- Joined
- June 16, 2003
- Messages
- 31,592
- Reaction score
- 3,273
- City, State
- Humboldt, KS
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 Mounty
Whew. I'm pooped. What a trip.
First, I must thank Stang5lgt, Dkchrist, and Jeffbethandkidz for making this trip possible.
We left Humboldt around 6:00 PM Monday Aug 27 and headed west toward the Denver area. I only made it to Oakley or so before we turned into a rest area for a small nap. See, there was a reason...
We pulled into Stang5lgt's place around 11:00 Mountain time Tuesday, and promptly began tearing up the Puff wagon for a 4406 transfer case swap. There were quite a few stupid hangups but the swap was completed in under 6 hours--all the while MLB Sheri was sitting there like a good soldier, only asking if we were about finished 36 times. We even got to ride in the famous Mounty Josh built. That was pretty cool.
Work proceeded too" down and dirty" for pictures-but I will tell you I did manage to stick my head into the drain pan 2 times.
Ok on to the Hotel
Oh--um, on the drive there I noticed a grinding noise --and it hit me that I did not do what I tell everyone else to do, which is change the trans mount to a new one with the new transfer case.
The hotel clerk didn't even seem to notice all the fluids on me, why in the heck do hotels use white towels anyway????
We got a real good nights sleep, and headed to the mountains.
After contacting Jeffbethandkidz, we headed to their secret campsite between Vail and Leadville.
We set up a permanent base to live for a week. Sheri even set up a bathroom add on with porta potty
Day 2
We head into Leadville to find a trans mount at Carquest. "It will be here at 8:00 AM tomorrow.
So, we decided to take it easy and drive around Leadville, Minturn, Redcliff and the surrounding areas--
Up this road we found plenty of firewood due to a logging operation in the area, so we grabbed some and headed back.
I got a fire gong just in time for it to rain hard enough that we bailed into the Mounty to ride it out. My fire burned through it though, and kept us warm once the rain moved out.
Day 3
Plan is to go into Leadville, pick up and change the trans mount then go to the laundry place to wash some things and take a hot shower since I will get dirty.
We got to Carquest and found the part was missing in the order, but they had a gal who would get it here by 2:30. So, we wash up , wash some laundry and head out for some exploring. Went to Carquest to get the Transmission mount and headed back to camp.
Sheri's boss found us. They were setting up their pop-up when we got back
I changed the trans mount, and was greeted with a steaming bowl of hot chili. Ok, you guys can stay.
Day 4.
McAllister Gulch 1--Puff Wagon 0
Plan was to shake down Puff on McAllister Gulch. We made it almost to the top when we encountered the obstacle from hell rock which you have to twist your truck up and over. No locker or winch--and being alone we could not make it. Some ATV riders came by, one of them made a " you're braver than I am" comment and I kicked everyone out of the truck to give it another go. Nope. OK, this is not good, since the approach is about 45 dgerees and now I have to turn around. Sheri bailed out without the camera, and the trail itself was too bumpy for pictures. Sorry for the lack of video but I about rolled it down the mountain about 500 feet. My new " most scared" moment-
I gassed it right as it was about to go over and pulled the front end out and down the hill. All good.
The grade going back down was too much for our passengers so they offered to walk ahead--lol
We went back to camp where I licked my wounds.
Time for another firewood run. Sheri and I headed out to gather some, thinking our "guests " would be cooking again. Nope, they followed us up to the reservoir just to make sure we were ok. Headed back down and who do we see coming up the trail but Jeff-Beth and yes their kids. We hung out by the campfire, ate leftover chili and some buffalo burgers while making plans for the next days runs---Quote Jeff " I coulda winched you up McAllister ya know"--ouch
Day5
Sheri wanted this certain handbag she'd seen at the farmers Market in Minturn. Problem was the farmers market is in Vail today. We went anyway.
Wow, well, when we finally did make it out of that madness, without the silly bag by the way, I called Jeff and asked if he'd still like to go hit Mosquito pass.
We met up in Leadville , I suggested Weston pass as the return.
Well, folks, Mosquito Pass is kinda bumpy. Most pictures were blurry.
The views up there are amazing
About 1/3 of the way back down you encounter the North London Mine
Air pump ruins
Heading back down
Once we were down we headed over to Weston pass for the quickest route back to leadville.
Found the "mother of all" campsites with it's own little elevated beaver pond
Jeff Playing in an erosion hill
No Hands!
I think we did weston in about an hour.
After this we all headed back to Leadville where Sheri and I had the privelige to have super with Jeff's Family. They have a great sense of togetherness established, it is always nice to spend time with them.
After dinner at the Golden Burro, we parted ways vowing to do this again some day. What a great day we all had.
Crunching on these girl scout cookies is pretty good too. Thanks Beth
Day 6
With sadness we now have to break camp and head back to Kansas. Since we had conquered the "highest pass" we thought it only fitting to conquer the "highest road" also , and, since I70 traffic was at a standstill ( 2.5 hours from Vail to Idaho springs) we bailed off the highway and headed up Mount Evans
We got to the top, I got out and it was freezing! Oh man I think it was like 25 degrees, so I drove over to the Mount Evans sign, parked in the Handicap stall, took a picture and we headed back down--
A resident family of Mountain Goats
Ptarmigan > Sheep
If you zoom in on this picture you will see a whole covey(?) of them
We had to wait for them to cross but the one above just sat there
Oldest living organisms on earth
Bristlecone Pines
Man what a great trip. Can't wait to go back next year.
Thanks Corkey for Loaning me the sliders. I think there is a new "love bump" on one of them.
