Colorado Trip Reports

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-full-time-build.407850/page-45#post-15721438

Three posts about our Morrison Jeep Trail trip.

 

Nice shots!


hopefully stayin' the trail in that last pic...

 

Pulling off trail to eat lunch is generally acceptable. I'm sure, by looking at the vegetation trample they just backed into position. Depending on the land management there are specific rules for lunch/camp/oncoming vehicle pull offs.

 

was half-way stirring the pot to mess around, half-way serious. generally everyone here has a decent idea as to what the right thing to do is and i dont see (m)any CO TW peeps being dumbasses.

that said, I am under the impression that pulling off the trail - at all - is not staying the trail. Even to let people pass, turn around, eat, etc. Only to be done at designated pull off areas or fire-ring/campsite. I could be wrong here, so any info on that is appreciated. I've always heard if it's green, don't put rubber on it, especially at altitude(very sensitive tundra).

 

I appreciate you posting about this issue. I'm glad the TW community practices Stay The Trail and let's it be known when users (such as myself aren't). I will be the first to say that clearly in the last pic, we are not Staying The Trail. We quickly backed into this shot (gracefully), took a snap, and continued on.

We all have seen that RZR driver/ATV/dirtbiker come up to us head on and instead of stopping for 2 seconds and figuring out a way to minimize trail damage, they just blast around us. While crushing sensitive tundra is certainly a problem, the lack of fucks given when there is a hindrance in your way, is the reason for Stay The Trail. Unfortunately, it boils down to using common sense, which is not that common amongst all trail users. Sessioning that mud bog that is on the trail is Staying The Trail, while gently passing someone technically isn't. Maybe it should just be called Tread Lightly?

Anyways, I appreciate the TW folks being passionate about keeping our trails in good shape and respecting trails/areas for future use.

 

Ran Kingston Peak over to the Yankee Hill trail system today with @Gramps @PS78 and a couple other rigs. It was a good time.

 

SWEET!!!!

This guy, and that other guy!!!

 

Did any of the pictures I took with your camera come out well? I felt like a fish out of water trying to work that fancy camera so quickly haha

 

Hahaha, I did just throw it at you, off as well. All good, there is one good one of me at an angle in the whoops section

 

Where did you get that giant stay the trial sticker for your tailgate. I want one. You have a link?

 

I have tried several times to get one with no luck, but they don't know me and PS78 I believe knows them/ helped them.

 

They are printed very rarely. Not sure they have printed them in a long time. You would need to reach out to Sam at STT. With a nice donation to STT if they have one to give you they will.

 

Mosquito Pass and Halfmoon Creek

My lady and I spent the weekend around Leadville doing some driving and some camping. It was our first camping trip just the two of us, and she had a blast!

We left early Friday morning and took our time heading toward Fairplay. The weather was perfect aside from a bit of wind, so we were blessed with some pretty amazing views on the way down.

After topping off the gas in Fairplay, we headed up to Alma and then on to Mosquito Pass. We aired down just before London Mill, and started crawling our way up to the pass. It was definitely eye opening for Savannah, who hadn't really been exposed to rough mountain roads. Just as we got to the North London Mine, we saw a group of Jeeps heading down and passing another Taco on the first part of the shelf road. They were the first of two groups, and thankfully we hit the pass just before the second group headed down toward Alma.

When we reached the top, the wind was absolutely screaming. But the views of the behemoth 14ers past Leadville and the jaw dropping scenery on the way up more than made up for it. It seemed like every rounded bend after heading down for Leadville opened up yet another incredible vista.

London Mountain on the way up.





Truck loaded for bear. Or two nights of glamping. Whatever.





So many good views.








​

After passing through Leadville, we headed for Halfmoon Creek. Because the trailheads for both Massive and Elbert are located there as well, there were a fair amount of parked cars and hikers. Once we cleared the Forest Service campground, I made a navigational mistake and ended up taking FS110J toward the Iron Mike Mine, rather than my intended route on FS110 toward Champion Mill. It was a rookie mistake that ended up being a blessing in disguise.

​

The road was rough, but easily passable right up to the point where we had to cross South Halfmoon Creek. Sitting just beyond the crossing at almost exactly 10,750 elevation was the Iron Mike obstacle, and its only slightly less technical bypass. Both obstacles begin before your rear tires even leave the creek. On top of that, the crossing is a narrow flat water section with about a ten foot waterfall immediately downstream. Since I wasn't expecting anything that technical, the whole thing was a bit of a shock.

​

I wanted no part of the main obstacle while loaded up with camping gear and my lady in the vehicle. (She has two kids, and I take her safety seriously). So I gave it three attempts at the bypass and couldn't pull it off. With my front locker still not hooked up, and with the rear tires sitting in the creek, it just wasn't happening. And since we were solo, I didn't have the luxury of a spotter to help pick a good line. That said, I'm glad I tried it, and I'm glad I made the call to waive off and turn around. It was the right thing to do.

​

About a half mile back down the trail from the crossing, we found a sweet little campsite and fire ring that was situated out on a bit of a point. The views were spectacular, with Mt. Elbert, Mt. Massive, French Mtn, and possibly Mt. Champion all right in front of us. Other than bugs, it turned out to be a perfect spot.

​

We ended up spending two nights there. The RTT and annex were fantastic shelters and refuges from the bugs and the occasional rain storm, and we made sure to bring plenty of good food, beer, and bourbon. I can't wait to go back and check out more of the trails and camping down there soon.

Crossing South Halfmoon Creek and Iron Mike Obstacle





Main obstacle on the left and bypass on the right. Falls and bad outcomes downstream.





Main obstacle. The picture doesn't do it justice.





Home sweet home. The annex came in handy.





Eye candy!











​

 

Sounds like it was a great adventure. Beautiful views too.

 

Thanks for those pics of the Iron Mike obstacle, been up the other side twice but always heard the other way had that obstacle (iron Mike)

 

The views were amazing, Mike! I really want to get back up there on the more mellow spur and check things out. Lots of cool mining artifacts up there.

Like I said, the pictures make it look like weak sauce. It's legit, at least for me. Especially after seeing a bomber 1st Gen Runner with a SAS and lockers take two attempts to get up and past it. I'd love to try it again with a functional front locker and minus all the gear.

 

I always say pics never do anything justice. From those pics it looks so easy, hopefully one day I'll be able to try it

 

Next time go with @Star-Lord I heard he's good at stacking rocks.