Planning the 5th Annual Colorado Jeep-CJ Trail Ride

[BusaDave9]

So what's the count now Dave?

Well, Somedude has not yet voted but I think seven people are coming. There are others that are not yet sure.

 

[profire]

It's looking more and more likely that I can make the trip. I made reservations at the KOA. I really want to make this, I have been wanting to do the trial system there for a few years now and doing it with a bunch of CJ's would be epic for me.

 

[somedude922]

Voted.

 

[CJ]

Great!

 

[CJ]

Well, Somedude has not yet voted but I think seven people are coming. There are others that are not yet sure.

Oops...

 

[somedude922]

I didn't know about the pole. I can't see it on Tapatalk.

I need to get some wrench time in on the jeep. Leaking engine oil from rear main and oil pump. Leaking Transmission fluid from shift linkage and my QT is dripping skunk oil on my resonator. I also have to replace a warped ( I hope) driver front rotor. Other than that I'm ready!!!


Oh and I have to buy a row vehicle too. Kind of a big part of this trip I guess.

 

[mriplaybass]

We are booked! We will be staying at the Box Canyon Lodge again, from Sunday night until Friday. All this Jeep talk is really inspiring me! I do little else when I am home from work other than work on the CJ5 . Somedude, you make me feel a little better knowing that we are not the only ones with wrench work to perform. Bet you are a bit better off than us though. Roller frame with engine and Transmission done! Goin like h**l to get er done! Looking forward to seeing old friends, and meeting some new ones.

 

[profire]

Dave,
Regarding Poughkeepsie Gulch, will a front locker be enough? I'm still running 31's and no rear locker.

 

[BusaDave9]

Poughkeepsie Gulch

Dave,
Regarding Poughkeepsie Gulch, will a front locker be enough? I'm still running 31's and no rear locker.

We'll get you to the top.
This trail starts off mild. Then you get to some loose rocks. Most of the harder parts have bypasses. But the reason this is rated a difficult trail is only because of "The Wall". The Wall is a ledge near the top. It changes in difficulty due to erosion, people put rocks to fill gaps. Last year I though it was easier than previous years. If you have a locker in the front you will get to the wall. I don't know if you will make it over. Once you start up a steep slope the weight is on the rear tires. A locker in the front won't help much. If there are others waiting there is an unwritten rule that you get 2 tries and then the winch cable comes out. If you're game I would encourage you to try the trail. The worst case would be that I (or someone else) would winch you up the Wall.

Now I am not saying we'll be going up Poughkeepsie Gulch. It all depends on participant feedback and we wont decide on this trail until we've tried a few others. This one is a challenge. If people want scenery we may be doing American Basin instead.

Most importantly I say don't spend any time or money getting a locker or any other mods before the trail ride. Make your Jeep reliable. Check hoses, belts, tie rod ends. If everyone shows up ready for mild trail rides that's what we'll do. If we get a lot of rock crawlers ready for a challenge we'll be heading up Poughkeepsie.

Anther note about Poughkeepsie Gulch. I have a map that says the recommended path on Poughkeepsie Gulch is down. The heck with that. I have never gone down. The map makers think it's easier. But when you get to the Wall there's still a risk. You can go down the wall. I can guarantee you will make it to the bottom. Will you still be up-right? Well . . . maybe. Imagine going down a steep slope. You can still roll your jeep going down. But when you get to the bottom there is no sense of accomplishment. On the other hand when you are going up, the engine is screaming, the tires are squealing and then you get to the top and you just want to scream
"YEA! I Made it!" Now that's why I always go up: conquering the Wall. Don't get me wrong. This is not a hard core trail for buggies. You need lockers but it's not as hard as it used to be.

 

[profire]

Sweet! I have wheeled for a few years now so I'm up for the challenge but I'm not so hard headed to not use the winch when needed. I see lots of guys just give the skinny pedal more pressure and that's when things go snap.

 

[BusaDave9]

Monday, July 27th we'll be going over Engineer Pass. Here's a video my son made a few years ago on that trail.

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We didn't go on this trail last year but I love it. It is very rough and rocky at times but it's not hard.
We'll pull off Highway 550 and start to climb and climb and climb. Then near the pass their is a look out that makes you feel you are on top of the world.

Here's a link to a panorama I made durring the 3rd annual Jeep-CJ trail ride:
Engineer Pass
It's interactive so you can grab the image with your mouse and change the view.

