Colorado Trip Reports

No need to apologize. Awesome pictures! Looks like a sweet place to check out.

Oh and..

Not living on the front range is a big plus in my books; we'll let the 4runner go.....

 

Nice dude, I need to get down there and check those out.

BTW, how is the Animas recovering?

 

Crap leaching into the river the last 100 years has been an issue. Recent event just shed a lot of light onto it. Typically end of summer many people would be SUPing and tubing day in and out. That wasn't the case this year, few if any dogs swimming, no people at the beach, no recreational boaters, just a handful of rafting company trips.
I haven't had my dog in it. It changes color when it rains just like it used too and a freestone would. Gotta love the news, everyone stay away hairy fish!

 

thanks ...happy to show u around sometime

 

What happens when you lose a hub on the front left, an axle on the front right, and rear gears. You can't move anywhere! And nobody was behind him to pull him backwards, so forward it was!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcE-YCzmojs


And then you use the Hi-Lift technique to get him over big rocks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhcsLf_py48

 

WHoa, I was really expecting something bad to happen. Was cringing waiting for something to pop. I couldn't have been filming that, glad no one got hurt.

 

Haha yeah, it's more of a last resort approach. And not on a vehicle you want to keep kind of nice lol. But we've done it a few times before and it's been fine, as long as you take it slow. Best one was a long time ago when we used it to get a cherokee with three wheels (broke a u-joint) out of the Patriot exit, which is has like 4 foot high straight up ledges.

We even used his fourth tire to fill in holes But that took forever as we only moved a few inches each time.

 

Went up toward Glenwood Springs last night and camped on the Coffee Pot Road. This morning we continued up to Adams Lake for lunch before coming back to town. Fun easy trail with a great view at the end. Some leaves changing, great weather, and a good night under the stars.

 

Tried something a little different than what I'm used to and ventured out to the west valley. We went out to Cloverdale Mine and Rainbow Lake which are both northwest of Westcliffe.

The first day we got lost and ended up on FR 331/332A.




Found a nice campsite.






The next morning we met up with friends and made our way up the correct route. The first part goes through a burn area created in 2011.




First waypoint: Balman Reservoir.






Then we continued on to the mine.




The mine was still pretty far at this point so I'm curious as to what role this structure played.










Some of the scree that we had to drive over. Great views.






If you look carefully, you can see the mine, right in the middle.





From that viewpoint were a number of cabins; this was probably the mining city.










I'll take the next one, thanks.










Pike's Peak in the distance.





Time to get a closer look at the mine.





Unconsciously grabbed this for leverage. It didn't work out too well.






Another great view.





The mine.














One last look before walking back to the cabins.






Went back the way we came and camped outside of Rainbow Lake.












North Lake Creek ran through the campsite.





Ended with a fire and a spoiled-ass dog.

 

Nice report ^^^

 

I figured I've give an update with my Labor Day weekend adventure up Halfmoon Creek trail up to Champion mine and hiking Mt. Elbert. Great trail but a bit crowded due to the holiday and a ton of people in Subaru's trying to take them places that they shouldn't. I actually saw an Audi station wagon going back down the trail... with half of it's rear bumper hanging off...

There is a branch off the trail that I was told to avoid due to the fact that my truck is a long bed and I'd probably be leaving my rear bumper behind so I took the advice and avoided it. We went all of the way up to the Champion Mine which is really neat! 3 levels with a lot of old equipment inside. There were several people there and doing stuff that they shouldn't. Some lady was exploring the inside with her 9 year old when he stepped on a nail that went through his foot. I was nearby when it happened so I helped carry his screaming ass out and gave him some first aid. They left rather quickly since he kept screaming about how he was "going to die" and needed a tetanus shot. We spent the next day climbing Mt. Elbert. It was my first 14'er ever and it whipped the shit out of me. I made it to the summit... barely.

Here's some of the pics!

 

glad to see you back active on the forum buddy!!

 

Very nice. Can one access the Mt. Elbert trail from Halfmoon Creek?

 

Yes, you can also access the trailhead for Mt. Massive as well.

 

I love choke cherry, being from Durango that was a quick little drive

 

has anyone been up to Guanella pass recently, I am planning on going up there this weekend and will be the only rig... thoughts by anyone?

 

It is paved all the way

 

Take a detour from georgetown and check out argentine

 

thank you sir, I knew there was one up there but have never tried it before. easily doable?