11-07-2018, 05:01 AM
My story relates to one of the IBA Saddlesore 1000's that I organized. This particular event took place in August 2008, Denver to Cripple Creek, CO, 1000 miles in 24 hours. That summer had been the hottest in Colorado history. The route opened at 5:00 AM and immediately led participants towards 11,306' Berthoud Pass. On this morning, the pass was impassable, with 6"-8" of snow and slush covering the road and black ice underneath. Of the 60 riders, only 4 made it over the pass. Several went down in the attempt, including one guy on a gorgeous restored CBX. The rest of us did a widely-advised U-turn and took a 90-mile detour to circumvent the pass. Along the way, we encountered more snow and slush. One guy on a K1200LT lost control and slid off the roadway, down an embankment, and into some trees (I was directly behind him and watched him fishtail mercilessly over the edge). He was uninjured but his day was over. Most folks were able to make it through that gauntlet and finish the 1000 miles, but it was a nerve-wracking way to begin a long day in the saddle.