Up coming trip to Colorado.......

[Ol'Blue]

Well its finally happening. My Runner is going to stretch her legs and do a Colorado trip. I have some family in the Denver area and will be spending Thanksgiving there. The plan is to do some wheeling and trail driving also. I want to have some challenges also because this breast need a bit of a challenge. MO has some hard stuff for rock bouncers but I don't want to get that crazy. I still have to make the 700 miles back to SW Mo.

I know this late in the year it's going to limit me but I still want to have a good time also. I'm thinking about just doing a big loop around the state and going to Gunnison again and SW Colorado too.

Some ideas would be helpful from the locals if I can get some. What passes are still open and what is closed?

Thanks guys

Blue

 

[Martinjmpr]

Well its finally happening. My Runner is going to stretch her legs and do a Colorado trip. I have some family in the Denver area and will be spending Thanksgiving there. The plan is to do some wheeling and trail driving also. I want to have some challenges also because this breast need a bit of a challenge. MO has some hard stuff for rock bouncers but I don't want to get that crazy. I still have to make the 700 miles back to SW Mo.

I know this late in the year it's going to limit me but I still want to have a good time also. I'm thinking about just doing a big loop around the state and going to Gunnison again and SW Colorado too.

Some ideas would be helpful from the locals if I can get some. What passes are still open and what is closed?

Thanks guys

Blue

Check Bushducks Back Country Adventure for pass status. But even if Bushducks says a pass is "open" I would be leery about going on one. The weather can change in a heartbeat up here, and the mountains have already gotten a good dump of snow. If I were you I would stick to well traveled dirt roads at the worst (Boreas Pass and Weston Pass come to mind.)

 

[m85476585]

I imagine that by Thanksgiving any pass that closes for the winter will already be closed. Last year I tried to drive up to Kingston Peak in early November because the weather was nice and I think the most of the early snow had melted. But the forest service had already closed it with a huge gate. It's not even designated as a seasonal road, so it shouldn't have been closed. Another time I tried to go camping on a seasonal forest service road in late spring (probably June) after the motor vehicle use map said it should be open, but the gate was still closed. It is frustrating when perfectly good roads are closed more than they need to be.

Some roads are not seasonal, so they never close, but they are usually not maintained in the winter. For example, Switzerland trail near Boulder has no gate, but I don't think they plow it in the winter or anything. There are often tracks through the snow that make it passable, but drive at your own risk if it's covered in snow. Someone got stuck out there last year, and it took search and rescue at least a day to find him because no one knew exactly where he was. It turns out I was on the trail at the same time and might have run into him, but I turned around because the snow was getting deep, and it was getting dark. Cell phones don't always work in Colorado, so go with a friend or make sure someone knows detailed information about where you're going and when you should be back if you try anything by yourself.

Check out Trail Damage for a map with some trails around the state. There are some at lower elevations that might be clear or only lightly snowy depending on the weather.
TrailDamage.com - Map of Colorado Trailheads

 

[OldGold3VZE]

Feel free to swing by RCI Metalworks in Ft. Collins while you're in the area. I can fill you in on lots of local trails in Northern CO.

 

[Ol'Blue]

I imagine that by Thanksgiving any pass that closes for the winter will already be closed. Last year I tried to drive up to Kingston Peak in early November because the weather was nice and I think the most of the early snow had melted. But the forest service had already closed it with a huge gate. It's not even designated as a seasonal road, so it shouldn't have been closed. Another time I tried to go camping on a seasonal forest service road in late spring (probably June) after the motor vehicle use map said it should be open, but the gate was still closed. It is frustrating when perfectly good roads are closed more than they need to be.

Some roads are not seasonal, so they never close, but they are usually not maintained in the winter. For example, Switzerland trail near Boulder has no gate, but I don't think they plow it in the winter or anything. There are often tracks through the snow that make it passable, but drive at your own risk if it's covered in snow. Someone got stuck out there last year, and it took search and rescue at least a day to find him because no one knew exactly where he was. It turns out I was on the trail at the same time and might have run into him, but I turned around because the snow was getting deep, and it was getting dark. Cell phones don't always work in Colorado, so go with a friend or make sure someone knows detailed information about where you're going and when you should be back if you try anything by yourself.

Check out Trail Damage for a map with some trails around the state. There are some at lower elevations that might be clear or only lightly snowy depending on the weather.
TrailDamage.com - Map of Colorado Trailheads

I'm already starting my packing list and going through my all my gear and what I will take with me for this trip. I may never need any of it but I would rather have it and not need it than need it and be F^&*#$. I guess it's the Marine in me. Plan for the worst and hope for the best but control your feature.

Blue

 

[Ol'Blue]

Colorado Guys....

Would anyone be up for some back trials. It doesn't have to be too crazy (but I'm game for what ever) but I want to get out and in the Mts. while I'm in town either Friday or Sat. Any ideas. I'm still looking at trials and maps etc..

