STUCK ON TRAIL RIDGE ROAD

A Denver TV station reported that a group of motorcyclists from Florida found out weather conditions can turn quickly on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park…even in May.

The bikers were riding across the country on Harleys, headed home to Florida. The six friends began their cross-country trip in Oregon, but the real adventure started on the ride up Trail Ridge Road. First came the rain, then blowing snow.
"Blizzard, whiteout, horizontal show," George Lindsey said.

He said the road was so slick, it was impossible to ride.

"I went down and I'm thinking, 'Oh, these guys are going to go off and leave me,'" he said. "And then another went down, and another, and another--domino effect. Only one of us didn't fall over.”

At 12,000 feet in a blizzard, Trail Ridge was being evacuated.

They abandoned their bikes for a van ride down the hill. The road was still closed three days later.

"A couple of us had to abandon so quickly all of our gear was left on the bike," Ford Peacock said. "So we had to buy fresh underwear at the hardware store."

"We're worried because they're telling us there's going to be 100 mile per hour winds, and the bikes are probably under some snow," said Art Erickson said. "The rangers were saying, 'You have got to get out of here. We're evacuating this place,'"

Plow driver reported more than four feet of snow had fallen.

The smiling biker gang thanked the locals who took them in on an unexpectedly adventurous delay to their journey.

"When it's all said and done this is going to be the highlight of the trip," said Chuck Hunt. "We've met so many great people, wonderful town, scenery's phenomenal. We really couldn't ask for more, assuming we get our bikes and we go on our way."

Trail Ridge Road finally reopened, and the group The bikers said their plan was to retrieve their bikes, check the weather forecast, and pick a route where they're likely to find clear skies and smooth riding as they head east.