My Colorado/Moab trip

[breckboarder55]

So the last two years a buddy and I have gone to Colorado in my Jeep for a little wheeling, backpacking, exc. The A/C fan did go out on the way there, so we drove the entire trip with out the windows in. This year we left on the 21st driving through the nite.

Since this was such a long trip (june 21st-July 2nd) I will keep it relavent to wheeling although we did some backpacking, and other stuff too.

Exhausted we decided to take a nice scenic route up Hermit Pass. The trail was easy following a meandering stream with several water falls. We were not able to summit seeing as we hit snow at about 12,800 ft.
several falls:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6230052.jpg
lodaded down with gear:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6230062.jpg
Pretty easy trail:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6230088.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6230109.jpg
Snow at 12.8k:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6230120.jpg

[breckboarder55]

The next day we enjoyed another scenic pass that starts between Buena Vista and Leadville and takes you up over Weston pass towards Fairplay. Are hopes were to get to some more difficult trails at a lower elevation to avoid snow, but rain came in and we decided to wait another day to start the more difficult trails. (especially since we were by our selves)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6240131.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6240136.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6240154.jpg

It rained so we ended up going into Silverthorne and watched Transformers in a theater, camped at a park near by and woke up to this:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6240176.jpg

[breckboarder55]

The next day we did Wheeler lake, a little more interesting, but nothing over our heads by ourselves. Enjoyed this untill we hit a nice 10 ft. snow bank, we decided to hike the rest of the way.
old mine:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250200.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250210.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250221.jpg
old mine equipment:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250228.jpg
Harder than it looks?
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250235.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250236.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250237.jpg

[breckboarder55]

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250245.jpg
near the lake at the top of the trail:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250267.jpg
the lake:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250269.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250291.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250293.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250295.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250298.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250299.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6250302.jpg

[breckboarder55]

Went down south to hike another 14k ft. peak, this year we decided to summit Mt. Princeton. (last year we climbed Mt. Elbert, 2nd tallest in cont. U.S.) While we were at it we took a nice shelf road to probably about 12.5k ft. I love the Buena Vista area (bannana belt), and have been there probably 4 or 5 times.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6260329.jpg
Ever seen a black squirell?
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6260353.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6260317.jpg
The next day we decided to head through Highway 82 (the most scenic highway I have ever been on) and up to 70 West to Moab.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6270368.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6270373.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6270380.jpg

[breckboarder55]

We camped down Kane Creek Road next to the Colorado River. Spent the first day at Arches National Park.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6280467.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6280472.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6280477.jpg
saw a base jumper (he used Poison spider mesa to get up there)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6280534.jpg
The next day I was excited to try some slick rock, we drove fins and things, Baby Lions back, and Hells Revenge.
(fins and things)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290541.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290552.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290555.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290567.jpg
Lots of steep stuff, and thankfully, slickrock is like driving on sand paper.

[breckboarder55]

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290577.jpg
Baby lions back:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290580.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290581.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290586.jpg
The real lions back(closed):
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290587.jpg
Hells Revenge:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290589.jpg
view near hells gate:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290600.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290607.jpg

[breckboarder55]

Hells Gate itself, was interesting. We got to it and my friend is the worlds worst spotter, and we were by ourselves. (smart, I know) When we got to it, I was swearing I thought it was bigger, than we made a corner, and well... It got bigger, the mean while my friend continued to spot me (****tyly) while taking a few pictures when he remembered.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290611.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290613.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290614.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290615.jpg
from the bottom(entrance):
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290617.jpg
Hells gate: (My friend was so worried about screwing up he forgot to get any good action pictures... Guess I have to go back)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290618.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290619.jpg
Near the top:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290620.jpg

[breckboarder55]

more humps:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290626.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290631.jpg
steep, you can see some of our gear strapped in:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290633.jpg
The bottom of escalator:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290636.jpg
each little dip in escalator had water in it, killing traction, worse when you happen not to have lockers...
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290637.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6290640.jpg
random notch:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300642.jpg
I think I am missing some pictures, but the only thing I went around the entire trip were the famous hot tubs, and tip over challenge. I gave up on tip over after pulling my driver side front tire twice.

[breckboarder55]

The Next day we spent time in Canyonlands, driving Poision Spider Masa at the end of the day. We caught up and wheeled with a 43' M-1something or other with a ford 9", and a pinto engine., and a new JK (on 35"s).
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300646.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300652.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300653.jpg
It was a family, the granpda in his mid 70s, pilotted the rental jk while his son drove the old willys he bought his son when he was 9. The son is now 39. The 4 door jk was drive by I believe, his sisters husband. Very nice folks.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300655.jpg
V-notch:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300656.jpg
Arch overlooking a drop of several hundred feet, and the Colorado bellow.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300668.jpg
A crack( but not the golden crack)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300670.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300671.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300672.jpg
Tow hook dragging was common for me:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300673.jpg

[breckboarder55]

