9th Annual Jeep-CJ Trail REPORT

[BusaDave9]

This was the 9th year for the Jeep-CJ Colorado trail ride. I was able to obtain a permit to go over Black Bear Pass in the reverse direction. That permit became worthless because Black Bear pass has not opened due to snow and the shelf road is washed out. Last year the mountains received more snow than anyone has remembered falling in this area. There were also a record number avalanches leaving a lot of debris on some trails.

We had 13 off road vehicles and about 26 people participate this year. I hate to say it but I won't be hosting a Colorado Trail ride next year. We'll have other trail rides around the country such as one at the Rubicon in California. It's better if we trade off where in the US the trail rides will be. The Colorado Trail Ride has been going on for 9 years and I feel it may detract participants from joining the other trail rides. I will be hosting a Colorado Trail Ride in 2021. In that year we will be using Silverton as our base.

I also want to express my sincere appreciation of Posi and his assistance in making this another great week of trail rides. I asked him to help lead some trail rides. Posi researched and found several trails I have never led people on for any of the Jeep-CJ trail rides. I have followed him on some of these trail rides. He found some unique trail rides near our base in Ouray. A million thanks to Posi.

This year my nephew flew out for the trail ride. I picked him up at the Durango airport on Saturday August 3rd. We headed north on highway 550. We had motel reservations at The Angler Inn on highway 145 near Telluride. I made reservations there thinking we'd be going over Black Bear Pass in the reverse direction. I kept the reservations even after realizing we'd never be able to go over Black Bear Pass.

To get to our motel we left highway 550 and turned onto Ophir Pass trail. We locked the hubs and Jake took over the driving.

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We checked into our motel at the Angler Inn.

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Then we went to Telluride for dinner. After dinner we took the free Telluride Tram to the top of the mountain.

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The motel for the rest of the week is over the mountains in Ouray but this is our home for the night.

The other participants can add to my thread or start their own. It really doesn't matter to me.

To be continued ...

 

[coldair]

It was a great trip! I plan on exploring more of this area in the future. Here is a few pictures off of 550 “million dollar highway”

 

[hagar]

 

[Posi]

Many thanks to Dave for hosting this event for all of us to enjoy. I totally enjoyed this time with good friends. Again, thanks Dave!

















































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[BusaDave9]

Sunday August 4th

After breakfast we headed over the mountains on Imogene Pass trail.





Then we came upon Tom Boy. This used to be a mining town with a school and a daily stagecoach.





Then we continued on to Imogene pass







The route we took went to the top of a cliff overlooking Camp Bird Mine. There is also a shortcut that goes right through this mine.



The Camp Bird Road has this shelf road with an overhang above the road.





Then we arrived at our motel in Ouray. Tomorrow we'll be joining the rest of the group on the trail.

To be continued ...

 

[Lumpy Grits]

How did the carb'd engines do at 13K'+ASL?
LG

 

[Posi]

I received feedback concerning the Sound Democrat Mine many thought it was the best Mine they visited. It was one of many good Mines in the area available to us.























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[coldair]

Heres a few more pictures of the sound democrat mine

 

[coldair]

One more picture



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[hagar]

How did the carb'd engines do at 13K'+ASL?
LG

I change the jets here at home before I go.
More likely problem is vapor lock.
When crawling along engine temps can rise with little to no air movement in some of the canyon bottoms.
Most driving is done in low range to climb the steep grades.

 

[coldair]

Fresh cut path above the mill another picture of the mountain range around the mine



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[BusaDave9]

Monday August 5th

Monday was the first say of organized trail rides. We left Ouray and headed south for 3 miles before turning off the highway and onto Lower Engineer Pass trail. We stopped here to lock the hubs.
Today we all traveled in one group of 13 jeeps.



We stopped at the Michael Breen Mine.





Next we took a detour to Mineral Point. This is another mining site.







We stopped at Odom Point for a group shot. Some maps call this Oh! Point.



Then we went to Animas Forks Ghost town.



The direct road to Silverton is blocked by the snow of a large avalanche so we headed into California Gulch.



The top of California Gulch still has lots of snow in August.



Here's Rad taking a picture of the sign at the top of California Pass.



After California Pass we didn't descend much before reaching Hurricane pass. On our decent I took this picture of Storm Peak.

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We took Corkscrew Pass to get back to the highway.





The above picture was taken August 5th. For comparison here's the picture I took July 18th going the opposite direction. You can see how much snow has melted.



Although the snow is melting the debris still shows the power of the avalanches. The size of the trees also show how rare these avalanches are. Trees don't get very big where avalanches are common.



We made it back to Ouray.

To be continued ...

 

[Posi]

Monday’s London Mine visit.


























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[BusaDave9]

Tuesday August 6th

Today we left Ophir and headed out on Imogene Pass trail.



Jake drove my Jeep.





This next picture is looking toward Telluride.





This next picture shows Black Bear Pass zig zagging it's way down the mountain. You can also see Bridal Veil Falls, the highest waterfall in Colorado.



From Telluride we went on the highway for a few miles then took Ophir pass to get back.

To be continued ...

 

[Posi]

We ran Imogene trail then Last Dollar Trail back to Ouray.

At Imogene Pass we found the weather so nice we stayed for lunch before heading to Telluride.

We were surprised at the lack of wind and the warm sun at 13k on Imogene Pass so we hung out for 30-45 mins before moving on.

























Last Dollar







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[coldair]

Heres some more pictures to add to your post Posi



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[JR74CJ5]

I've got quite a few photos to add, and have talked my Uncle into joining the site too to post his / theirs.

Just crazy at work at the moment to take the time to do it....

Soon... :drool:

 

[Belizean]

Beautiful scenery ! Great pictures ! Thanks for sharing with those who were unable to go. Just makes me want even more to get there.

 

[TnCJ]

Oh wow!!!! What a beautiful country we live in.
I wish I wasn't thousands of miles away so I could experience some of what you guys got to see first hand.
Thanks for the pics, they were AWESOME!!!!!

 

[BusaDave9]

Wednesday August 7th

Today we went up Corkscrew Pass then on to Hurricane Pass.
Here's a tipple on Hurricane Pass.



A tipple is a structure that is used to load ore into a rail car or some other form of transportation.

Here is Cory's (MtnBiker4evr13) CJ7



Next we turned up Placer Gulch. The web site for the Forest Service said this trail just opened the day before. It seemed to be in good shape. This leads to Picayune Gulch and that was recently opened. I think the Forest Service didn't want people driving across these gulches to find a dead end and have a long way to backtrack.



Then we came upon the Gold Prince Mine.


At the top of Placer Gulch we went down Picayune Gulch.
A helicopter was flying overhead.



Some men in ATV's were blocking the trail I wanted to go on. They told me there was an accident and the rescue had to get the injured into the helicopter. So we took a lower trail.

At the bottom of Picayune Gulch we could see the work the bulldozers were doing to clear the avalanche from the trail.



This next picture is looking up Grouse Gulch. This is the direction the avalanche came from.



The avalanch blocked county road 2 and the entrance to Picayune Gulch. After we left the bulldozers cleared the rest of county road 2 up to Animas Forks ghost town.





The trees in the snow make it much more difficult for the bulldozers to clear.



Here's PistolDave's CJ7


We headed down to Silverton to have dinner at Handlebars.

To be continued ...