 

[Bill D]

I'm new at this but my bride and I would like to drive the CJ5 over from Colorado Springs and join you folks on this get together. I came over to Creede three years ago and rented a Rubicon (real Jeeps don't have four doors) and came over Stoney to Silverton but didn't to do any other four wheeling on that trip. Any info about what to bring and how to make reservations would be most appreciated..

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[BusaDave9]

Any info about what to bring and how to make reservations would be most appreciated..

We'd love to have you. On a side note, we've had a lot more CJ5 's than CJ7 's on these trail rides. That kinda surprised me.

Being from Colorado you may know to bring layers of cloths. In town a short sleeve shirt may be enough. As we climb you may want to put on a light jacket. Also bring a rain jacket in case of bad weather.
We eat breakfast and dinner at restaurants. Lunch will be on the trails so bring a small cooler. Actually I always have extra room in mine but you may want to bring drinking water.

Make your reservations NOW! It's already getting hard to find a room.

Most of us usually stay the [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The Rivers Edge Motel[/FONT] 866-739-4987. I like the place but many of the rooms are small.

You can also stay at [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Ouray Hotel | BEST WESTERN PLUS Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs | Ouray, Colorado[/FONT] 800-207-2700 or 970-325-4427

If you want to camp you can stay at Ouray KOA or at the Amphitheatre Campground
Both of these campgrounds can accommodate a camper.

Or for more primitive and private camping head a few miles south of town on the road toward Camp Bird Mine to Angel Creek Campground. This campground is great for a jeep and a tent
Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests - Angel Creek Campground - Ouray RD

Here's my tentative plans:
Some of us will be arriving Saturday, July 25th and meeting for dinner at O'Briens Pub in Ouray

Sunday, July 26th - We'll be heading up Governor basin and Yankee Boy Basin.

Camp Bird Trail


Governor Basin Road
​

Monday - Engineer Pass - This is one of my favorite trails

we'll be coming back over Corkscrew Pass


Tuesday - Blackbear Pass, that is if no one has acrophobia.


and we'll come back via Imogene pass

Wednesday - We'll go to Silverton then over Stony Pass and on to Beartown site


Thursday - If people are up to it I'd like to try Poughkeepsie Gulch. You can't do this trail with open differentials.


Friday the 31st is a travel day to head back home.

These plans are tentative and can change depending on participant feedback.
With the exception of Poughkeepsie Gulch these trails can be done with a stock CJ.

 

[007]

You can also check The Matterhorn (970) 325-4938. I've stayed there before and it's just a block from River's Edge if I recall. There's also the Historic Western Hotel, The Weisbaden, Beaumont ($), Box Canyon Lodge and Ouray Chalet.

All depends on what you want to spend (and what's available). Remember too that if you go on the trails each day you're there, you won't spend much time in the room beyond sleep / shower / chill before dinner.

Glad you can make it!

 

[Bill D]

Thanks!
We will probably make Saturday our travel day and plan to be over there thru Wednesday and make Thursday our "come home" day. We are now in the process of trying to book a room which seems to be the most challenging part of the trip..
We were in Ouray last summer on our honeymoon and had planned to spend the night but were unable to get a room. The whole town was full of fancy Jeeps there for a Jeep festival. Hope to have better luck this time.


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[BusaDave9]

Make your reservations now, even if you're not sure you will make it.
Let me know if anyone has trouble getting a room.

 

[BusaDave9]

Here's some more pictures of the trails we'll be on.

This is California Gulch but the snow on the trail will be melted by the time we get there.
​

 

[BusaDave9]

I was thinking not to make any plans for Thursday until I got feedback from the participants. Well, I got my feedback. CJ called me and said "we've got to do Poughkeepsie Gulch".
It's a difficult trail mainly because of "The Wall" at the top of the trail. We're all doing it this year. Don't worry, if you can't make it up the Wall we'll winch you up.
I don't have a picture of myself going up the wall but here's a picture I found on the internet.

Oh no no no. That's not a good picture. Let me keep searching.
Here here's a better one to show how much fun the Wall can be. (I don't think they were having much fun in the other picture)

 

[Posi]

CJ called me and said "we've got to do Poughkeepsie Gulch

I agree, a must do!

 

[hole]

Dave, the first pic is clearly how not to do the wall