Summit County 4-wheel'n pics

[G.I.G.]

I finally got around to uploading some pictures of my last 4-wheel'n trip that I took with my fiancee's brother the other week.

We started in Montezuma, CO (outside of Keystone) and took Saint Johns pass up to the Continental Divide. We poked around above timber line for a while, then took the Deer Creek trail back down to Montezuma. It's a great, moderate trail with some great scenery. The 4R did great! I was the ONLY Toyota on the entire mountain that day, and it was Labor Day weekend! Only Jeeps up there. Looks like we need to plan a locals 4R trip....

Beginning of Saint Johns....

Deserted mining cabin....and my new avatar this was the only way to turn around and a reminder that the approach and departure angles on the 4th gen 4R's suck......

Still below timber line.....

 

[G.I.G.]

Above timber line....

great views....

The way we just came from looking back. Nearing the end of Saint Johns....

about to get steep and rocky....

 

[G.I.G.]

You know you are high when you start coming across these little rascals. I had my Garmin Rhino with me and it read about 12,450 feet above sea level at this point. These next couple of pictures are where Saint Johns, Deer Creek, and Middle Fork of the Swan River trails meet. You can take Middle or North Fork over and end up near Breckenridge.

Mountain goat.....

These two wanted some of my Doritos....

Overall it was a great trip. For a bone stock 4R (minus the 1 inch taller AT tires) I felt very confident in it's abilities. I think I am going to up the ante next time and try Red Cone pass from 285 and go up Radical Hill to get to this point. I think that would be a fun trip.

 

[rook]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing. I have one question and one comment. Is there a patch of snow on the mountainside? Kinda funny you talked about how high you were with the goats and then mentioned doritos... hmmm... I'm warped.. I know.. :biggrin2:

 

[sn0wrunner]

Nice pics! Red cone pass is a really nice trail too. It has some really steep sections. Post some pics if you end up going next weekend.

 

[Fo_SheeZy]

Awesome pics, lmao @ the mountain goats!

 

[G.I.G.]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing. I have one question and one comment. Is there a patch of snow on the mountainside? Kinda funny you talked about how high you were with the goats and then mentioned doritos... hmmm... I'm warped.. I know.. :biggrin2:

Yes sir, there was snow up there. There are patches of snow up in the mountains that are there year round. Here is a pick of my future brother in law on the snow. Right after I took this picture, he skied down that slop just in his shoes. He was hall'n and didn't fall! I wish I could have got a video of it!

We had went camping a couple weeks previous (around mid August) and it was dumping snow when we went. It didn't stick for long, but just goes to show that in Colorado you never know what to expect!

Funny you mention the "high" comment because I was thinking a few people might misinterpret that comment. But no, just "high on life" that day.

Another thing I learned about mountain goats that day, it that they like to drink your piss out of the dirt after you have taken a leak. Hey, no port-o-potties at 12,500 ft.....and apparently not enough water for the mountain goats. Who knew?

 

[G.I.G.]

Nice pics! Red cone pass is a really nice trail too. It has some really steep sections. Post some pics if you end up going next weekend.

From what I have read about Red Cone and Radical hill, is that they are rated difficult based on how steep and narrow they are, not necessarily because of large rocks and obstacles. We drove to the top of Radical hill and looked down. It looked rather steep with a couple of tight switch backs, but it didn't look any more rutted or rocky than the other trails we were on that day. I think I should be alright if I decide to give it a shot.

 

[Falls]

GIG , awesome shots !!

Yes you have to finagle those angles . I usually hit them at more of an angle if possible.

CARNAC sees a lift in your future....lol

 

[sn0wrunner]

you should be fine if you take it slow. Red cone is so steep! And there is cliffs either side of you. Its a little scary, but im sure you'd be fine.

 

[G.I.G.]

GIG , awesome shots !!

Yes you have to finagle those angles . I usually hit them at more of an angle if possible.

CARNAC sees a lift in your future....lol

Thanks, Falls!

Carnac....now you're dating yourself, lol.

Yeah, a lift would be cool, but I'll probably just do the 1" leveling kit at the most, if I do decide to do one. I need to be able to fit in my garage with the snowboard rack on, and I barely fit as it is. We'll see....

 

[JB.]

I think I am going to up the ante next time and try Red Cone pass from 285 and go up Radical Hill to get to this point. I think that would be a fun trip.

Nice pics!

Haven't done Radical Hill, but the descent of Red Cone should present no problem. Low gear, no brakes. If you're at all worried about it, just engage DAC and you'll walk right down. The rocks much earlier in the route merit more attention. You'll be going very slowly there.

 

[G.I.G.]

Nice pics!

Haven't done Radical Hill, but the descent of Red Cone should present no problem. Low gear, no brakes. If you're at all worried about it, just engage DAC and you'll walk right down. The rocks much earlier in the route merit more attention. You'll be going very slowly there.

Great advice, thanks.

Just curious, but is the pic in your avatar Red Cone? It looks a lot like it.

I might head up again early this Sunday and hit a trail on the way to Oktoberfest in Breckenridge. Don't know if I would do Red Cone with my fiancee and friends in the back, they would probably freak out too much. I might hit Deer Creek to Middle or North Fork....we'll see if we have time.

 

[icantsee]

Thank you for sharing!!

Small patch of snow all year long eh?

If I ever make a trip down to Colorado for snowboarding...I'll message you first & see if you can meet up.

 

[alaskaman]

fantastic! never seen a mountain goat up close and personal.......thanks!!!

 

[JB.]

Great advice, thanks.

Just curious, but is the pic in your avatar Red Cone? It looks a lot like it.

Yeah, it sure is. One of my very favorite trails. Didn't get to see any Mountain Goats, though.

 

[G.I.G.]

Thank you for sharing!!

Small patch of snow all year long eh?

If I ever make a trip down to Colorado for snowboarding...I'll message you first & see if you can meet up.

No problem, and definitely, if you head out to CO for some snowboarding, PM me and we'll tear it up!

 

[G.I.G.]

Yeah, it sure is. One of my very favorite trails. Didn't get to see any Mountain Goats, though.

Nice, looks like the surface of Mars up there. Hence the name I guess....

I'll definitely post pics if I make it up there this year.

 

[BTLFED]

Awesome pics! I wish there was fun stuff like that here in Georgia to go adventuring on!