We started out from Westcliffe in the Sangre de Cristo mountains with a temperature of 34 ◦ F at 8,000 ft. When we arrived at Fort Bent late morning it was 77 ◦ F at 4,200 ft. So we dropped 3,800 ft. in elevation and gained 43 degrees of warmth – real good. Leaving Westcliffe midmorning, we encountered about 6-8 elk, mostly cows, in the road near Wolf Springs Ranch on Hwy 69 South to Walsenburg. We slowed and they cleared the fences just ahead of us so that was fine. During our twilight return, there were over a hundred in the same spot! There were at least 15 in the road and some were unable to clear the fence due to the high road cut. They ran along side the fence and we basically had to stop and give them time to sort things out. There was this one young bull elk I had my eyes on ‘cuz he was staring at me and trumpeting! What does a motorcycle look like to a young bull elk? Definitely did not want to tangle with him or any of the others.

William and Charles Bent, along with Ceran St. Vrain, built the original fort in 1833 to trade with Indians and trappers. Trading goods were moved between St. Louis and Sante Fe then south on the El Camino Real to Mexico City. Trade goods included buffalo hides, beaver furs, horses, silver, leather goods, glass and tobacco. For much of its 16-year history, the fort was the major white settlement on the Santa Fe Trail between Missouri and Mexico. The fort provided explorers, trappers, and then the U.S. Army with needed supplies, wagon repairs, livestock, good food, rest and protection in the vast land of the Great Plains. Famous explorers like Kit Carson and John Fremont met there with others to talk about the changing life on the Plains and this new country - America.
When the war with Mexico came in 1846, the fort became a staging area for the United States Army. When Mexico was defeated, the boundary between these two great countries was moved south along the Rio Grande River which begins in the Colorado Rockies too.

When the war with Mexico came in 1846, the fort became a staging area for the United States Army. When Mexico was defeated, the boundary between these two great countries was moved south along the Rio Grande River which begins in the Colorado Rockies too.

One of the most educated and well traveled men at Bent’s Fort was a hunter named Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. He started out life as the infant son of Sacajawea and accompanied his mother on the famous Lewis and Clark expedition.

There are two great opportunities to visit the renovated fort in 2010. You should consider a ride to the fort that will coincide with one of these events:

• Bent’s Fort Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration June 4-5, 2010

• October 9, 2010:  Fur Trade Encampment

Eating establishments are few and far between. We found Boss Hogg’s Saloon in La Junta to be a good place for big burgers and chicken fried sandwiches that will fuel you up for the ride.

Life’s best just cruisin’

Matt Allan