More than 300 cyclists show up for 30th annual Ride for the Pass

Three decades later and the local riders still know how to show out for Independence Pass. In its 30^th year, Ride for the Pass returned on Saturday with its annual race, all a benefit for the Independence Pass Foundation (IPF).

“Great to see such a good turnout this year. With last-minute sign-ups, we probably had about 325, 330 riders, which is a really good number,” said IPF Executive Director Karin Teague. “It shows how much the community loves this event. It also indicates the support we enjoy throughout our community, which is hugely appreciated. We couldn’t do the work we do without events like this.”

Proudly sporting a Colorado Avalanche hockey jersey despite the team’s exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs only the night before, she took to the megaphone prior to Saturday’s ride, thanking the participants and sponsors before getting help with the countdown from a few young fans in attendance.

Ride for the Pass is a 10-mile, road-cycling race that begins at the winter closure gate on Highway 82, just outside of Aspen, and finishes at the ghost town of Independence. Many participants also opted for the easier, untimed options, including via e-bike.

A post-race barbecue, hosted by the IPF board of directors, was held at the winter closure gate upon the cyclists return.

“The mission of the Independence Pass Foundation, which really hasn’t changed in 35 years — we’ve been around for 35 years, we’ve been doing the ride for 30 — is to restore and protect the ecological, historical, and aesthetic integrity of Independence Pass,” Teague said. “We work closely with the Forest Service on all of our projects, and that includes keeping up the toilets, fixing fences, maintaining trails. We plant trees with kids in areas that have been affected by road cuts or other human activity. We do quite a bit of science work, trying to understand how climate change is affecting our alpine landscape.”

Closed during the winter months, Independence Pass is one of the highest paved roads in the U.S., reaching an elevation of just over 12,000 feet as it goes over the Continental Divide. When the road is open during the summer, it offers residents and visitors alike an alternate route into and out of the Roaring Fork Valley.

Led for 20 years by Executive Director Mark Fuller and Development Director Judy Olesen, the IPF has long been an important steward for protecting Independence Pass. Teague took the reins in April 2015, making this year’s Ride for the Pass her 10^th as the foundation’s director.

The IPF also hosts a similar event, Ski for the Pass, in February.

“We’ve managed to pull it off most of our 30 years, and we are grateful for everyone hanging in there through the rough weather years,” Teague said, reflecting on the longevity of Ride for the Pass. “What a privilege to call your work taking care of this magical place.”

Boulder’s Marshall Graybill was the unofficial winner, reaching the finish line on Saturday in 38 minutes, 26.4 seconds. Aspen’s Markus Dewire was second (38:29.7), and Woody Creek’s Matthew Fox was third overall (38:32.7).

Caroline Tory of Snowmass was the top female finisher (47:10.8), followed by Carbondale’s Bryn Brendamour (50:24.8) and Carbondale’s Betsy Welch (52:31.7).

A wet spring has delayed the opening of Independence Pass for the summer, with the Colorado Department of Transportation tentatively circling May 30 as the date it will unlock the gates for vehicle traffic.

“That’s a week later than usual because of some heavy snow and avalanche issues,” Teague said. “It will not get open for Memorial Day weekend. There is a lot of snow up top. These last few weeks brought a couple of feet up high and that — combined with avalanche mitigation work that had to be accomplished for CDOT to be able to work safely up there — means everything got slowed down.”

acolbert@aspentimes.com