AZ BS Thread 4.2⁰

Added an awning to the truck. Its about 6" lower than my head though. Guess I have to lift the truck again hahaha. Ill get some pics with it open as soon as it cools off outside. Its from Overland Pros and was $405 to my door. Not bad for a 270 degree.

 

I havent camped specifically around Silverton/Ouray but Ive spent time in those places. I have camped at some of the spots that @amaes mentioned. Alta lakes is amazing but will probably be busy even on a weekday. Its worth at least checking out. You can rent a kayak or SUP in Telluride and take it up to the lake with you for the day. Theres a hotel with a hot spring cave in the basement in Ouray, if thats your thing... So much rad stuff in that part of Colorado. If you havent ever been to Telluride its worth going since youll be so close.

 

Damn not what I want to hear as far as busy but that’s par for the course right now

 

Thanks. Telluride is on my route. I don’t really have a game plan but I have lots of stuff marked on my gps.

 

Do you fish? I caught my first trout ever in the San Miguel which is super accessible. Literally park on the side of 145 and walk 20 feet to the river. Also its the perfect time of year to do Imogene and/or Blackbear. Man this is really making me miss Telluride

 

X2 for Alta Lakes. Stopped there a few years ago after doing Ouray to Telluride. Awesome place. We want to go back.

 

I do fish but wasn’t planning on bringing a pole. Imogene is happening. Black bear I’m not sure if I’m up for. I’ll be the only vehicle and I camp a lot but by no means experienced on technical trails.

 

Black bear is a great trail but it's something that's definitely nice to have a spotter.

 

I disagree. Blackbear is a shitty trail with some really sketchy spots that aren't difficult, just dangerous. The only thing that makes the trail worthwhile are the views. That being said, its a trail you have to do so you can tell people you've done it.

 

Apparently Alta lakes is shit now. They only let you drive to the first lake and it’s more of a designated campground. Shame because a few years ago we camped up on the back side of the second lake and it was absolutely beautiful.

A spotter is nice for the switchbacks but like others have said it isn’t a “difficult” trail. Just super sketchy and dangerous at a few spots. That said after our trip this year over the 4th of July we will be bringing the 4Runner next time. Tacoma is just too wide now for the trails up there and trying to get around traffic.

 

Definitely not difficult. Our trails out in table Mesa or the south east valley are much harder and realistically more fun if you're just wanting to wheel. But the views are great up there and it gets most people a chance to see alpine flowers and lakes for the first time. Then you add in the switchbacks which are another thing most people never get to see. I was up there last month and we took a stock 2020 Subaru Forester up it all the way to the power station house no problem because we were rock climbing out there. Its definitely not hard.

Alta Lakes was really busy last month. We even got out there on a Thursday and we got lucky finding our spot. I'm out there again next month and all of the hotels were booked in the middle of September which is unusual for that time of the year and recreation.gov didn't have any sites you can reserve. You can camp off the Forest roads up there but it can be hard finding a spot because it so hilly. If you end up in the Durango area northwest of town Vallecito Lake has great fishing and there is a lot of camping up there.

 

Damn so you think I’ll have a hard time finding spots to camp? We are planning on doing a new spot every night

 

Based on how busy it was when we went, possibly. You have the fact the kids are back "in school" so that should help you out but the popularity of the area has gone crazy over the summer. It wasn't even that busy when we were skiing last January or last summer during the film festival. There is places to camp up there but they might not be this gorgeous forest view you were looking for. A lot of the land up there isn't flat and there is surprisingly a lot more private property than you'd think. I think you'll find something but I just wanted to warn you a bit that one or two days might be harder to find a spot.

For us when we go next month I got lucky and snagged a camp ground spot in telluride's campground for 3 nights. We are going up with our neighbors and it was going to be $400+ a night at hotels and we didn't want to risk not getting a spot again. We'll just park the FJ with the RTT and walk into town.

 

Shit that actually sounds pretty awesome to be able to do and go get drunk at a brewery. I’m sure it’s all booked though.

 

Make sure you hit the New Sheridan Hotel bar, Brown Dog Pizza and Baked in Telluride for breakfast!

 

Noted. Thank you

 

@bajaracer

I recently used this guy, and like him a lot. Toyota tech, owns a old Land Cruiser. Also has his FFL if you ever need a transfer.

http://www.transparentautosolution.com/

 

The fuck does an FFL have to do with a transmission flush?

 

Everything since the wife and I lost all our guns in a tragic boating accident last year

 

Nothing, but killing two birds with one stone is always nice