2017 Colorado 600 | Day 4 & 5

Mid point of the week and 3 days of riding above 10,000 ft. elevation are starting to have many of the riders feeling the effects. Participants in the CO 600 arrive in South Fork, Colorado from all over the US. With the host hotel sitting at an elevation near 8,200 ft., all of the day's riding is "uphill" from there. Many of the routes and trails top out at 12,000 ft. or above making even routine activities difficult and adding to the challenge of riding your dirt bike.

This morning the riders were treated to a discussion on local influence and how clubs can make a positive difference in protecting and enhancing riding opportunities. A local rider and finisher of the arduous Dakar Rally along with a local ISDE competitor have both been instrumental in establishing successful and energetic local trail riders groups that are working tirelessly to keep their local riding areas and opportunities open.

Today's activities culminated with the rider banquet at the beautiful South Fork Golf Course featuring KTM's Quinn Cody as the evening's guest speaker. Quinn entertained the audience with his accomplishments and experiences riding the Baja 1000, the Dakar Rally and specifically his most recent achievement of competing and completing the Red Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro on a KTM 1090 Adventure Bike!

The sun rises on Day 5 of the CO 600 with another clear and cloudless sky. It’s going to be another great day on the trails. Daily showers are keeping the dust at bay and keeping trails damp. This morning’s educational session gave riders an insight into the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Program and the funding stream that this program brings to improve and maintain multiple use recreational opportunities. The program generates about $4.5 million per year from the annual sale of required OHV stickers and has contributed over $45 million to OHV recreation since 1991. Funds are distributed through a competitive grant process to assist land managers, OHV clubs, nonprofits and local governments for OHV trail maintenance & construction, OHV trailheads & parking areas, trail signs, maps, rider education and law enforcement.

One more day of epic riding and the 2017 CO 600 draws to a close. Keep up to date with current TPA activities and planning for the 2018 CO 600 (9-14 Sep 2018) at http://www.coloradotpa.org . See you next year.