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LOST Silverton Trip (July 24-31)
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=65
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Author:  Eddo [ Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:  LOST Silverton Trip (July 24-31)

Well since we got our new board, lets get this post going again

I'm going to most likely be arriving Sunday July 24th and will be leaving on Sunday the 31st of July.

I'll be camping in one of two BLM areas outside of Silverton. The first area is rather small and secluded, but a great couple sites. It's located about 3 miles east of Silverton right on the Animas River.

To get to the first area you would head east out of Silverton. Drive past the Mayflower mill where the road turns from pavement to dirt. Keep going. Just before the road crosses the Animas River there will be a dirt road heading back towards Silverton. Turn on the road and look for my KJ (Khaki Limited) or Rockwood pop-up trailer with NM plates.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=13&n= ... atum=nad83

The second camping area is much larger and has two primitive bathrooms. To get to this area instead of turning on the dirt road continue on the main road across the Animas and through a small mining town called Howardsville. Keep going until you see a small sign that says Middleton. At that sign turn left and look for my KJ or my pop-up.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=13&n= ... atum=nad83

There are no hookups or showers at any of these area, but it is just a great place to camp. Right in the middle of the mountains and along the river. Since it is BLM it is free and first come first serve.

Even if you are still stock you will be just fine. Most of the trails can be handled by a stock KJ.

Page with Trails and a map
http://www.narrowgauge.org/4x4/html/4X4.html

Trail conditions
http://www.57z.com/page/2786/page.html


If you are still undecided, maybe this picture will convince you. Image wheeling in camping in scenery like this.
Image

Author:  OKJeep [ Sun Jul 10, 2005 2:05 am ]
Post subject: 

Wow! I'm so jealous. We will be there then, but not having fun like you. We've rented a house outside of Ouray for that week with another family. Since we all can't fit in the Jeep, I'm hoping to sneak off some to explore some "stock Liberty" trails.

Author:  Tokyojoe [ Sun Jul 10, 2005 7:30 pm ]
Post subject: 

I'll go up for the weekend but can't stay for the work week. I have a lot on my plate at work.

Author:  Eddo [ Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:56 pm ]
Post subject: 

Tokyojoe wrote:
I'll go up for the weekend but can't stay for the work week. I have a lot on my plate at work.


You coming the weekend of July 29? Anyone else going to make this?

Author:  WineGirl27 [ Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:34 pm ]
Post subject: 

Darn! We can't make it that weekend, but are going to be down in that area from Aug 11th-14th. Anyone planning to be around then? We want to do the Black Bear and Ophir or Imogene...

~Sara

Author:  TNKJ [ Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:08 pm ]
Post subject: 

Just passing through and the post caught my eye... You guys are gonna have a blast! We drove out from TN last July and ran several of the trails around there. And ran Black Bear pass with two other KJ's and a wrangler.

Just a word of caution though. Two people died on the trail pictured above just a few days after our lost group ran it. Two people also died on Imogene last year too so just take'er easy and give the trails your full attention and respect.

I sure wish I could load up and head west to meet up with you guys this year, but the better half wants to go wading with the sharks in florida. dangit. :roll:

Author:  Tokyojoe [ Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:25 am ]
Post subject: 

I did not need to know that! darn! Where are the bunny trails now?

Author:  WineGirl27 [ Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:51 am ]
Post subject: 

Yes, Imogene and especially Black Bear pass certainly require your full attention and respect b/c the exposure is extreme! But having been over both numerous times over the last 15 years, if you keep your wits about you, and follow instructions (ie backing up) you should do fine. The last time I was over Black Bear was last summer with my husband's parents in a stock Chevy TrailBlazer of all things. We did ok, but I would be nervous in anything wider than that, although I've seen it done. KJs have a distinct advantage in the width respect. I have to say it IS sobering to look down shells of old vehicles who didn't make it, though. But it's one of my favorite jeeping roads of all time. The scenery is just awesome.
~skh

Author:  Redneck Ron [ Fri Jul 15, 2005 11:30 am ]
Post subject:  Hey TNKJ

Hey, Man how you been.? I haven't seen you around much since Ouray last year. Make sure you take an Umbrella with you in florida and suit of chain mail..

Take it easy,
Ron S

Author:  TNKJ [ Fri Jul 15, 2005 9:53 pm ]
Post subject: 

Long time no see Ron. We're all doing good here, Hope you and your's are too. :D

Author:  Redneck Ron [ Sat Jul 16, 2005 12:10 am ]
Post subject:  Doin good

I am glad to here that everything is going for you and yours---Take easy on your trip to Floridaw.