Thanks to Vroomzoomboom for letting me use your scanguage.
First, I must thank Stang5lgt, Dkchrist, and Jeffbethandkidz for making this trip possible.
We left Humboldt around 6:00 PM Monday Aug 27 and headed west toward the Denver area. I only made it to Oakley or so before we turned into a rest area for a small nap. See, there was a reason...
We pulled into Stang5lgt's place around 11:00 Mountain time Tuesday, and promptly began tearing up the Puff wagon for a 4406 transfer case swap. There were quite a few stupid hangups but the swap was completed in under 6 hours--all the while MLB Sheri was sitting there like a good soldier, only asking if we were about finished 36 times. We even got to ride in the famous Mounty Josh built. That was pretty cool.
Work proceeded too" down and dirty" for pictures-but I will tell you I did manage to stick my head into the drain pan 2 times.
Ok on to the Hotel
Oh--um, on the drive there I noticed a grinding noise --and it hit me that I did not do what I tell everyone else to do, which is change the trans mount to a new one with the new transfer case.
The hotel clerk didn't even seem to notice all the fluids on me, why in the heck do hotels use white towels anyway????
We got a real good nights sleep, and headed to the mountains.
After contacting Jeffbethandkidz, we headed to their secret campsite between Vail and Leadville.
We set up a permanent base to live for a week. Sheri even set up a bathroom add on with porta potty
Day 2
We head into Leadville to find a trans mount at Carquest. "It will be here at 8:00 AM tomorrow.
So, we decided to take it easy and drive around Leadville, Minturn, Redcliff and the surrounding areas--
Up this road we found plenty of firewood due to a logging operation in the area, so we grabbed some and headed back.
I got a fire gong just in time for it to rain hard enough that we bailed into the Mounty to ride it out. My fire burned through it though, and kept us warm once the rain moved out.
Day 3
Plan is to go into Leadville, pick up and change the trans mount then go to the laundry place to wash some things and take a hot shower since I will get dirty.
We got to Carquest and found the part was missing in the order, but they had a gal who would get it here by 2:30. So, we wash up , wash some laundry and head out for some exploring. Went to Carquest to get the Transmission mount and headed back to camp.
Sheri's boss found us. They were setting up their pop-up when we got back
I changed the trans mount, and was greeted with a steaming bowl of hot chili. Ok, you guys can stay.
Day 4.
McAllister Gulch 1--Puff Wagon 0
Plan was to shake down Puff on McAllister Gulch. We made it almost to the top when we encountered the obstacle from hell rock which you have to twist your truck up and over. No locker or winch--and being alone we could not make it. Some ATV riders came by, one of them made a " you're braver than I am" comment and I kicked everyone out of the truck to give it another go. Nope. OK, this is not good, since the approach is about 45 dgerees and now I have to turn around. Sheri bailed out without the camera, and the trail itself was too bumpy for pictures. Sorry for the lack of video but I about rolled it down the mountain about 500 feet. My new " most scared" moment-
I gassed it right as it was about to go over and pulled the front end out and down the hill. All good.
The grade going back down was too much for our passengers so they offered to walk ahead--lol
We went back to camp where I licked my wounds.
Time for another firewood run. Sheri and I headed out to gather some, thinking our "guests " would be cooking again. Nope, they followed us up to the reservoir just to make sure we were ok. Headed back down and who do we see coming up the trail but Jeff-Beth and yes their kids. We hung out by the campfire, ate leftover chili and some buffalo burgers while making plans for the next days runs---Quote Jeff " I coulda winched you up McAllister ya know"--ouch
Day5
Sheri wanted this certain handbag she'd seen at the farmers Market in Minturn. Problem was the farmers market is in Vail today. We went anyway.
Wow, well, when we finally did make it out of that madness, without the silly bag by the way, I called Jeff and asked if he'd still like to go hit Mosquito pass.
We met up in Leadville , I suggested Weston pass as the return.
Well, folks, Mosquito Pass is kinda bumpy. Most pictures were blurry.
The views up there are amazing
About 1/3 of the way back down you encounter the North London Mine
Air pump ruins
Heading back down
Once we were down we headed over to Weston pass for the quickest route back to leadville.
Found the "mother of all" campsites with it's own little elevated beaver pond
Jeff Playing in an erosion hill
No Hands!
I think we did weston in about an hour.
After this we all headed back to Leadville where Sheri and I had the privelige to have super with Jeff's Family. They have a great sense of togetherness established, it is always nice to spend time with them.
After dinner at the Golden Burro, we parted ways vowing to do this again some day. What a great day we all had.
Crunching on these girl scout cookies is pretty good too. Thanks Beth
Day 6
With sadness we now have to break camp and head back to Kansas. Since we had conquered the "highest pass" we thought it only fitting to conquer the "highest road" also , and, since I70 traffic was at a standstill ( 2.5 hours from Vail to Idaho springs) we bailed off the highway and headed up Mount Evans
We got to the top, I got out and it was freezing! Oh man I think it was like 25 degrees, so I drove over to the Mount Evans sign, parked in the Handicap stall, took a picture and we headed back down--
A resident family of Mountain Goats
Ptarmigan > Sheep
If you zoom in on this picture you will see a whole covey(?) of them
We had to wait for them to cross but the one above just sat there
Oldest living organisms on earth
Bristlecone Pines
Man what a great trip. Can't wait to go back next year.
Thanks Corkey for Loaning me the sliders. I think there is a new "love bump" on one of them.
Thanks to Vroomzoomboom for letting me use your scanguage.
