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KEENAN ALEXANDER
SAN JUAN HUT SYSTEMS SUPPORTS MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVENTURES
RIDE ON Words by Bobby L’Heureux + Kim Fuller
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e had just over two miles to go when
official and southern Colorado was already
passing hikers shared some words of
feeling hot and dry. Most of this first ride is up
inspiration: “You are almost to the cabin.” They
a dirt road — 18 miles to Bolam Hut from the
thought we were trying to make it to Graysill
base of Purgatory Ski Resort at an elevation of
Mine historic site, just a quarter of a mile up the
8,793 feet. The blazing sun and Father’s Day
road. Even so, those words of encouragement
traffic made for a hot, dusty and pretty grueling
were exactly what we needed to keep pushing
ride. Halfway through and after about 1,500
just a little farther.
feet of gain, the smooth dirt road shifts to a
It was June 21, 2020 and day one of our San
true mountain doubletrack with a rocky climb
Juan Hut Systems’ Durango to Moab multi-day
for the remaining 2,000-plus feet up to get to
mountain bike trip. Summer had just become
Bolam Hut.