Later,
Ron

Author:  Eddo [ Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:50 pm ]
Post subject: 

Well I'm going to be leaving for this in less than a week. Seeing if anyone will be joining me atleast for the weekend.

Author:  btolle [ Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:40 pm ]
Post subject: 

We returned this evening from 10 days in Silverton. Had a ball running trails and seeing the beautiful scenery.

The weather was great. 40's in the morning and 70's to 80's in the afternoon. It usually gets warm pretty quickly after sunup so a jacket is only necessary until about 9 AM.

Ran:

Engineer Pass
Cinnamon Pass
Arrastra Gulch
Maggie Gulch
California Gulch
Placer Gulch
Hurricane Pass
Picayne Gulch
Yankee Boy Basin
Clear Lake
Ophir Pass
Alta Lakes Trail
Red Mountain Mining
Cunningham Gulch and part of Stony Pass
and a few others.

Saw lots of Marmots from 10,000 feet and up. Chipmunks by the hundreds, and a few deer.

Watch the highways early and late. We had 3 deer run out in front of us Tuesday morning between 7 and 8 AM as we went from Silverton to Durango.

According to http://www.soajeep.com/home.html the only trails still closed are Governor's Basin and Poughkeepsie Gulch. They might be open by the time you get there, check locally.

One caveat: Poughkeepsie is the hardest trail in the area. If anyone runs it be sure you have a winch. It may still be muddy. When we saw it it still had a lot of snow on it and was definitely closed and impassable.

Sorry we couldn't delay our trip to go with the group but other ccommitments in the next few days made us come back today (took us 3 days traveling to get back to East Texas).

Lots of snow still on the ground this year.

Go forth and have a great time!

Bill Tolle
04 Sahara
04 Liberty

If you love offroading and want the trails to stay open please join Blueribbon Coalition.
"Preserving our natural resources FOR the public instead of FROM the public"
http://sharetrails.org/

Author:  OKJeep [ Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:04 am ]
Post subject: 

Bill,
Of the trails you mentioned, are any easily handled completely stock, with the wife and kid aboard?
We're leaving tomorrow for Ouray and will be in the area for the week.

Author:  Eddo [ Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:29 am ]
Post subject: 

Here is a list of the trails in the Sliverton/Ouray area from the Charles Well's "Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails" (The best trail guide book I've seen. If you are looking for a guide this book is excellent, better than the other book by Massey & Willson IMO.)

AREA 1
Ouray, Silverton, Lake City, Telluride
1. Last Dollar Road (E)
2. Yankee Boy Basin (M)
3. Governor Basin (D)
4 .Imogene Pass (M)
5.Black Bear Pass (D)
6. Ophir Pass, Alta Lakes (M)
7. Clear Lake (E)
8. Mineral Creek (D)
9. Poughkeepsie Gulch (D)
10. Corkscrew Gulch (E)
11. Red Mtn. Mining Area (E)
12. California Gulch (E)
13. Engineer Pass (M)
14. Cinnamon Pass, Wager Gulch (M)
15. Picayne & Placer Gulches (E)
16. Eureka Gulch (E)
17. Stony Pass (E)

You will not have any problems with one of the easy trail at all. In fact the easy trail are truly graded dirt roads. You will see just regular front wheel drive cars on them.

I really can't remember what moderate trail I did do but I remember doing Cinnamon Pass and Yankee Boy Basin (really pretty trail, do this one) and they where basically a dirt road with equivalent of going over a curb every now and then. They have some rocks at times, but they are no more than a couple inches in diameter (3-4"). I've seen Subaru's on these trails without problems.

Alot of the trails are overrated and I would take a stock KJ on all of the except Poughkeepsie and probably BlackBear.

So in short you will be fone on any of the easy or moderate trails. If want someone to go wheeling with, give me a call (505-350-9673) or drop on by. You'll love it out there, happy wheeling.

Author:  TNKJ [ Fri Jul 22, 2005 6:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Trails

Engineer pass is also pretty easy from animas forks over to mineral point, but from there on down to highway 550 is pretty bumpy. I acutally banged my skid plates more there than on black bear. The funny thing is we met a family on the trail there driving a rented stock chevy trail blazer! How they didn't high center that thing on a rock I'll never know. Here's a pic I took on a smooth section of that trail.

Image

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