Winkle99 Build Thread

The past 3 weekends I have been mountain biking the Indian Creek and Ringtail trails off Hwy 67 north of Rampart Range. At 7500 to 8100 feet, it is a good workout for me especially when climbing.



There is a scenic view of Roxborough State Park looking north where I turn around.

 

Thanks to @Squeaky Penguin and @mk5 scouting reports, which inspired me to execute a trip I had planned, I think I caught close to the peak of leaf peepin' season in Aspen - Crested Butte areas.

Left home Friday 9/29/2023 7:30 am and headed west on Hwy 285 over Kenosha Pass, to CR 5 then CR22 over Weston Pass, to Hwy 82 past Twin Lakes and over Independence Pass into Aspen, south on Castle Creek Road to Pearl Pass, arrived at a Brush Creek campsite about 5:00 pm.

Saturday 9/30/2023 7:30 am Entered Crested Butte and drove Paradise Divide west side over Yule Pass, then Schofield Pass/Devils Punchbowl, on to Crystal Mill, then to Marble up to Glenwood Springs and I70 back home arriving about 4:30 pm.



Weston Pass west side of peak:






Twin Lakes


Independence Pass




Castle Creek Road, Aspen

 

Aspen - Crested Butte areas Continued ...

Pearl Pass needs a separate post. I had a difficult time editing down the numerous pictures I took.








Snow from last season on Pearl Pass


Summit - 12,705 feet














Dispersed campsite BC9 on West Brush Creek was available around 5:00 pm


Tuna with lemon pepper sauce and cut fresh green beans were on the menu.


After dinner I practiced playing the violin. When the sun went down it got cold really quick, and I started missing more notes than usual. I learned it is harder to play when your fingers are cold.

 

Aspen - Crested Butte areas Continued ...

Saturday woke up at 6:00 am, broke down camp and headed to Crested Butte and had breakfast burrito at Rumors Coffee and Tea House




Paradise Divide west side over Yule Pass








Schofield Pass/Devils Punchbowl was awesome! I am glad I have a first gen which fits on this narrow trail.














The iconic Crystal Mill photo






Had to stop by Slow Groovin BBQ in Marble to pick up some ribs. They were excellent. I liked both sauces I tried.


Exiting Marble


It's nice to have a reliable machine to explore Colorado. Tacoma World has helped me modify my truck better than I could have built on my own. This trip presented some of the most beautiful fall colors I have seen. I may have to do this lap again.

 

Wow! Awesome pics!

The stupid snow punted me off the road at the top of Pearl Pass last year... had to spend the whole rest of the day getting back up on the road and shoveling the drift out. Still have yet to make it through to Ashcroft on that road!

 

That must have been tough. Just thinking about shoveling a drift out at altitude is making me take extra deep breaths.

 

Swapped driver and passenger seat cushions today just cause I read @turbodb did it.
Actually, for me the seat cushions are comfortable. I just want to extend the thread life. I cleaned the carpet too while the seats were out.

 

Nice! I found that the best way to extend the thread life (obviously) were the Wet Okole covers, but I know those aren't for everyone.

I'm now considering getting my original seats re-foamed (with firmer foam and larger bolsters), so they might be headed back into the truck!

 

not satisfied with the scheel mann ones?

 

More like, satisfied, but still wondering if I could do better. The scheel mann seats are fantastic from the most important perspective there is: comfort. Where they "fall down," is in the ability to have nice (wet okole style) covers and easy access to the xtracab.

I'm about to embark on something that's probably not financially intelligent, but then, I wouldn't put the cost of the scheel mann in the intelligent realm, either. Or really, building out the Tacoma in general. hahahaha

 

10/15/2023
It was so beautiful out, I decided to take a local drive down Elk Creek Road off of Hwy 285. Saw this sign and decided to investigate:


I met the owner and his wife. He has 11 plots and sells off one per year. Seems like he has a good retirement plan to me. They let me cruise around to take a look. Those plots have some gorgeous views. I stopped at Meditation Point, which inspired me to play.




The temperature was perfect. There was a slight cool breeze and with the sun warming my back, I played the violin for at least an hour. After I was done, I cruised over to Zoka's for a beer, then took a scenic route home.

 

10/28/2023
Got together with some friends I used to work with and headed up to Red Cone before the snow arrives. We had 3 Broncos (Guy - red, Bob - white, and Tom - yellow), a Lexus GX460 (Scot) and my taco. The weather was perfect. We did not see any other vehicles on the trail.

We arrived at the gatekeeper.








Continuing on up ...

 

Red Cone continued ...
Above the tree line.

 

Red Cone Continued ...
At the peak and down the slope

 

Red Cone continued ...
On the way out to Montezuma.

 

Was:


Is:

It bothered me that my stock hood insulation pad was falling apart, so I picked up an aftermarket pad from Detroit Muscle Technologies for $60 delivered instead of a stock pad for ~$287.

 

Hood insulation?!!! W..T..H?!

 

I know - pretty anal of me

 

It's a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon after a few days of light snow in the mountains. I decided to take a short trip down Jackson Creek FS 502 and 507 to Rampart Range FS300 before they close Dec 1, then back home to watch the Bronco game. The trail was snow packed and a light breeze dusted glistening snow off the trees onto the trail. Very relaxing.




I got to play hero for a damsel in distress. Her Camry sized Lexus failed to climb a snowy incline. I found the vehicle resting perpendicular to the trail, half on half off the trail, with the two rear tires in the trail side ditch. She and her 3 friends were standing around along with a couple of guys who stopped uphill of her in their pickups and another couple of guys in a Bronco. They were attempting to dig her out which would have taken forever. Her car needed a pull. I hooked up the soft shackle with the recovery strap to the Lexus lower control arm and the other end to Winkle's tow hitch. I gave her a walkie talkie, so we could communicate, and turned on the rear locker. It took two pulls. I was amazed at the amount of traction Winkle had pulling uphill on the snow-covered trail. The Toyos worked well. I pulled her up to a flat area.
I did not take a picture of the recovery, only a picture of the Lexus after the recovery.


On the way out near the FS300 and Hwy 67 intersection, I noticed an Audi that recently had a bad day. No one was around.


The short cruise turned out more interesting than I expected. I got back home in time to watch the Broncos play the Browns.

 

Awesome thread!
And good to see the little taco showing all those broncs the way up!