Blue

 

[Ol'Blue]

Gear prep and packing has started. Went through all my kit and decided I didn't have a survival kit. So today I made that. All my gear was just here there and in different packs. So now that this is done and the truck is pretty much done now and the the CB and Ham radio set up is finished its just time to wait and dream about all the snow......

Anything else you guys can think to keep in a survival kit you done see...


Blue

 

[Ol'Blue]

All packed away...Not to shabby if I do say so my self.

 

[m85476585]

Do you have a satellite beacon like a PLB or a SPOT? In the mountains a Ham radio probably wont have much range. It's good for talking to other people on the trail that have Ham radios, though. Cell phones usually won't work in the mountains unless you are on a major road or in a town.

I drove up 4th of July road yesterday, and there was probably 8 inches of snow on the ground in the snowy sections, and it was packed down where others had driven. Some of it was completely dry in the sun. The deep untracked sections were challenging, and I almost got stuck when I pulled off to let a Subaru go by and my passenger side wheels got caught in a ditch. I did my best to widen the tracks so hopefully it will continue to be passable for a while. We're supposed to get more snow tonight. 4th of July road is technically not seasonal, but later in the winter they tend to block it with a pile of snow and put up a road closed sign. I was surprised it was even open this late in the year.

Check out a Motor vehicle use map to see what's seasonal or not. But like I mentioned above, sometimes they close non-seasonal roads, too.
This is the Boulder one, but around the edge it says which are the neighboring ones. You can get them for free at the forest service office, which is good because it's way too big to print even on 11x17 paper.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5165768.pdf

 

[BearsFanRyan]

No pint o whiskey? That's a necessity in all backpack trips! Have fun! I plan on going out there next summer.

 

[OldGold3VZE]

Man, looks like you're going into battle. I usually just bring tools and food, but I guess you'll be set if anything crazy hapoens.

 

[Martinjmpr]

They're predicting 1 to 2 FEET of snow in CO starting tonight, so make sure you are adequately prepared. Don't plan on doing any 4x4 trails, they will almost certainly be impassable due to snow.

 

[m85476585]

They're predicting 1 to 2 FEET of snow in CO starting tonight, so make sure you are adequately prepared. Don't plan on doing any 4x4 trails, they will almost certainly be impassable due to snow.

Yeah, I've been looking at this more this morning, and there really will be a lot of snow. Boulder and west of Boulder are theoretically supposed to get a bit less, 3-8 inches, so you might still be able to do Switzerland trail with chains if you are the first one to break trail. After a few days someone will probably make tracks. 4th of July is supposed to get 14-24 inches, so that won't be passable, and they'll probably plow the snow from the paved road into a pile blocking the dirt part.

Bring some snowshoes or backcountry skis or a fat bike and park on pavement. Watch out for slopes that could avalanche, and basically don't travel on or under anything steeper than 30 degrees unless you know how to determine if it's safe. Check the avalanche forecast here: Colorado Avalanche Information Center ?

Loveland Pass to Mt Sniktau is a good introductory winter hike. It's a couple miles and reasonably safe in terms of avalanche risk as long as you stay on the ridge. If you give the wind a few days to work, you might not even need snowshoes (but they will help in a few sections). Just wear some insulated boots, and maybe microspikes for extra traction. You'll get amazing views from there, and it's really a unique experience.

If you want to do motorized sports, there are lots of places where you can rent snowmobiles, and there are some networks of snowmobile trails.

 

[OldGold3VZE]

Come down to Penrose for our Black Friday run. You'd have to watch, since these are level 9+ trails, but it'd be a lot of fun for you. Here's my rig...

 

[Ol'Blue]

Will my 4Runner not make it on the roads even if there is 3ft of snow or more? She is sitting on 37s bead locked raceline wheels. I was thinking running them in about 5psi. I'm running front and rear ARB lockers. It's pretty solid. Tell me if I'm crazy for even thinking about it. I'm thinking some of you might think my rig is still somewhat normal granted my 99 Limited only has 3in of lift and almost stock tires still. And yes I mostly daily drive it too lol.....

Blue

 

[OldGold3VZE]

Oh, you'll be just fine. Are you traveling alone? Nice runner!

If you've got low enough gears I'd definitely check out the penrose trsil network.

 

[Ol'Blue]

Also. Thank you for all the good info guys. I really appreciate it. I would love to come out and wheel also.

Blue

 

[Ol'Blue]

Oh, you'll be just fine. Are you traveling alone? Nice runner!

If you've got low enough gears I'd definitely check out the penrose trsil network.

I'm running 5.29 gears. I most likley will be solo. That's why I'm packing like I am. I'm not a stranger to living alone or in a small team. I did it in the mts of Afghanistan for 3-4 days at a time. I'm just going through all my winter cloths next.

Blue

 

[OldGold3VZE]

That's normal for 37s, I more was thinking case gearing, duals, 4.7, or both. You need to crawl in Crawlorado.

 

[Ol'Blue]

That's normal for 37s, I more was thinking case gearing, duals, 4.7, or both. You need to crawl in Crawlorado.

That's next on my to build my SAS beauty....