Colorado

[AzTrailrunner]

Anybody planning on going to southern Colorado this summer? Camping and exploring the areas around Silverton,Ouray. I would like to tag along if anybody has the same thoughts.

[ob1jeeper]

If you're going during any holiday's or weekends, just as Amber was lamenting about the changes to AZ, the popular spots such as Silverton & Ouray get pretty full pretty quickly... So make reservations early...;)

[Sedona Jeep School]

Once, again, the Jeep business is partially to blame for the popularity: Farabee's has stores in Ouray and Silverton. I am not likely to be up there much this summer, but you can get current info on trail conditions from our staff.

Also, contact www.hightrails.org for Colorado runs.

[T.C.'S TOY]

I will be there jeepin with a few friends from here,we will be there in ouray around the end of July for about a week to ten days......T.C.:)

[Digger]

I did a week exploring CO last year and want to do it again. Went thru La Garita did Silverton, Leadville, Center City, others. then did some wilderness, Cinnamin Pass is awesome, Ouray, over to Moab. Ouray has some nice trails. I went late summer, weather was nice.
Want to talk over a plan? I'd enjoy CO trip.

[AzTrailrunner]

sent pm

[ActualReverend]

The wife has been threatening me with a trip in July or so up there, hope to make the bear pass, or whatever. We have done every other trail near silverton and durango. Damn pretty area, hard to take a bad picture there.
I might be interested, but we are not considering it until bear pass is opened. It is supposed to be the "hardest" one.
Examples:
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/09162006Durango
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/05282006Durango
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/05272006Durango

Wells has a book for that area too, great for finding trails.
--Bryan

[honaker]

This link should get you to the staging area of Colorado's version of AVJC;

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/forumdisplay.php?f=12

:D

[ob1jeeper]

The wife has been threatening me with a trip in July or so up there, hope to make the bear pass, or whatever. We have done every other trail near silverton and durango. Damn pretty area, hard to take a bad picture there.
I might be interested, but we are not considering it until bear pass is opened. It is supposed to be the "hardest" one.
Examples:
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/09162006Durango
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/05282006Durango
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/05272006Durango

Wells has a book for that area too, great for finding trails.
--Bryan

Black Bear Pass actual difficulty has WAY more to do with the height of the drop offs on the switchbacks of the West face, and the costs (Deadly serious) for making a wheel placement mistake.

People die while attempting Black Bear every season because of inexperience, and/or mistakes caused by thier fear of heights. If you are in the least queasy with heights, I would highly suggest that instead of driving it yourself the first time, you pay to go for a ride with one of the tours, so you can assess whether you truly have the calmness that will be required to do this safely.

This is NOT the trail to be letting your testosterone over-ride your good sense... There is absolutely NO shame in testing the waters with an experienced guide, to ensure you are ready for this experience.

I've been with folks who were fortunately smart enough to get out, and let someone else pilot thier rigs, due to the onset of fear... Best damned move they EVER made while 4-wheeling, I can assure you...

Other than that, the trail off the East side of Imogene, into Yankee Boy Basin has more technical difficulty, just not as serious of consequences, if you mis-position a wheel.

PS: Some years the weather conditions never get warm enough for long enough to melt sufficient levels of the previous winters snow & ice pack, to allow the plows to get up there and open the trail... Not to worry... That's only required to clear the trail through the glacier field, which is otherwise NOT the difficult part of the trail...;)