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P6300679.jpg
On the way back we stopped in Ouray Colorado. Definitly the most senic place in Colorado I have been. It is at high elevation so most of the wheeling is closed untill late summer though.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010792.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010805.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010799.jpg
from yankee boy basin:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010820.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010825.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010823.jpg


A local advised me from using this bridge due to its condition, so I did the water crossing, came up to the bumper. (Imogene pass)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010846.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010856.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010863.jpg

[breckboarder55]

I think they plow this one:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010865.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010876.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010883.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010893.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010894.jpg
View from the end of Imogene of another famous trail, forgot the name. This is near Telluride though.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/breckboarder55/P7010895.jpg
And from there we drove threw the night again, stopping to sleep for only 3 hours past Amarillo. Took over 900 pictures, broke only my ignition key.(that sucked in the middle of no where) exc.
Good time

[FJAggie07]

Sounds like a blast man! Thanks for the pictures.

[Sharpe]

Awsome pics man, but I have to question your choice of wheeling alone...?

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Some great pictures indeed. I am still as excited to get back as I have ever been! :beer:



Awsome pics man, but I have to question your choice of wheeling alone...?

I wouldn't call it 'alone', more of a brokeback mtn. style maybe. :flipoff2:

[bcolman]

i wouldn't wheel alone, but if you do please get a winch, it will save alot of i told you so's

[DRAGOONRANCH]

i wouldn't wheel alone, but if you do please get a winch, it will save alot of i told you so's

The main reason you don't wheel alone is the same as mine, we will actually try to break something. ;)

[bcolman]

The main reason you don't wheel alone is the same as mine, we will actually try to break something. ;)

true dat

[DRAGOONRANCH]

the same reason we both have berry, berry big winches. :D

[JB]

Badass. I do the same trip to CO every year. Going first week of Sept this year. A TJ with two people and gear all the way to Moab from Texas? Hardcore. My truck bed is full with just my stuff

[uglyota]

Enjoyed this untill we hit a nice 10 ft. snow bank, we decided to hike the rest of the way.
You should have BASHED IT!!!!!

cool trip, great pics. Congrats on your second fourteener! Do you know what waterfall that is in your T-ride pic?

oh, and I heard that New Kids on the Block were in my neighborhood this week but I thought you guys would be older by now :confused2
:flipoff2:

[DRAGOONRANCH]

You should have BASHED IT!!!!!



Shut yo mouth!!!

NKOTB, I bet you had their posters up over your bed didn't you???

[uglyota]

I was listening to G&R when all the trendy kids were sporting NKOTB buttons on their backpacks...

[breckboarder55]

The drive kinda sucks, but Im used to the hot, loud, and slow thing by now. (4cyl, 3 speed auto, 3.73s, and 33"s...)

I know about the wheeling alone thing, a winch is definitly high up on my list. (but behind two new tires, gears/lockers for my 30/44, and a new top)
I do think that wheeling alone makes me take things a little easier.
Last year we were on some random shelf road and broke a u-joint and hiked into town, and got a ride back. Had me scared for a while.

Most of the time there were people in the area, the only time we were truly alone was at wheeler lake.
On Hells revenge we passed to H1's. (going to slow?) On Poision spider mesa we had a couple other jeeps.

The falls is off of the trail Black Bear pass. It actually has a mill at the top of it.
http://www.pbase.com/dmarchand/image/47406234
I think the name is "Bridal Veil Falls" (365')

[uglyota]

very cool. That fall is really cranking! Gonna have to try and get out there this summer before it dries up...

[AggieTJ2007]

So I take it you made it too the top of wheeler lake, did you see any of our tracks on the way up there (probably not)

[DRAGOONRANCH]

I think he was saying they stopped the jeep at the same drift we turned around on, then were able to hike the rest of the way to the lake.

[breckboarder55]

So I take it you made it too the top of wheeler lake, did you see any of our tracks on the way up there (probably not)

I actually did see a few tire tracks up there ( I hiked), I was very surprised with all the snow, but I guess if you went early enough than the snow would hold the weight of the vehicle.

[Doug Krebs]

Look familiar?

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hA-3cmmzlSY/SkGP7VpMGUI/AAAAAAAABpo/El5Jj6GIcAM/s576/DSC_7555.JPG

[Graystroke]

black bear is the other trail. if you did Imogene you should have done that. south of Ouray you pick up black bear, dumps you in Telluride , eat lunch, do Imogene and end back up in Ouray

[Graystroke]

very cool. That fall is really cranking! Gonna have to try and get out there this summer before it dries up...

telluride (I think) was one of the first electrified cities in the US or something. Bridal Falls is where the powerplant was. They used it to power the mines around there. I think the town was run off of AC power IIRC. which was a first.

That water is good to drink. Filtered of course.

[breckboarder55]

telluride (I think) was one of the first electrified cities in the US or something. Bridal Falls is where the powerplant was. They used it to power the mines around there. I think the town was run off of AC power IIRC. which was a first.

That water is good to drink. Filtered of course.

It powered Tom Boy mine, off of Imogene.

Yeah, I wish we had more time in that area but we had to get back, and the snow was still up.