Colorado Trip Reports

For $15 you can get the warranty from 4Wheel Parts, if you get it from them, and if you lose the inflator they'll give you a whole new compressor. Totally worth $15 if you ask me.

 

Just a question, but why don't all peeps from Colorado who wheel have sliders? Isn't that a given?

 

And a good question. It's on the same level as "Why do Texans come up here and dick up traffic, trash campsites, drive unlicensed vehicles in areas where it is prohibited, and drive off designated trails?". We humans are strange beasts, and some questions can't be answered easily.

 

Kind sir, I guess I am not your "average" Texan. In fact, I hate this fucking place they call Texas. I have visited Colorado since I was a little kid, and have the utmost respect for it, have friends there, and respect nature in general. I have picked up trash at trail heads, as well as on trails, and hold others I see on trail heads accountable as well. I get that more and more people move there, but welcome to anywhere in the US, and it's unfortunate. I'm sure it's not just Texans that trash campsites.

 

I hate work, but I still go there. You hate Texas, but you still live there. You have visited Colorado, but that doesn't mean that you have wheeled there. I'm not sure how any of this applies.

You came in here with your enhanced ego wondering why anyone would not have sliders in CO, as if you were some kind of expert on its terrain. Trail difficulty will change on a whim based on weather and other processes due to nature, no matter the location. Therefore, anyone who wheels anywhere should have additional protection from the beginning--even in Texas. Why don't you have sliders?

As off-road enthusiasts, our needs and wants stem from experiences: wheeling, camping, reading, etc. Perhaps for some sliders aren't exactly a priority. To be frank, I've needed sliders once...on what was considered a difficult trail by most resources. I was alone, and inexperienced. If I had known what the hell what I was doing (or otherwise made sound decisions in the first place), I likely would have been fine without additional armor.

Anyway, I'll have a trip report for the upcoming weekend by Sunday.

 

Couldn't agree more! I was unaware of the tight turn around, although I knew the trail ended. I had no choice, but to drop my drivers wheel off the rock to make the turn around. I thought a lot about that move, but had no choice. My mistake, my problem and I'll take the consequences from it. Shit happens when you wheel off-road, if you're not ready for damage stay on the pavement...or in Texas.

 

I was merely asking a valid question, and you just decided to show your ass. Enhanced ego? And how do you know if I have sliders, or have wheeled in Co? You said yourself that "trail difficulty will change on a whim", so I was asking why people who wheel there, don't have them. By your definition, people who don't have sliders are inexperienced, and for some are not a priority.

 

There was no wheeling on this trip, so I'm not sure it's even legal to post it. Kinda quiet around here, though, so here goes:

Went to Brainard Lake to meet some friends that I haven't seen in a while. They had to leave on Saturday due to work obligations but gave me the site for the rest of the weekend.

A couple of dumb dogs.





Tired her out, thankfully.



This bird and it's friends used a distract tactic to come in and steal her food. She would chase it's buddies into the woods while this one would pick off kibble. Some bluejays came later and did exactly the same thing. Fools, to think that she would be that stupid...actually, yeah, she is. Their strategy worked quite well. Lost half her food.



Nice campsite. Very developed and easily one of the nicest that I've seen. Crowded and loud, but it wasn't bad enough to lessen the enjoyment of nature. Well, the beer helped.



It looked like rain initially, but the clouds quickly dissipated.




Beastly fire. Needed 3/4 of my 5-gallon water jug to take it out.



Did a quick hike the next morning around the lake. Didn't bring a pole, but it looked like a good place to fish.











Not a bad place...there is a lot of 4wd and hiking trails in the area and I'm definitely going to explore more in the future.

 

Morrison - Goose & some other stuff along the way. Not quite Colorado, but it goes well in here.

IMG_1215 by brettbjorgum, on Flickr

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@aero3685 I found some MGM paint on this rock.

IMG_1222 by brettbjorgum, on Flickr

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New bench is complete with armrests and beer holders.

IMG_1230 by brettbjorgum, on Flickr

We gave it the finishing touch the next morning.

IMAG0362 by brettbjorgum, on Flickr

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Always taking pictures of me pissing

 

I have many pics, that likely won't get posted for months, so be prepared to wait, a long time.

 

Yes battles scars remain!

 

In @teamhypoxia 's absence, someone needs to step up to the plate.

I've come to expect that.

 

Spent four nights in the Collegiate Peaks/Four Mile area.



Night one was spent on Bald Mtn Gulch. We got to the trailhead about 8:30 PM, and made time to drink a few rounds before bed Thursday.



Friday we woke up to the news that our third man had driven 90 minutes to practically the trailhead, and had to turn back to go help his wife who was locked out of the house.



We decided to run down into Buena Vista and wait for him there. With beers, of course.



After the delay, we made our way up Hope Gulch to the Weldon Gulch and mine prospects.



We moved to Mt. Antero on Saturday.

 

After finishing the Mt. Antero 4x4 trail, we hiked to the summit (14,200 feet) and then came down to check out Baldwin Lake.



On Sunday, we checked out the "Ghost town" of St. Elmo along with what seemed like a thousand others.

 

Sunday night I did solo. Hit up the Four Mile Wilderness Area and was in heaven.



Channeled my inner Dion Waiters and hit 'em with the pose. What's the analytics on that? It's a W.




Sun bath.





Now then, regarding the report portion. This trip actually could've been even more of a spectacle. However, Cottonwood Pass is closed due to rockslide as of Sunday 9/3. And we found out that the Alpine Tunnel trail is now permanently closed to 4x4/vehicle traffic. Mt. Antero is pretty easily passable; no snow to be seen this late. Everything else is low enough in elevation that it's just a matter of clearance and skill. Baldwin Lake is bumpy, but I ripped up it at 15 on a 3" Toytec lift; YMMV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4NNUu3Gs84

 

As I was scrolling through I was hoping you made another video.

 

Richmond Hill - Montezuma Basin - Castle & Conundrum - Pearl Pass - Paradise Divide - Devil's Punchbowl - Lead King Basin - BBQ in Marble.

Don't think you can do a better wheeling weekend in Colorado.

IMAG0370 by brettbjorgum, on Flickr

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Hoping to finally hit Pearl pass this fall