Can't Get There From Here (A semi-epic quest for fall foliage and high passes)

So, when's the trip planned for next year?


Awesome trip report and pictures. That's an area of the state I'm not overly familiar with and would love to explore.

 

Really cool, loved the photos.
Thanks for sharing

 

Thanks all!

Based on Bushducks reports for the past few years, mid-July seems to be average opening for Pearl due to a drift at the top, which was the section that made me decide to turn around. This would make for a great group run for sure, tons of spots to camp, and (when dry) shouldn't be overly difficult for most modestly setup rigs.

 

^Wishbone, it looks like you had a great trip, even though you hit snow at every turn. I was thinking about doing the old route (Schofield to Pearl Pass to Aspen) next weekend, but I may hold off now.

On another note, I was over 13,000 ft last weekend on Mosquito Pass and didn't hit as much snow as you did. That area around Crested Butt must have really gotten the brunt of the storm.

Here's what Mosquito looked like:

 

Nice, I saw those pics in your build.

My general sense was that the Elk range got the most out of the storm, when we got over Cottonwood, most of the Collegiates were free of snow on the south faces, whereas Pearl was covered.

I think it might be doable later this week, but there is supposed to be a bigger storm rolling through on Thursday that may be the season ender.

 

I'm so jealous of this. Nowhere in north Carolina to do anything this cool.I want to do something like this but it would cost a fortune to get my truck to Colorado. I will drool over your adventures.lol

 

Hell yeah!! Love those pictures.

 

Thanks Noah. We should try to get out on the trail together one day.

 

Absolutely man! I'd be down for a trip to the San Juan's

 

Man I want to go back

 

Me too, I have been all through the Juans, but never while wheeling.

Join us?

 

Yeah I've never really been down there but between you and bobs pictures, I wanna go haha

 

Be careful heading up there next time, rumor on the street is there is an impassible rock slide on the aspen side of pearl pass, I live in the area and was going to take my dirt bike up to scout it out before my truck. I will repost here in June next year what I find, but if passable would love to get a little group together as the trip with a couple other guys and some other recovery gear would make the trip a lot less stressful!

 

Thanks for the heads up, that would be a bummer. A great resource for trail opening is Bushducks, but first hand knowledge is always appreciated. I made the update on 9/28 based on this trip.

http://bushducks.com/tripreps/passopen.htm

Also, welcome! Check out the Southwest forum for the upcoming trips and BS threads, trip going on this weekend if you are interested.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/south-west/

 

Going to give the original route another go this weekend, I think it should all be doable. Updates to follow.

 

Great pictures and pretty country. Still 90 degrees in Fl. and always flat...?...ugh.

 

LOL, move?

Trip was a success! Just shy of a year from the previous trip, this time perfect weather on Saturday, but rain all day on Sunday.

Ran Crystal City>Schofield Pass>Pearl Pass>Taylor Pass>Tin Cup pass, about 80 miles of continuous dirt except for getting through Crested Butte, and around 12,000' of vertical. The scenery and colors put on by the aspens was absolutely incredible, Pearl Pass is my new favorite trail in the state for scenery and trail awesomeness.

Started in Vail Saturday morning and headed out to the town of Marble and took to the dirt, heading to the town of Crystal then up Schofield Pass, where I was turned around last year due to snow and ice, now only sunshine and dust.

 

Stopped at Emerald lake near the top of the pass for lunch and a photo op, then continued down towards Gothic and CB.

 

Amazing picture! I want a real camera so bad....

Looks like you hit the perfect weekend for color.

 

Just wait, it gets better