{"id":423078,"date":"2016-10-18T18:09:07","date_gmt":"2016-10-19T00:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/?p=423078"},"modified":"2016-10-18T18:09:07","modified_gmt":"2016-10-19T00:09:07","slug":"tr-riding-beneath-mount-sopris-hay-park-30-sept-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/2016\/10\/tr-riding-beneath-mount-sopris-hay-park-30-sept-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"TR: Riding Beneath Beautiful Mount Sopris (Hay Park) &#8211; 30 Sept 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Mount Sopris has always fascinated me.  Before I was even a backcountry skier and paid attention much to that sort of thing, Mount Sopris caught my eye.  Rising over 6400 feet from Carbondale at the valley floor with it&#8217;s twin east and west summits both sitting at 12,953&#8242;, Sopris is simply the Queen of the Valley..  It&#8217;s vertical rise reminds more of what I&#8217;ve experienced while skiing volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest.  I&#8217;ve loved <a href=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/2011\/05\/mount-sopris-laundry-chutes-5-6-11\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mount Sopris<\/a> for all the fabulous <a href=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/tr-mount-sopris-skiing-elbow-12-may-2016\/\" target=\"_blank\">skiing<\/a> that it has to offer, but now I love it for the biking too.<\/p>\n<p>Though the summit of Mount Sopris lies in Wilderness where mountain bikes are not allowed, the lower slopes of Sopris on the west, north, and northeast still lie out of Wilderness Boundaries.   Great mountain biking can be found on Prince Creek Road, but our destination was a bit higher in the Hay Park area.<\/p>\n<p>Though the skies were gray, the leaves brightened the mood as they were in their full golden glory.  Frank on the ascent.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/20160930_1415540HPFrank.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Frank Konsella mountain biking Hay Park.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Golden Pow.  Hay Park was beautiful!<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/20160930_143255HPBike.jpg\" width=\"450\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Fall colors on Hay Park near Mount Sopris.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Me.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161413Brittany.jpg\" width=\"450\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Brittany Walker Konsella mountain biking Hay Park near Mount Sopris.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161425_HDRBrittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><!--more  READ MORE!--><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161425bBrittany.jpg\" width=\"597\" height=\"800\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Frank.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/20160930_145233HPFrank.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"470\" alt=\"F\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/20160930_145242HPFrank.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"525\" alt=\"F\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Our descent began in the open fields.  Frank.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/20160930_1458320HPFrank.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"F\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/20160930_150337HPFrank.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"505\" alt=\"F\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Me.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161517_HDRBrittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161521_Burst13Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161521_Burst21Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161530_HDRBrittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"566\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The mountains were beginning to transition to winter.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161525Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Views from trials near Hay Park near Mount Sopris.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Views of the valley below.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161546Scenic.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Views of the valley from Hay Park.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Riding through the fallen yellow aspen leaves was amazing!  Frank.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/20160930_1557220HPFrank.jpg\" width=\"521\" height=\"800\" alt=\"F\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/20160930_160042HPFrank.jpg\" width=\"450\" height=\"800\" alt=\"F\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/20160930_160044Frank.jpg\" width=\"516\" height=\"800\" alt=\"F\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Me.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161559b_Burst07Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161601_Burst01Brittany.jpg\" width=\"450\" height=\"800\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161602bBrittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161608_Burst03Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"503\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Lower down, the forest alternated with more sage-like terrain.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161614b_HDRBrittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161614Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"444\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/0930161619a_Burst04Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"501\" alt=\"B\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>One last one of Frank toward the end of our ride.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/haypark_30sept2016\/20160930_161627HPFrank.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"F\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now you&#8217;ve seen it &#8211; Hay Park makes a great fall ride!  Mount Sopris seems to deliver the goods all times of the year!<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.avantlink.com\/link.php?ml=119785&amp;p=23393&amp;pw=29053\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mount Sopris has always fascinated me.  Before I was even a backcountry skier and paid attention much to that sort of thing, Mount Sopris caught my eye.  Rising over 6400 feet from Carbondale at the valley floor with it&#8217;s twin east and west summits both sitting at 12,953&#8242;, Sopris is simply the Queen of the Valley..  It&#8217;s vertical rise reminds more of what I&#8217;ve experienced while skiing volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest.  I&#8217;ve loved Mount Sopris for all the fabulous skiing that it has to offer, but now I love it for the biking too. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":423080,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-423078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biking"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/423078","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=423078"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/423078\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":423081,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/423078\/revisions\/423081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/423080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=423078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=423078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=423078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}