CO trip

[Bluerocket]

How did you plan/get to do this trip?   Looks like a real blast to be honest and might be something it would be cool to do myself one day.

[SPYDER]

I was thinking the same thing.

[Posimoto]

I've been a member of another forum for about 5 years. Dave (blue CJ5) has offered to lead a trail ride for the last three years without many takers so he said this would be the last time for him, so I had an opportunity and went.

A round trip flight to Albuquerque was 340, rented a car @ 11 a day for the 5.5 drive to Ouray (rentals are dirt cheap in NM). I found this to be the least expensive way out there.
Although Dave said he wouldn't be doing the trip again next year I'm planning on going. I'm thinking next year I'll fly into Denver and driver 6 hours to Ouray as it will be a more scenic route then NM. There is so many more trail to wheel then you can fit into one week.

I would have let others know about the trip before hand but it was sandwiched between our club BBQ and fall crawl.

[98xj]

Hey Chuck,

Great trip and pictures!! It that one picture an old jack hammer or hand drill?

A few years ago I went to Silverton CO (30 min south of Ouray). I can't wait to get out there again.

Two other trails I'd like to do is the Kokopelli Trail (CO to Utah) or the White Rim Trail (Utah).

[Posimoto]

Hi Dan!
Thanks, it's a hydraulic jack hammer. Silverton is a very cool place I'll be posting some pics of Silverton soon. We were in there four times during the week.

[Bluerocket]

Badass chuck.  Looks like it was a whole lot of fun.   That's a very cool style of wheeling if love to try it once my jeep isn't running rich.  Seems it's time for me to take the trip west. 

[Posimoto]

It was, and I can't wait to go back next year. We should plan a NEJZ excursion late July/early August 2015.   

I know your running FI, but running a carb in high altitude was an issue there. I had to re-adjust the carb on the red 77 CJ7 Tuesday morning before we hit the trail. 

[SPYDER]

I'd love to go out west and hit up some trails.  Trying to convince the wife to be that it's a good honeymoon 

[midniteryder]

Great pics!!  Thank you for sharing Chuck

[Posimoto]

Thursday Aug 28

Trails: Ophir Pass to Telluride - Imogene Pass back to Ouray

It was a cloudy day. The mountain tops were often in the clouds.



Heading up Ophir Pass from the east.





We crossed the pass and it was still too cloudy to see very far ahead. There was a long stretch that you couldn't pass, normally you wouldn't want to go out there until you were sure no one was coming. Fortunately it cleared up and we were able to see that no one was coming.













After reaching Ophir we took to the highway for a few miles to get to Telluride.



Telluride







Mountains over Telluride





Black Bear Pass goes down the cliff on the far mountain. You can see the switchbacks.





Over looking Telluride







Bullion Tunnel leads to Imogene Pass



You can see the canyon walls are very steep around Telluride.







Tomboy Mine



This mine was very lucrative but very high in the mountains.









Climbing to Imogene Pass.



Looking ahead the pass was covered with snow.





At the pass we found snow and low visibility.










Another Mine we passed






































Black Bear Pass switchbacks





















13,114 ft




















11 hour wheeling day

[Posimoto]

Friday Aug 29

Trail: Eureka Gulch

Took some pics of Ouray heading out for the trail





Red Mountain



We went to Silverton and then followed the trail north to Eureka. Eureka was an old mining town. There isn't much of the town anymore but you can still see the remnants of the mine and mill.



From here we climbed Eureka trail.



Old Mining building.







Marmot, they are like a woodchuck but a marmot only lives high in the mountains








































Then we headed back down.
After this trail ride we all headed back home. It was a great trip. I really enjoyed the week.




After we parted ways I decided to hang around Sliverton before taking the long ride to Albuquerque.

 

























































Click for video



I met an interesting gentleman, and my new friend in Sliverton, Mr Carey Green. He's been living in Silveton for 22 years. He purchased his ford woody from the Henry Ford Museum in 1997 (auction). We talked for about 40 mins before I had to head out. He told me if I come back next year he would give me a ride ( he was charging the battery when I arrived).

[Axle]

very cool!

[j-dawg]

Chuck these pics are amazing!! Thanks for sharing! I would love to take a trip
Like this someday

[Posimoto]

Saturday Aug 30

I had a couple hours to kill before my flight so I hung out with the engineering students from UNM. They build their own cars and race them in the schools parking lot every Saturday, it was a great way to finish off the trip.





video

[SPYDER]

A kid I used to work with, went to the university of mich, he was an engineer and got onto a team like that.   He learned a lot and had a blast.  They built some cool .  I'll see if I can find any pics of the cars they built.


That sounds and looks like an amazing trip.