Colorado Trip Reports

Come on Alec looks like you had fun to me!!!! Snow bashing, the beautiful outdoors fishing,and camping!!
I would of froze my ass off, but I’m a weak ass

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDJhx5PVe4w

So this didnt turn out at all like I wanted it to. I will probably try again. I think some of my clips didnt make it to the editing board. Some of the best ones arent even in here. And of course, all the slope and depth completely get lost on video. But until I start over, this is a short video from yesterday. Video creds go to @Littles. He has a steady hand.

 

Yeah, I have not heard of any solution to show actual incline/ angles. Camera's or the way we hold camera, just flattens the slope angle.

 

He tried to make sure the camera was always pointed horizontally and you can tell that it gave some perspective, but some of it just looks plain flat and it was anything but.

 

My after the fact thoughts would be that it is a two part trail. Coming in, if you got right at the split for the loop, the first half is a graded fire road. All the way to the open area at the bottom of the are with the 3 "bigger" climbs could be done by a Subaru. The last half was much more entertaining. Still nothing difficult but there are definitely some spots that can be made to be more entertaining if you choose the right line. There are good spot to make your rig get flexy and have a little fun. Its also a good place to show off if there are a bunch of people watching and you know how to drive because most of the people watching are out of the mall parking lot for the first time and are impressed by a truck doing what it is built to do. Also, I will remember this side for the future when I change tires/springs/etc and need to check out any potential rubbing issues.

Not a hard trail by any means but a good place to head over to to enjoy an sunny afternoon and play around for a bit. We did suggest to a few stock F150s that they might not want to continue as they were running the loop backwards and would likely mess up their pretty running boards. We never saw them again, so I am not sure if the advice was heeded. They were clearly doing it for the gram.

 

Wow! Our trucks are amazingly capable! I am still buzzing over how well Winkle performed. Went to Chinaman Gulch today and met up with @In4aride with wife Ashley piloting their 3rd gen, his friend Led in a 03 TJ and copilot Brian, and @johntoyota and copilot @Littles .
I can't thank @In4aride and his friend Led enough. I would not have tried Chinaman without their guidance.

The bus got hung up a few times today


Led showing some flex at the rockpile


Not to be out done, Ashley in Warfab's finest




Then the rain and hail arrived at the Waterfall



The mud provided extra challenges at the V. Led played the hero and blasted up first. Then he turned around and winched the rest of us up.



I ran 40 psi on my 275 70 R17 (32.2 inch) tires to provide as much clearance as possible with my setup. Traction was never an issue on the rain slickened rocks and in the mud. 4WD and judicious use of the easy button provide the traction. Sure the ride is a little rougher but what other recreational activity offers a core workout while sitting on your ass? All Winkle's armor got new battle scars today - sliders, front and rear bumpers, and the stock skid plate. The rear diff drain plug got a scratch while the transfer case went unscathed.


A little carnage on @johntoyota's left side bumper



Led, had some bad luck and broke a pitman arm less than 200 yards from the end of the trail. They guided the unsteerable vehicle down the trail using rocks to move the tires in the proper direction. There better be some good karma coming his way soon with all the help he gave today. Another Jeep owner we talked to broke both upper A-arms near the end of the trail today also. Yikes!


On the way home I was blessed with some of the greatest views Colorado has to offer as I drove east towards Kenosha Pass including this rainbow that I believe was emanating from the Santa Maria statue.

 

I'll eat my words. Nice work!

 

The rain just added an extra challenge that we overcame.

Oh that’s what happened! I walked up after they righted his rig.

 

@In4aride thats rad AF that you got through there, never would have thought an ifs could take that line. I’ve gone through the middle and right quite a few times but never far left.

 

Howdy,

For those that might be familiar with Ouray/Telluride area. How late in the year can you expect Black Bear to be open?

I'm about to make my annual trip to Lake City, next week, but I'm pretty sure Black Bear is still closed. I'm thinking of making a return trip in the Fall to check it off my bucket list.

Been going the area for around 25yrs, just never have had time to get all the way over to Black Bear or I was up there too early for it to be open.


Thanks!

 

Heck, the Alpine loop is currently closed & I think Lake City is just passed their Flood emergency advisory.

 

@In4aride
@skier

 

We wont know till we get closer to the fall. I live up in the mtn and we just started to really get warm and melt out but there is snow in the forecast for this weekend up high. It might not ever open but on a standard year i would say to try before october