Colorado BS thread

I had an opportunity to drive up to the Storm Mountain community above Drake yesterday. It's a very interesting place, but getting there is intimidating. Only one road u p. A bridge that has washed out before at the bottom, and a 1500 foot elevation gain along a 2 mile switchback dirt road. House sits at 7400 feet. Going up our down in snow will mean chaining up each time, then trading them off at the bottom. I'd need cell boosters, generator for backup, large food cache....
Trying to talk the wife into it.
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1blink said:
I had an opportunity to drive up to the Storm Mountain community above Drake yesterday. It's a very interesting place, but getting there is intimidating. Only one road u p. A bridge that has washed out before at the bottom, and a 1500 foot elevation gain along a 2 mile switchback dirt road. House sits at 7400 feet. Going up our down in snow will mean chaining up each time, then trading them off at the bottom.
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Is your Runner a 4x4? That road looks like it's in darn good shape and has guard rails- I know your winter driving confidence might be a little slim since you live in TX, but honestly all you would really need for that drive are studded winter tires. A set of Nokians with carbide spikes will do nearly as well as chains without the hassle of trading chains out twice a day.

Sounds like you found a killer spot up there. Nice work!
 
The road is smooth, but quite steep in places. The 4runner is 4wd, the Audi has the Quattro AWD transmission. I'd be issued a 4wd work truck too if I took the Estes Park route. Studs all winter long? Do people often run studs if it's in between snow storms?
 
If you're like some of the morons around here, including the woman I saw the other day, you leave them on year round.
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Took Mrs. 1Blink to see the house in question today, then took get hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, on a trail wisely suggested by @Eatonkyle. She's sold on it! Now I just have to secure the lease, nail down my job transfer details, and move our stuff. Looks like this is happening! Very excited
The house
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Some photos along Emerald Lake trail. So glad we brought rain gear, as the rain kept up steadily after the first mile.
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1blink said:
The road is smooth, but quite steep in places. The 4runner is 4wd, the Audi has the Quattro AWD transmission. I'd be issued a 4wd work truck too if I took the Estes Park route. Studs all winter long? Do people often run studs if it's in between snow storms?
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Dumbasses run studs all year round since it's not illegal and that's part of the reason Colorado roads resemble a smashed anus.

Snow tires/studs, I'd install them first snowfall Oct/Nov and leave them on until May/April.
 
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^ haha yep, my thoughts exactly. Its worth noting that while the initial purchase will be a little pricey, running them Novemberish to Aprilish and swapping out will get you 5 years or more out of one set, so the costs are easily justified if you can swing the upfront expense.

Also, because so many people take their cars to the shop around those same times to swap winter/summer tires, getting an appointment for anything is usually a nightmare. Plan a few days out, up to a week.
 
Colourful euphemism LandCruiser. So are the Nokians better than the Bridgestone or Firestone snow tires? Where do you guys get tires up here, Discount Tire?
 
I have been very happy with Nokians and Bridgestone Blizzaks(although these do wear pretty fast). Brand name is mainly personal preference, but when talking to a tire rep make sure to ask about natural rubber content. The main performance difference between crappy all season tires and the quality cold weather tires has to do with the fact that synthetic rubber hardens up at cold temps and takes on a quality more like hard plastic, while natural rubber remains pliable and therefore maintains more secure contact with the driving surface.

Discount Tire was my shop of choice down in Ft. Collins, up here Big O has the best selection and prices, which sucks because I hate giving them my monies. One of the downsides of a sales force working on commission means that they are far more likely to swindle you out of your money than a place that just wants to get the job done on an hourly wage.
 
So it's official, I've signed a lease and paid for my post office box.
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You know you're off the beaten path when the post man won't even come to your house.
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I'm so excited I can hardly wait. Heading back to Texas before dawn. I have a month to pack and settle my affairs there. Surrounded by national forest land, 4wd trails less than 4 miles from my driveway. Saw bear sign around the cabin today. They try extra hard to pack on a few pounds just before hibernation. They'd ripped open a tarped horse trailer to get at the rotting trash left by the last residents. Yum
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The elk were busy eating like mad too. This group was grazing contentedly on the lawn in front of the Estes Park P.D. right in downtown.
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1blink - looking at those pics not a hard decision to move there !! Gorgeous outlook on that cabin and love the shots. Thinning trees on the slopes - I take it its pretty high up and you will have a white view in winter.

That is soooo different from the tropics where I live - I've only seen frost once in the mountains near me for the 20 years I've lived in this area. If you ever want to house swap for the tropics in Australia for a few months PM me.... here is my view, Great Barrier Reef just off the coast, Rainforest north of here and my house backs onto national park.
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and the residents that visit me..
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Thanks Darrie. That is quite a contrast, tropical to mountain top. Around February that may look mighty enticing. Looks like you are in a great spot too. The elevation at the house is 7200 feet. We can't wait to get moved in. I'm back in Texas today. Darn
 
I just got a set of Blizzak DM-V1's on FJ Cruiser steelies.

Haven't had a chance to test them out in the rain and snow, yet.
 
^ If you decide you don't like em, I would probably be more than happy to buy them off you. Had a set on my Audi way back when and they were just awesome. Also the official tire of the Winter Driving School out in Steamboat Springs.
 
1blink said:
So it's official, I've signed a lease and paid for my post office box.
pude4ehy.jpg

You know you're off the beaten path when the post man won't even come to your house.
ty5enemu.jpg

a4erepy5.jpg

I'm so excited I can hardly wait. Heading back to Texas before dawn. I have a month to pack and settle my affairs there. Surrounded by national forest land, 4wd trails less than 4 miles from my driveway. Saw bear sign around the cabin today. They try extra hard to pack on a few pounds just before hibernation. They'd ripped open a tarped horse trailer to get at the rotting trash left by the last residents. Yum
pysenu9u.jpg

The elk were busy eating like mad too. This group was grazing contentedly on the lawn in front of the Estes Park P.D. right in downtown.
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Where'd you move to, Estes Park? If so I'm right down in Lyons
 
I was up near Gold Hill the other day, just exploring. The first time I've been up there. That place is like driving through an 1800's town. It'd be crazy to see when it's under a foot of snow, not to mention that hill going down from it, I'm not sure I'd even want to take my truck down that hill with snow.
 
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