. Out of state stickers are honored in Colorado. If you don't have either, plan on picking up a sticker in Colorado.

Ride Schedule
The ride leaders will determine the routes for each day. Jeff will post the next day's ride agenda on the door to cabin #13 (at the Trading Post) the previous evening. The ride agenda will include a meeting place and time for each ride. The meeting place for some rides may be at a location other than the Trading Post.

Feel free to organize your own daily ride. If you use the Trails Illustrated and/or USFS maps and consider the loop suggestions, you'll be able to put together a reasonable loop that will suit your preferences. The trails are not hard to find (most are signed), and navigation is straightforward.

How to get to Taylor Park Trading Post (corrected 8/25/01)

Go to Buena Vista, CO

• Drive west on CR 306 over Cottonwood Pass and down to Taylor Park Reservoir.
  (CR 306 becomes FR 209 at Cottonwood Pass)
• Turn left onto FR 742 and drive to FR 765.
• Turn left onto FR 765 and drive to Taylor Park Trading Post.

Go to Gunnison, CO

• Drive northeast on CR 135 to Almont.
• Turn right at the main intersection in Almont onto FR 742.
• Drive northeast on FR 742 to FR 765.
• Turn right onto FR 765 and drive to Taylor Park Trading Post.

(CR = County Road, FR=Forest Road)