{"id":422109,"date":"2016-08-03T19:06:25","date_gmt":"2016-08-04T01:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/?p=422109"},"modified":"2016-08-14T10:40:54","modified_gmt":"2016-08-14T16:40:54","slug":"steamboat-mountain-biking-from-rabbit-ears-to-soda-mountain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/steamboat-mountain-biking-from-rabbit-ears-to-soda-mountain\/","title":{"rendered":"Steamboat Mountain Biking: From Rabbit Ears to Soda Mountain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Steamboat Springs will always hold a special place in my heart.  I had some of my first powder skiing there as a child and I frequented it regularly during my college years (and beyond) for various freestyle skiing competitions &#8211; oooh, yeah, those good ol&#8217; bumps on Voodoo.  My first 24-hour mountain bike race was even there.  Even though it was over a dozen years ago, I remember it well, especially freezing my ass off at night.<\/p>\n<p>That said, for all the skiing I&#8217;ve done in the Steamboat Springs area, I haven&#8217;t given the riding much justice.  So, after our friend Larry visited Crested Butte, he insisted I come up to Steamboat and sample their goods.  He had a special ride planned out for us.  We would ride from Rabbit Ears to Soda Mountain and then back to town.<\/p>\n<p>From Rabbit Ears, we started out following a road that climbed above Dumont Lake which gave us some magnificent views.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_101208Sunflowers.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Mountain biking near Rabbit Ears\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Fog hovered in the valley below, while the Gore Range rose above it in the distance.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_101219GoreRange.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Views of Gore Range from near Rabbit Ears.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A view of Dumont Lake below.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_101641DumontLake.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Dumont Lake near Rabbit Ears.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><!--more READ MORE!--><\/p>\n<p>We then hopped on the Wyoming Trail which started off as a fun descent, and then become more cross-country.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_102314WyomingTrail.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Mountain biking the Wyoming Trail near Steamboat Springs. \" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We rode by quite a few alpine lakes, including this one &#8211; Fish Hook.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_104320FishHookLake.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Mountain biking near Fish Hook Lake near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And Elmo.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_110833Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Mountain biking by Lake Elmo near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A few more shots of Larry on the Wyoming Trail.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_105532LarryRide.jpg\" width=\"450\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine mountain biking near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_110830Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Larry Fontain Mountain biking near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Instead of taking the turn off the trail toward the Steamboat ski area, we continued on the Wyoming Trail to Buffalo Pass.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_112057TrailSign.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Mountain biking near Steamboat Springs\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_114756_Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine mountain biking near Steamboat Springs\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_122851Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella mountain biking near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Approaching Summit Lake.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_124002Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella mountain biking near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We stopped for a rest near Summit Lake.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_124459Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"564\" alt=\"Mountain biking near Summit Lake near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We continued up on the Buffalo Pass Road where we veered off on a single track to head up toward Soda Mountain.  The single track is unmarked, not well-traveled, and pretty hard to find.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_131826BikeTrail.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We climbed up the thin trail toward the top of Soda Mountain.  Larry.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_1322260Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine Mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_132541Larry.jpg\" width=\"489\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Me.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_132430Brittany.jpg\" width=\"450\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then the trail got really faint.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_134413ThisIsTheTrail.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_134834LarryThisIsTheTrail.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"541\" alt=\"Mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then there was the down &#8211; a fun descent off of Soda Mountain.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_1426400Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"463\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_143021Brittany.jpg\" width=\"605\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_143150Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_145041Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"575\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_145311Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella mountain biking Soda Mountain near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/steamboat_22july2016\/20160722_145313Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella mountain biking near Steamboat Springs.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.avantlink.com\/link.php?ml=221647&amp;p=23393&amp;pw=29053\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For all the skiing I&#8217;ve done in the Steamboat Springs area, I haven&#8217;t given the riding much justice.  So, after our friend Larry visited Crested Butte, he insisted I come up to Steamboat and sample their goods.  He had a special ride planned out for us.  We would ride from Rabbit Ears to Soda Mountain and then back to town&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":422115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,91],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-422109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biking","category-park-range-steamboat"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=422109"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422109\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":422237,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422109\/revisions\/422237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/422115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=422109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=422109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=422109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}