Well Char, I agree. The only thing worse than having to look at a picture of a J**p is having to look at a picture of a
PINK J**p.
Actually I'm just joking. I've made some cool J**p friends that aren't bigoted; so I can't be either. Bring your best J**p friend (so he/she can see how good we are
).
OK people, since close to Denver/Colorado Springs will be too crowded, are we headed to the scenery of Ouray?
It's Area 1 in Book 1 with several (13) moderate trails: which we Explorers have ALREADY learned that stock and slightly modifieds can handle. A stupendously supreme chance to break in members who haven't figured out how good they are yet, on trails that are breathtaking.
Lots and lotsa plenty of trails; maybe this will be the best place to come. Whaddya think, people?
Only two trails get an extreme rating. As I read it, the ratings come from the danger of the slick shale switchbacks on narrrow ledges, and not the technical difficulty requiring the linedriving skill of the rockcrawling we had to traverse on the Moab slickrock. In other words, the difficult trails seem to require not lockers and extreme clearance, but the kahunas to drive the trail whether your vehicle is a BigDog or not. Lion's Back in Colorado, as it were.
I've been to the Ouray/ Telluride/ Silverton area before: hiking, on horseback, and on motorcyle; and can agree with Charles Wells (the author of the guidebook) that this area is as scenic as it gets in the continental US. There is nowhere here, no more beautiful than here.
Quoting him, "A unique combination of circumstances has created perhaps the finest place in the world for off-highway driving. I'm not aware of any other place where so many high altitude backroads have been made so easily accessible to the general public."
A perfect opportunity to bring your family to one of the best shows God has to offer here, whether you have a stock 4wd Explorer or a BigDog.
I cannot wait to trail to the abandoned mining towns in the upper Rockies and drive through Imogene Pass "one of the most thrilling passes to cross in Colorado" at 13,000+ ft on a moderate trail that I bet stockers can negotiate, exploring several turn of the century mining towns. And the dozen other trails I just read about.
How about doing the famous Alpine Loop (Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass)? -- moderate difficulty. "The lower section is quite rocky; however, with a little care, it can be negotiated by any high clearance 4wd vehicle... It is an exhilarating trip for drivers of all experience levels...There are many points of historical interest along the entire trail."...
I haven't even mentioned the Black Bear Pass extreme trail for the "heart-attack" crowd, or Poughkeepsie Gulch that requires a winch and lockers to negotiate.
Is Ouray/Telluride/Silverton good for you Coloradoans, or can you get a better idea closer to Denver without too much traffic for the holiday?
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Gerald
"Nerves of Steel; Brain of Chipmunk"
'99 Eddie Bauer 4x4 4.0L SOHC aka "The Jeepeater"
Dead Link Removed
"What the heck is he doing out here in that thing???"
