Steve, Jim and I met at the Peru creek trailhead near Montezuma to air down. Headed up Webster Pass and saw a good amount of traffic, mostly side by sides. The views got nice as we headed up and then cresting Webster Pass we could see some motor bikes descending Red Cone. We headed down the other side and it was the narrowest part of the trail for the next mile or so. One spot was very narrow and you had to pay close attention here. The rest of the trail was a breeze and in no time we were at the start of Red Cone.
We started up and it was immediately clear this trail was another level, which is exactly what I was hoping for! The first big obstacle had an easy bypass but I took the hardest line. The main obstacle was a breeze for all of us, although I did scrape and Steve and Jim got over the rock with no issues! It was just fun and easy rock crawling in the forest as it climbs. Then it gets to a dirt section that is very dugout and super flexy. I crawled right up but Steve and Jim both worked their way up!
Once thru the switchbacks the trail rises above tree line and flattens out. Climbing easily for a while you can see where you are headed and there are some sections of very chunky and loose rocks, making it challenging to climb but not too challenging. As you climb higher the ridge narrows until near the top it’s fairly narrow and exposed. Reaching the summit was awesome and we spent about an hour having lunch and chatting. The descent was exciting but very easy and the views the entire time are absolutely stunning!
Once back down to Webster pass we headed back towards the start of Radical Hill. As soon as this trail starts it’s clear it is another level of trail than what we’ve done up to this point. Rock crawling up a steep, loose trail with a few larger rocks in the ways giving you a few different lines to try if you feel like adding a little spice. I definitely tried to take the most challenging lines and other than a few scrapes here and there, my Jeep just crawled up and over every obstacle in its way. There were a couple places where an obstacle gave us a couple choices and trying the hard line I got held up on one spot and slid off course and had to back down a little and with lockers engaged, up and thru the rock obstacles. The next significant obstacle I took a better line and crawled up easily. Steve and Jim struggled a bit on these but not for long and they were back up with me as we start up the narrow and off camber upper sections of Radical hill. The off camber, dirt section didn’t phase me much but the short wheel base Jeeps felt it more than I did. The final couple of climbs got really, really narrow and rocky and I hugged the drivers side of the road almost too much. Once thru the narrow section it gets even steeper and chunky and loose, but an absolute BLAST!
In no time we topped out, with a large mountain goat watching over the cliff as we topped Radical Hill. After this Jim stayed west heading towards Breckinridge and Steve and I headed north on Deer Creek, which was a fun trail that drops quickly back down into Montezuma.
What a day! The loop we did today is probably a top 5 trail for me, the views, the variety, the crawling….. so much FUN!