Colorado B.S. Thread

I dont think Rollins Pass has that many off camber shelf roads that are snow clogged....so its a whole different deal than Montezuma Basin. Rollins being an old railroad grade, the snow tends to pile up in the cuts. As long as you bring your shovel and dig it out before trying to wheel across a sloped drift you should be OK.

 

LOL- I was just going to post that too.

His FJ Cruiser was modified for off-roading with a 6-inch lift, 35-inch tires and a snorkel for driving through water, he said.

 

@RockyMtnTRD saw you drive by my jobsite at Baseline and Broadway. I was the guy with the dumb look on his face staring at you lol

 

Ack, accidentally posted in trading post, since deleted.

I did a Colorado beer trip this month.

Spotted in Colorado Springs, between Red Leg and Bristol (the days path was Garden of the Gods, Trinity, Red Leg, Bristol, Iron Turd, err Bird and Phantom Canyon).

 

Some of that you have to chalk up to media. His response when commented on the snorkel etc. was media just asked him to describe his vehicle. Of course, how they then incorporate that information into the resulting article can totally skew or change the context of it. The description of the vehicle didn't really have anything to do with the incident from what he says.

Now, that said, yeah. Both parties were up there solo, and nobody had a strap? Either party attempted a road in those conditions without recovery gear, never mind alone? I don't know the guy, I don't know the situation, but yes, it sure reads like 'I bought a decked out toy and I don't know how to use it.' Something else he said also makes me think that. But whatever. I don't claim to be any kind of expert or experienced, and I've made some similar stupid mistakes that just didn't end quite so badly. I can't say I would have ever gotten that far into the situation, but I do know that feeling of getting yourself into something and really wanting to get yourself out of it, even past the point where you know it's going to take more than you've got.

BTW it was apparently done by Toytec, so it's not out of the realm of possibility there are less than seven degrees of separation between here and this guy.

I for sure wouldn't be trying to bash my way through a slope like that. Rollins does have a similar spot, which is why I made the comment. Just after Yankee there's a cut that usually fills in as you say. Just past that is a fairly similar condition - narrow shelf, snow usually follows the contour downhill and stays piled late into the year, and I can see someone overconfident or inexperienced doing exactly the same thing that happened to the guy in the FJ - try to put one tire on the dry edge and run the other side up on the snow. It just doesn't strike me as feasible, not with THAT kind exposure. For reference, here's what I'm talking about on Rollins:



Now here's what the FJ guy did. This was apparently taken a few minutes before the rollover, after he'd slid the rear off:



If he'd taken the time to cut that bank down with a shovel, he'd been fine. And this is exactly what I was thinking of doing on Rollins. I wouldn't dream of trying to bash my way down that, or even ride it like a ramp if the snow were very firm.

 

Yep, i know exactly where you are talking about beyond Yankee Doodle Lake and last year rode my motorcycle on the dry part to the left while the 4wheelers were struggling to figure out how to get around or whether they wanted to shovel that much snow.

Definitely no replacement for common sense. You know enough to shovel it out so you are not off camber. Seeing that picture, I can see the thought process right now that the road widened a bit beyond the snow bank if he can just get past it....... then there is some clear sailing.

What I dont get is that the Montezuma basin road dead ends anyhow, its not like you are on Pearl Pass and have one last snowfield to get past and you can make it down to Crested Butte. All he was doing was getting a little farther up the road until it was totally blocked by snow. Guess he paid a price for not thinking it through.

Wonder how they are going to get the FJ out....its a pretty tight road back down to Ashcroft. Dont know if his vehicle still runs and whether he has brakes or his drive axles are working. And you cant get a large tow truck up where he is at.....

 

Anyone have a specific alignment shop they like or should I just go to firestone?
Denver

 

I cant say that I didn't attempt something similar today. Snow was a lot more packed than the last snow, I was expecting it to sink. But, I drove into it slowly, rear slid sideways (probably because I had the locker on to start since i figured the snow would sink in and that would get me through.

Had a spotter, two other vehicles with winches, and enough recovery gear to move a building, and slowly went across without any issues. Never had less than a foot to the edge. Should be pictures sooner or later.

 

Badass looking assault vehicle there man!

 

Firestone lifetime alignment, my safety net after messing with my suspension

 

Thursday commute. Damn traffic!

 

Same here.

 

Maybe Saturday morning? I have a garage if you'd prefer, or I can for sure cruise over to your place! I would love to get it on before that run!

 

I feel like you're ALWAYS out! Do you work...or just have the best job ever.

 

Do you have any idea how much work it is to shovel snow AND breathe at 12k feet!?!

 

Worth it.

 

where's that at? purdy

 

That would be a good day to do it. We have planned on sunday as the day we will go exploring.

 

Yessir!

I think that pictures was on Swan Creek, up outside of Montezuma.

 

nice thanks still finalizing where i want to disappear to this weekend