CO Fall Colors run?

[ahhjaws]

But there isn't a big chance of rolling is there? I'm just getting my lift so it will be worse for me. It would probably scare me quite a bit being off-camber on a shelf road, but if I know its not that bad, I won't worry about it too much.

 

[mrboyle]

IMHO the scarriest part of the trail is the drop down to the first switchback. Its really rocky and kinda scarry. The rest of the pass is intimidating, but not anywhere near as bad as the stories make it sound.

 

[ahhjaws]

What the hey, If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die while 4-wheeling as a fall off a huge shelf into the bottomless pit below. hehe.

So do you guys all want to take the same trails, or just a free for all, and meet back at the camp?

 

[mrboyle]

I think it would be a lot more enjoyable to do it as a group.

Also, it looks like we are going to have a little company: http://cohvco.org/ca4wdci/web_pgs/endosum.html

At leas it is limited to 100 vehicles, and I know for a fact at least half of thoes will be the extreem rockcrawlers which will spend the weekend in Montrose and not up on the mountain.

 

[ahhjaws]

It looks like they are doing harder stuff then we would so maybe we won't see to much of them, so lets start putting a list together of the trails we want to go on, and I can try and make some sort of schedule.

And make a list of who is going and not going.

 

[AspenX]

Black Bear Trafic Jam

I dont really want to meet a train of 47 trucks while Im going down those switchbacks! They are going to take the same popular trails we want to do. How about we try about 3weeks later ,when the leaves really are changing CO L OR ?

 

[ahhjaws]

Black bear is a one way, isn't it? Well, I'm up to anything. It would be harder to get the time off later for me.

Opinions?

 

[mattadams]

yes, black bear is one way for most of the trail. Once you come down to bridal veil falls, it becomes a two-way, and you have to watch out for the morons that are afraid to get within 10 feet of the ledge, LOL.

 

[mrboyle]

It doesn't mater which trails we run, they will all be fairly busy. Its the last offical weekend before most kids have to go back to school, so everyone that can is going to take advantage of it.

If we do Black Bear we should do it early Sunday morning. Gerald and I met in Ouray at 8:00 which put us on the tail around 8:30. We were the only ones there (except for a tour truck that we passed).

I'd like to do the following trails:
Saturday: Take Engineer to Poughkeepsie Gulch. From Poughkeepsie we could take Californa to Animas Forks. Lunch at Animas Forks. From Animas head south and double back across Picane and Placer Gulch. This will take us back to Californa. From there we could head back up California to Corkscrew Gulch.
If we take our time and add in several stops for photos this should take most of the day.

Sunday: Black Bear to Telluride. Fom Telluride take Imogene back to Ouray. We could stop either in Tellueide and eat or stop up at Tom Boy.
This should only take 4-5 hours to run.

I figure Monday will be everyone's day to return home but if anyone wants to do a quick run I'm sure we coul figure someting out.

 

[ahhjaws]

WOW! Sounds like a great plan! We could also go up Yankee Boy Basin, if there are still wildflowers, there are usually tons of them, and lots of other roads to explorer.

 

[ahhjaws]

Could we have directions to where the land is we can camp at? Should we all leave from there on Sat, or have a meeting time/place in Ouray?

 

[Heath]

Hmmmm.... If by some long stretch I do come up with the money I'd be up for Saturday, but Sunday I'd probably just head home or something... From the stories I hear I really don't want to do black bear with my truck in its current shape... Still need good ol 4low!!!

 

[ahhjaws]

But definately say I would be able to right? How often to people burn their brakes and fall off, we might have to let mine cool down a little bit along the way. lol

It's already scaring me, and I haven't even been there yet.

 

[Brian1]

Sounds like an awesome itinerary Mike! Just the trails I have wanted to do. Still hoping to go, I will finalize my plans probably next week. And as far as holding it off untill later, I wouldnt be able to come.

 

[ahhjaws]

I think it will be good sticking with that weekend. We can show all those jeepers how to wheel.

 

[GJarrett]

That's a good itinerary Mike.

Even 4wd stockers should be able to do Poughkeepsie Gulch except for that last obstacle. As long as some capable vehicles are in front to strap others up, you should do fine.

As for Black Bear, there is an alternate for those who don't want to do it. Here's a direct paste from our Colors Run 2000 itinerary and it worked great:

"Saturday - meet at 8:00, leave by 8:30.
Group One runs Ophir Pass (Trail #5) to Telluride. Meanwhile, Group Two tackles Black Bear Pass to Telluride. Then both groups meet in Telluride and take Imogene Pass back to Ouray. Telluride will have its Main St. blocked off that day for its annual Film Festival but we will be able to go around side streets through town."

That film festival may be going on again during the same weekend, so someone may want to check that out.

Group One got to Telluride before our group did and watched us go down the switchbacks from the town below (bring binoculars) and preceeded us on Imogene, with our group catching up and the whole group ended up together on Imogene. Heath and others may want to do the same thing. However, IMO I agree with what Mike said - Black Bear is not that dangerous. Yeah it's scary but if you take your time and drive carefully you'll enjoy the thrill of it. Just make sure your vehicle is in top shape with good brakes/etc but you should be doing that anyway before any run, right?

Someone may want to move this thread to the main Trail Runs forum. A lot of people from outside Colorado may want to join, but not be looking at this thread. You guys have a great time!

 

[GJarrett]

Heath, you moron, you moved this to Land Use Issues, no one will ever read it in there! I moved it again, LOL

PS: have another beer

 

[Heath]

Oops...

 

[mrboyle]

Originally posted by ahhjaws
Could we have directions to where the land is we can camp at? Should we all leave from there on Sat, or have a meeting time/place in Ouray?

I'm still working on a map and directions on how to get there. It isn't that easy to find but I will make a detailed map and post it no later than early next week.

 

[DarkMan]

Ah CCR

Great memories. CCR 2000 was my first Explorer trip. I promised myself I'd get back to Ouray and have yet to fulfill that promise. Funny thing is, we'll be in Colorado that weekend, but we'll be in the Toyota and won't have time for wheeling.

Here's the write up from my web site.

CCR 2000 at Ouray