Planning trip to Colorado in a few days – suggestions?

[Mr2mch]

Tom....I've still got a couple of the Butler CO 2nd Ed with dirt roads shown....& I've got a detailed specialty map of the Silverton Telluride & Ouray area by Drake Mountain Maps if you need sumthin to take along....
Lemme kno ...if so ...fore ya go.

[JasonH]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher

I'm headed that way on Friday afternoon. Annual Family Reunion in Ouray. I'll be on a mostly white DR650 with a Roll the Bones sticker on the rear fender and a TX ADV sticker on the headlight surround.

From what I've read the snow fall was low last winter so all the roads are open.

I was just there a couple of weeks ago. Very little snow. High fire risk still pretty much everywhere.

[h2000fb]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher

I'm headed that way on Friday afternoon. Annual Family Reunion in Ouray. I'll be on a mostly white DR650 with a Roll the Bones sticker on the rear fender and a TX ADV sticker on the headlight surround.

From what I've read the snow fall was low last winter so all the roads are open.

We will be riding a 2008 RED KLR (like they aren't they common!) and a blue Yamaha WR450.

[ekms377]

I'll be up there first week of August.

[ghostrider1964]

I just got back Friday from running all the passes except Black Bear and Ophir. Cinnamon is the best I have seen it. Stoney was not bad but very dusty. Rain maybe helping with that being it was raining when I left. Engineer from Animas forks was dry and pretty decent. Engineer from Ouray off 550 is the roughest I have ever seen it. The low snow means all these roads are way dryer than usual which will better for you and your son. I camped above Creede on Slumgullion pass campground on CR 50. Nice place to camp and has water and outhouse. There is like 3 campgrounds on that road. Elevation is right at 11,000 feet so it kicked my butt the first few days there, worst altitude sick I have ever been. I rode my KTM all over but was wishing for lower gearing on the tough stuff.
Not much snow...

If you decide to go for a Jeep tour..avoid these guys...

I don't think they practice what they preach I had to go find a Ranger for help because Cell phones were useless...I found a Ranger at Animas forks and his SAT phone did not work...nobody hurt other than fouled underwear
Animas Forks is nice if you have not been there

Falls on the Rio Grande near Creede...

Not sure if you fish but the stream are pretty low and Rio Grande Res was lowest I have ever seen it...It was so low I did not have the heart to take a pic of it...Another bad point is the beetle kill...the bettles have devastated thousands of acres of trees...That is why they are letting the fire continue to burn near Pagosa Springs...Smoke was not an issue while we were there and I rode through Pagosa Springs.

I had a mission to run this pass...

It was a very bad idea...I had tried this pass on several times previous and had been turned back by snow so I became obsessed with it...
First Warning...

NOTE THE WORDING!!! A JEEP UNLIMITED IS NOT THE VEHICLE FOR THIS ROAD!!!

It starts nice and gets bad real quick...folks I have drove passes up here since I was in high school and worked at a cattle ranch near Delores...This is the most dangerous pass I have EVER Drove! IT is rated MOST dangerous pass in North America with 49 deaths...
The start of Devil's Punch Bowl...

getting worse...

Rock Slide...no way to turn around!!!

[ghostrider1964]

I had to move some rock to make a path...thanks for the help to two locals on ATVs..they said the pass was suppose to be closed except to ATV traffic No Sign or gate closed...I managed to get my Rubicon unlimited through with LOTS OF METAL SCRAPING!!!!(I got my Jeep home and it took 4.5 hours on the dealers frame machine to get my driveline to stop making all the tortured noises that we heard all the way home. the the drive line was pushed up aout 3 inches...my wife was NOT happy..her Jeep BTW) My quest was to get to Crystal City and the old Power Station to take pics...I had got there once before and it was snowing.....

I love this place...pics on my Olympus PL1...cool camera...huh...


I consider myself fair rider and good in a Jeep but have no desire to go Schofield Pass again...IF I did, it would be on an ATV cause the large rocks would be murder on a bike unless you are a trials rider

[KMc]

My son and I did that trip a few years back.. me on my KLR and him on his XR650L. We based out of Durango. Road trips from Durango to Silverton, Oury, Telluride, Lake City, Gunnison, Wolfcreek Pass, Creel. Off-road, we road Hesperus near Durango, Engineers Pass Silverton to Lake City, Stony Pass Creel to Silverton. He later road Bear Pass down past Bridal Falls into Telluride but that we a bit more than my age limit would allow . If you pm an email address I'll send you a video of trip.

[WoodButcher]

Originally Posted by h2000fb

We will be riding a 2008 RED KLR (like they aren't they common!) and a blue Yamaha WR450.

