Announcing the Last Colorado Jeep-CJ Trail Ride

[Hedgehog]

The CJ might not come home broken, but I guarentee you I'll come home broke.

 

[fishinfool98]

I'm ready can we go now


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[BusaDave9]

I'm ready can we go now

Would be nice but the higher trails usually aren't free of snow until July.

 

[BusaDave9]

I'm ready can we go now

Vote
That's how I keep my tally accurate

Also if anyone needs to change their vote, let me know.

 

[fishinfool98]

Would be nice but the higher trails usually aren't free of snow until July.

Snow is fun as long as there isn't ice


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[007]

Snow is fun as long as there isn't ice


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That's true - except this snow can be "higher than the rollbar" kinda snow...

 

[Petescj]

That's true - except this snow can be "higher than the rollbar" kinda snow...

And a slip the wrong way and its a long way down.

 

[BusaDave9]

​

This was taken at the beginning of July.
I hate to imagine what these mountain passes are like right now.

 

[fishinfool98]

Chain up let's go! I absolutely loved chaining up and going for a ride when I was in Alaska


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[Posi]

This has been on my mind often in the last couple weeks. I would like to take my rig, but the round trip looks like this 4,666 miles 72 hrs 12 mins with a fuel bill of $1400-$1500. At this point I feel the better option would be to hope for an open seat, fly out to Durango then make the 2 hour trip to Ouray. I'm also on the lookout for used Jeeps around Ouray to rent (can't afford new there). I've found some in the Denver area for around $30-$50 a day. The Durango airport rental have new G Cherokee for about $60. I'll have to check the flights, maybe it's cheaper to fly to Denver, rent there and drive the 6 hours to Ouray, then again maybe a new rental G Cherokee has no business on the trails we'll be running.

Anyways, those are my thoughts at this time.

 

[IOPort51]

there is at least one jeep rental in Ouray.

 

[BusaDave9]

This has been on my mind often in the last couple weeks. I would like to take my rig, but the round trip looks like this 4,666 miles 72 hrs 12 mins with a fuel bill of $1400-$1500. At this point I feel the better option would be to hope for an open seat, fly out to Durango then make the 2 hour trip to Ouray. I'm also on the lookout for used Jeeps around Ouray to rent (can't afford new there). I've found some in the Denver area for around $30-$50 a day.

I hope you can make it. I won't have any extra room in my CJ5 but I hope someone else will speak up if they have spare room. If you fly in to Durango I could pick you up at the airport. I could loan you my pickup to get to Ouray. Durango also has rental jeeps they would let you take on the trails. But there are 2 trails none of the jeep rental places will let you take their jeep: Poughkeepsie Gulch (they don't want you to break their Jeep) and Black Bear Pass (they don't want you to fall 1000 feet off a cliff with their jeep)

maybe a new rental G Cherokee has no business on the trails we'll be running.

I've taken a new rental Jeep Cherokee off-road to places I shouldn't.

 

[007]

Switzerland of America and Colorado West both rent Jeeps in Ouray. You're looking at $170 per day for a Wrangler and as stated, no Poughkeepsie or Black Bear. That said, I have flown into Denver and rented a Wrangler and driven to Ouray.

I will have a rider with me while I'm there (must leave Thursday), but if my folding cargo rack works out I'll keep the back seat in my 7 if someone want's the rumble seat with my camera bag...

 

[Posi]

Thanks, the Ouray $170-$200 a day range is well, out of my range. Renting at the airport is another options and I've found Jeeps in the $50 range.
Flying into Albuquerque and the rental look to be the least expensive.



I plan to fly in and out during the week for the price break as well. If no P-seat opens and the rumble seat is available I'd appreciate it. I don't mind hiking some of the trail, I figure I'm good for 10-12 miles a day with breaks.

I hope you can make it. I won't have any extra room in my CJ5 but I hope someone else will speak up if they have spare room. If you fly in to Durango I could pick you up at the airport. I could loan you my pickup to get to Ouray.

Thanks Dave, that's kind of you. The wheeling opportunity your presenting to the members here is very generous on your part and one I don't want to miss. I plan to purchase a flight ticket sometime around June 4-20 any earlier and the price will be higher (typically no earlier then 3 months out) so hopefully there is a rig with an open seat.


I've been doing a bit of street viewing and I like what I see.

River's edge
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.023...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sVTOWRTMkfLIO_FAQmb679A!2e0


OBrien's pub


https://www.google.com/maps/place/O%27Brien%27s+Pub+%26+Grill/@38.024352,-107.671528,3a,75y,271.96h,90.85t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1suGmo0MgkMmyQzvATekxL4Q!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xf80fc52548caf12c!6m1!1e1

 

[Posi]

Just talked to CJ on the phone, he and fishenfool98 have offered me a ride to Ouray “plus” a seat in fishenfool98's rig for the trail ride. The offer is much appreciated, thanks guys! That is just plain cool!!



Dave, please change my poll to “I'll be there”, just booked my room at the River's Edge.

 

[BusaDave9]

You guys have got to come to this trail ride.
Here's what to expect Thursday August 28th. We plan on heading to Governor Basin. This trail head is right on the edge of town. Because of steep canyon wall they carved roads out of the cliffs.

This road goes to Camp Bird Mine. There are a couple of neat old houses back in these mountains.




Unfortunately vandals have broken many of the windows. That's why they installed the fences shown in a picture above.

Continuing higher we will pass some waterfalls.













Lots of wildflowers up here.

More pictures of Governor Basin

There are lots of old mines up in these mountains. Here's one we will visit.

You can see from these pictures the terrain is very steep around here.

This is beautiful country and I never tire of it.​

 

[007]

I plan on getting in town Saturday evening. Sunday heading to Brooklyn Trail to test out the Jeep then back towards Ouray and up to Yankee Boy. Some of what Dave showed there can also be seen heading to Yankee Boy as Governor shares part of the trail. The white house with green roof you'll see near the end of the Black Bear / Imogene day.

As Dave has shown, don't come untested. I mean, anything can happen to any of us; but stack the deck in your favor...


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[BusaDave9]

Old Dog was asking about what to expect with the weather. I decided to put my answer here for everyone.
The weather varies greatly with altitude around here. In town it will be hot and you'll want to take the top off and wear a T shirt. Then as we climb the mountains it may get cold and you'll want to put on a coat and put up your top.

On Imogene pass I've been snowed on in the middle of June.

Yes, the above picture is from June. When I got back to town people couldn't believe there was snow within 1000 miles.
On the 2nd annual trail ride we had very cold rain on that pass. You'll need to protect yourself with a top and doors. I love putting the top down but you have to be ready for bad weather.
Also that year we got hit with a hail storm.

That's hail not snow. Waiting at the notch in the mountains in the top left of this picture it looked like it was going to get slippery.
After waiting it out the hail stopped it wasn't as bad as I expected.

While on the topic everyone needs to bring lots of layers of clothing. As we climb we will want to put on a sweater or coat.

EDIT: I don't want to give everyone the wrong impression. It's not always cold and wet on these mountain passes. Many times a bikini top is fine even at the highest elevations. My only point is we must always be prepared for bad weather up in these mountains.

:grinjeep:
​

 

[fishinfool98]

Cj I hope you can deal with no doors and a homemade top with no heater


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[CJ]

Your an ***, let's see ho Posi takes this!