- Location
- Redstone Canyon, Nor CO.
OK, I will be running some trails instead of the convention. This is not an official get-together, but if anyone wants to join me on the trails consider this an invitation. A tentative shcedule is laid out below, keep in mind we need to stay flexible to allow for changing weather conditions.
Tuesday July 30th - Very early start to Mt Blanca, usually a two day trip, camping restrictions currently in place mean it will be up and down in one day.
Wednesday July 31st - Drive to Buena Vista, visit Tomken Machine, set up camp. Run trails in the area, most likely Old Chinamen's Gulch. Meet up with any of the crowd still possibly staying at Taylor Reservoir.
Thusday Aug 1st- Iron Chest, those wanting easier can run Mt Antero or Pomeroy Lake.
Friday Aug 2nd, Holy Cross City, camp at the city
Sat Aug 3rd, down from Holy Cross, and meet the CO-XJ guys to socialize and run trails together on Sunday Aug 4th.
I would suggest making Buena Vista a base camp for this if needed. Although Mt Blanca is a couple hours to the South, BV is centrally located to IronChest and Holy Cross and is near to Taylor reservoir. It also contains any sort of service we may need, from auto parts to Motels. There are developed campgrounds, and plenty of undeveloped camping. The toursist season has been exceptionally slow as the low rivers have precluded much of the rafting business, so booking accomodation at this late stage will not be a problem.
If you are going to attempt Holy Cross then be prepared to camp that night at the old mining town. also be prepared for the schedule to change a little, we may run IronChest on Wednesday and then Holy Cross Thurs and Fri depending on Mt Blanca on Tuesday.
If you are travelling from out of state, you may want to meet us at Blanca and then head north from there. Mt Blanca is located in south central CO, from the east take I-25 to Walsenburg and head west until Blanca then head north to the trail. From the west - the best route may be I-70 to the Leadville exit and head south to Buena Vista, set up camp, then continue south to Alamosa then east to Blanca and north to the trail.
Mt Blanca is kinda isolated on it's own, so if you choose not to run the trail but still want to run the other trails, then you may want to meet me in Buena Vista. Maybe Tuesday night, if we get done with Blanca by 4pm, otherwise Wednesday mid am.
I hesitate to stipulate vehicle requirements, but would suggest the following as minimums. enough lift for 31" tires, one locker. As much rocker/body/undercarriage protection as you feel you need. The trails are all "difficult" rating 8 or 9 out of 10. But they fall way short of the "extreme" trails like Independance, Kremmling, or Montrose. With 31" tires you stand some chance of body damage. With 35" tires you are NOT guaranteed to avoid damage. Basically a capable trail rig that would be at home in Moab, the Rubicon or Tellico. These trails are not suitable for stocker XJ's but there are many trails in the area that are, so join us anyway and run your own trails during the day if you like.
A brief trail description.
Mt Blanca is a trail up a mountain, amazing scenery. 3 or 4 difficult obstacles, no bypasses. Obstacles named Jaws. the worst would be similar to the can opener rock in the Sluice at Rubicon.
IronChest - the first mile of trail is a rock strewn gully that is always challenging as the rocks re-arrange themselves after each vehicle. Also a VERY offcamber section on the upper part of the trail.
Holy Cross City - old mining trail, medium to French Creek then a difficult obstacle before the city. Two extreme obstacles above the city are optional FUN. Amazing scenery. Old mining town ruins.
So if you are thinking of joining me for some fun here in CO - please answer below.
To stress again, this is not an official convention, just me and some Jeepin' buddies running trails. Join me for all or some or none of the time. It is gonna be a bunch of Jeepin fun.
Grant
Tuesday July 30th - Very early start to Mt Blanca, usually a two day trip, camping restrictions currently in place mean it will be up and down in one day.
Wednesday July 31st - Drive to Buena Vista, visit Tomken Machine, set up camp. Run trails in the area, most likely Old Chinamen's Gulch. Meet up with any of the crowd still possibly staying at Taylor Reservoir.
Thusday Aug 1st- Iron Chest, those wanting easier can run Mt Antero or Pomeroy Lake.
Friday Aug 2nd, Holy Cross City, camp at the city
Sat Aug 3rd, down from Holy Cross, and meet the CO-XJ guys to socialize and run trails together on Sunday Aug 4th.
I would suggest making Buena Vista a base camp for this if needed. Although Mt Blanca is a couple hours to the South, BV is centrally located to IronChest and Holy Cross and is near to Taylor reservoir. It also contains any sort of service we may need, from auto parts to Motels. There are developed campgrounds, and plenty of undeveloped camping. The toursist season has been exceptionally slow as the low rivers have precluded much of the rafting business, so booking accomodation at this late stage will not be a problem.
If you are going to attempt Holy Cross then be prepared to camp that night at the old mining town. also be prepared for the schedule to change a little, we may run IronChest on Wednesday and then Holy Cross Thurs and Fri depending on Mt Blanca on Tuesday.
If you are travelling from out of state, you may want to meet us at Blanca and then head north from there. Mt Blanca is located in south central CO, from the east take I-25 to Walsenburg and head west until Blanca then head north to the trail. From the west - the best route may be I-70 to the Leadville exit and head south to Buena Vista, set up camp, then continue south to Alamosa then east to Blanca and north to the trail.
Mt Blanca is kinda isolated on it's own, so if you choose not to run the trail but still want to run the other trails, then you may want to meet me in Buena Vista. Maybe Tuesday night, if we get done with Blanca by 4pm, otherwise Wednesday mid am.
I hesitate to stipulate vehicle requirements, but would suggest the following as minimums. enough lift for 31" tires, one locker. As much rocker/body/undercarriage protection as you feel you need. The trails are all "difficult" rating 8 or 9 out of 10. But they fall way short of the "extreme" trails like Independance, Kremmling, or Montrose. With 31" tires you stand some chance of body damage. With 35" tires you are NOT guaranteed to avoid damage. Basically a capable trail rig that would be at home in Moab, the Rubicon or Tellico. These trails are not suitable for stocker XJ's but there are many trails in the area that are, so join us anyway and run your own trails during the day if you like.
A brief trail description.
Mt Blanca is a trail up a mountain, amazing scenery. 3 or 4 difficult obstacles, no bypasses. Obstacles named Jaws. the worst would be similar to the can opener rock in the Sluice at Rubicon.
IronChest - the first mile of trail is a rock strewn gully that is always challenging as the rocks re-arrange themselves after each vehicle. Also a VERY offcamber section on the upper part of the trail.
Holy Cross City - old mining trail, medium to French Creek then a difficult obstacle before the city. Two extreme obstacles above the city are optional FUN. Amazing scenery. Old mining town ruins.
So if you are thinking of joining me for some fun here in CO - please answer below.
To stress again, this is not an official convention, just me and some Jeepin' buddies running trails. Join me for all or some or none of the time. It is gonna be a bunch of Jeepin fun.
Grant