Okay, if you get into Ouray, this is were we are staying: http://www.ouraycondos.com/ There are five units and we (my family and my 3 riding brother-in-laws and family) are using four of them. I suspect my red BMW GSA will be there too. When you come into town from the south, hang a left and head for the river. It is tucked in on the last right turn before you hit the bridge.

We'll have tools and stuff too if you get in a bind.

[KMc]

If you get down to Durango or up to Ft Collins stop in at Serious Texas BBQ and say hey to the owners (who are formally from Pflugerville).

[ghostrider1964]

Sportmans Texaco and BBQ in LAke City is really good...course the owners are from Kerville I did not rate them on my BBQ thread but I like all there meats and had hamburger there on another day and they did not price gouge you I wish I could have brought home a jar of their sweet jalepenos

[swoody126]

THERE ARE A COUPLA SPORTING GOODS STORES UP THERE THAT CARRY REALLY GOOD GHOST TOWN/JEEP ROAD MAPS

THEIR NAMES ELUDE ME BUT THEIR LOCATIONS ARE RATHER CLEAR IN MY REMEMBERY

ABOUT 1/2 WAY UP THE MAIN DRAG IN CREEDE, ON THE RIGHT(EAST) SIDE OF THE STREET, IS ONE

ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF TOWN, IN SILVERTON, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STREET, IS THE OTHER(FOUND THE NAME: OUTDOOR WORLD, 1234 GREENE/MAINE ST SILVERTON 81433 (970) 387 5628 )

ONE OF THE GUYS, I'VE VISITED W/, IN THE SILVERTON SPORTING GOODS STORE IS A MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM MEMBER & HE RIDES DIRT BIKES

A REALLY GOOD PIECE OF ADVICE CAME FROM HIM AND THAT IS TO BUY THE:

COLORADO OUTDOOR RECREATION SEARCH & RESCUE CARD

A 5 YR CARD IS(WAS, IN '09) ONLY $12

YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PAY TO GET RESCUED, UP THERE

& I AM LED TO BELIEVE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSES...

THERE IS, EASILY, A WEEKS WORTH OF WORTHY FIRE ROADS IN THE SILVERTON AREA, ALONE

ADD IN A TRIP OR TWO OVER THE DIVIDE TO LAKE CITY & CREEDE & YOU'VE GOT A SUMMER'S VACATION FILLED

WHILE IN SILVERTON, LUNCH AT HANDLEBAR'S IS MANDATORY

A BUFFALO BURGER, W/ PEACH COBBLER & ICE CREAM ON TOP, FOR D-ZERT

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN DURANGO, BREAKFAST @ THE DURANGO DINER, ON MAINE WILL BE A VERY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE!!

HAVE THE KITCHEN SINK OMLETT W/ GREEN CHILI ON THE SIDE

HAVE FUN &

SHINY SIDE UP

[Tourmeister]

Originally Posted by swoody126

A REALLY GOOD PIECE OF ADVICE CAME FROM HIM AND THAT IS TO BUY THE:

COLORADO OUTDOOR RECREATION SEARCH & RESCUE CARD

A 5 YR CARD IS(WAS, IN '09) ONLY $12

YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PAY TO GET RESCUED, UP THERE

& I AM LED TO BELIEVE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSES...

So is it like a get out of trouble free card (insurance)? Buy it and they come get you without charging anything extra?

[swoody126]

Originally Posted by Tourmeister

So is it like a get out of trouble free card (insurance)? Buy it and they come get you without charging anything extra?

scott,

i can't remember all the details but what i do remember is the emphasis the guy @ outdoor world, in silverton, placed on the benefits of having it

as i said, above, he also worked with mountain rescue

when i have been up in ouray over the 4th week(since 1989) i always went to the mountain rescue 4th of july breakfast and made a healthy donation to their work

my original question, when i found out about this card, was about wanting a fishing license and when i told the guy i only wanted it for the rescue clause that is built into it, that is when he steered me to the outdoor recreation rescue card

i bit

i bought

i've renewed, in 5 yr chunks, since

i know a bunch of TWT folks are headed up there next month and would suggest you investigate the card

i was thinking you might be able to get one @ the variety store in ouray but heard it has closed

just got off the phone w/ a pard up in montrose who says you can get them anywhere you can buy fishing licenses

here is a link:

http://www.coloradosarboard.org/csrb...dFactSheet.pdf

hope this helps

shiny side up

[bluedogok]

As far as campfires, the statewide ban was ended this week after the substantial rains that we received but there are still many counties that still have fire bans in place. Right now we are going through the "monsoon season" where we get heavy rains in the afternoon for a week and then dry for a week. I'm not sure how much they have received down in that part of the state but just from watching the weather here in Denver they have received some.

Enjoy the trip.

[h2000fb]

I am back. Fun trip. I am getting ready to leave the house and head-up to my brother’s in Allen to get the WR, then over to Carrollton to pick-up my son.



Our trip to Colorado was uneventful with the exception of loosing a tire on the trailer. We plugged the sidewall in the tire and stopped in Raton for a new one. The first day in Colorado, we headed up to Rio Grande Reservoir, took the Lost Trail to Stony Pass from the East side of the mountain. It was not too bad. However, we encountered two places about a block long each, fairly steep, and looked like you were going over something like the big rocks in Ghostrider’s pic:

By all accounts received, it should not have looked like this or not so much anyway. So, after the first area long stretch, we thought we were thru the worst part. We were not. After the second one, we had other shorter areas of the same. We did not think to take picture of any of them, but it was rough. Our original plan did not include this much of this type of riding.


Just Nice Scenery




Nice Easy Section of Road...



The KLR was great for the easy roads.. but the really rough stuff was something else. While the KLR made it, it complained a lot. Too little clearance, too little gear and too little suspension. When you hit this stuff, you can’t stop. You have to keep your momentum up and just go! It was very rough terrain for the KLR. NOT the bike to take on this terrain. Scott, it really needed a lot lower gears. But even then, not the bike for this terrain.
The WR, well, it took it like a thoroughbred. Still rough, but the handling was far superior. No surprises here. If not for that, Travis would have had a problem. The only thing we can say negative about the WR… it cannot swim nor does it float. Here is Travis drying off. There is a pretty nice river crossing just behind him hidden by the brush. The KLR is getting taken down to get to the tool kits.


After Travis took his dip, the engine would not turn over. Cylinder full of water, air box full of water, exhaust full of water. We laid the bike over to drain the air box, stood it on the back wheel and drained the pipe (while working the engine with the kick-starter), and then finally pushed it to the top of a hill in an attempt to get it started by riding it down in first gear. NO STARTY! All our work seemed for naught as it appeared it had no fire. After much effort, I left for Silverton to rent a jeep, truck, whatever – to get it off the mountain. Found a fellow from Mercer, TX coming up the trail and he volunteered to haul Trav off the mountain. About halfway back to the river, here comes Trav! Said after setting awhile, the flies and sun were so bad - he just kept kicking and finally it started to fire.
We thanked the Texas truck and went on to Silverton. Rode Cinnamon over to Lake City for supper and then back to our campground. Cinnamon was easy, but we were pooped.


Silverton


Easy Section of Cinnamon Pass


Just Great scenery



Next day, we planned to go over the Old Monark Pass just off of 50 (easier than we wanted), go up toward Hancock/Williams/Tomichi Pass area, and then choose one to work our way to St. Elmo, then to Tin Cup, Pitken and then back to camp – or something like that. Wanted an easier day and after all, the map showed it to be much easier. Wrong! Tomichi looked the shortest and was that a bad choice. It was worse than the day before and just got worse the further you went. The bad stuff just kept getting more frequent and longer. However, once over the top, the other side was better. Because of the time spent in getting through Tomichi, we went straight to Pitken, forgetting about Tin Cup and St. Elmo. Forget the other places. Discovered the fellow running the little general store there is from Rosebud, TX. Small world.

Sharing our bounty with the neighbors just before Tomichi Pass


Pitken, CO


On the way back to the campsite (we moved) from Pitken, I discovered one of the bolts holding the back of the KLR’s subframe (frame over the rear tire) had sheared, backed out, or a combination of both. Not certain which as it is just hanging out, wedged and is at least holding up the frame – sort of. So, we limp back to campsite. Start to remove and attempt repair, but do not have another bolt. Will look at it in the morning - we were cold from the rainy ride back to camp! After thinking about it during the night, and considering we had only one more day of riding available… and the time it might take to locate another bolt somewhere – we just load up and get ready to meander home.

About 35 miles before Clayton, the RV has a tire slinging rubber. Made it to Clayton at about 6:30 Saturday evening. Fellow with tire business on highway came down, opened shop and got the tire changed. His jack just barely did it, but we made it. Really nice fellow – CDL Tire & Auto Repair.

Overall a nice trip. Did not mean to get into some of terrain we encountered. Travis said his riding skill improved by at least 2 grades on this trip. With the exception of him being unsuccessful in teaching the WR to swim, he did great. It was a fun trip and will give us much to talk about for a long time.

[slowoldguy]

Sending three more up around the first. Will call to get all the details on the routes taken. Nice pics!!

[GHT]

Great report, glad you guys had a good trip! Looking forward to our annual trip in a month!

[swoody126]

great report

nice pics(it must have really happened)

since i have been on those trails, on a klr, in a jeep, a suburban & an f-350 super crew, i have a clue...

your trip had to have been one you will remember for a lifetime

a couple tires & an un-planned bath are inconsequential in the overall scheme of things

glad you had fun

sw

[The Bruce]

Fantastic! Thanks for the report.