Black Bear pass in a KJ?

jg45 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 18, 2007 10:48 pm

Has anyone done Black Bear in a KJ? If so, any photos? How was the tight switchback turn? This trail is one on my must do list and just wondering how difficult it is in a KJ.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

More than doable. I've seen stock KJ do it without much problems. It easy in any kind of lifted KJ. Those books really over-rate the trails, because they need to account for total inexperience drivers in completely unmodified stock SUVs of all kinds.

The switch backs are not bad at all. They look bad from afar and people like to make them seem worst than they really area.

Sorry no pictures of the switch backs, but the switch back are really the most uneventful part of the trail. I've seen full size pick-ups on the trail w/o problems so that should give you an idea.

Here a a few pictures

From the top of black bear pass looking down at telluride

Head down the infamous step with telluride in the background again

Bridal veil falls near the end of the trail.

jg45 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:26 am

Great. Thank you for the pictures. I was most worried about the first switchback after the "step". From various posts, it sounded like it might be a multi-point turn with no room for error.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

The "difficulty" of this trail comes from the fact that there's a pretty good drop and you'd probably die if you took a wrong turn. As long as you can keep it on the trail then no problem in a KJ.

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:35 am

Jeez, that is a beautiful spot.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

jg45 wrote:

Great. Thank you for the pictures. I was most worried about the first switchback after the "step". From various posts, it sounded like it might be a multi-point turn with no room for error.

Its not bad at all. You need to do a three-point turn on a few, but there is still really plenty of room. I was expecting ALOT tigher and less room, but it turned out pretty easy. You would have to make some serious errors to go off the edge or have it iced up. Its really pretty easy. There is plenty of room for error as long as you don't get completely stupid. Like I said I've seen stock KJs with first time drivers do the trail and full size quad cab pickups without and real problems.

With all the snow CO has gotten this year, blackbear might not be open until August this year.

jg45 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 1:44 pm

Great, I'm adding it to the list for the next trip to CO. Plan is to start by going over Mosquito pass to Leadville, then down to Buena Vista and take Mt. Antero. I Know it is a one way trip, but it would still be cool. From the base of Antero, I am thinking either Tincup or Hanckock Pass. Then heading down towards Lake city and hitting the pass over to Ouray, Engineer I believe. From Ouray Black Bear to Telluride. From Telluride heading up to Gateway and take the road into Utah over the La Sals and landing in Moab. Spend a few days in the Moab area and then head down to Monument Valley and then to Torroweap and some exploring around the North Rim. That is my dream trip. Doable in 2 weeks? I really need to find a job and move west.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:19 pm

Gosh eddo, youve had your Jeep offroading in so many places its not funny..

BVCRD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 3:15 pm

jg45 wrote:

Great, I'm adding it to the list for the next trip to CO. Plan is to start by going over Mosquito pass to Leadville, then down to Buena Vista and take Mt. Antero. I Know it is a one way trip, but it would still be cool. From the base of Antero, I am thinking either Tincup or Hanckock Pass. Then heading down towards Lake city and hitting the pass over to Ouray, Engineer I believe. From Ouray Black Bear to Telluride. From Telluride heading up to Gateway and take the road into Utah over the La Sals and landing in Moab. Spend a few days in the Moab area and then head down to Monument Valley and then to Torroweap and some exploring around the North Rim. That is my dream trip. Doable in 2 weeks? I really need to find a job and move west.

I recommend Tin Cup Pass. I was up towards Hancock last weekend on backcountry skies. Big snow there. It has been a dry, warm March so who knows. On the Tin Cup side, right before you get to Mirror Lake, there are some good size rocks and a lift is desireable. You will also be driving in white water so it will be slick. You will have a water crossing at the lake. Just hug the shoreline and you will do fine.

jg45 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:49 pm

It would probably be later in the year when I get that way. July at the earliest and October at the latest. I know October is pushing it with concerns for snow.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:02 pm

jg45 wrote:

It would probably be later in the year when I get that way. July at the earliest and October at the latest. I know October is pushing it with concerns for snow.

There are some passes out here that are still blocked July 4th. We have had a good snow year, but it is melting earlier than usual, so it may happen that you could get through. I was going up Tin Cup from the west last year in late June and had to turn around because of a 6 foot avalanch shoot. We always have snow the second season of deer hunting which is around the middle of October. Late July would be good, or it would be prime if you made it after school started back up.

Donnie · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:23 pm

Wow, that's amazing. I don't like going offroading because I don't like to beat up the jeep, I like excursions if you will...just exploring around and stuff, nothing hardcore. I wish there was something like that around CT, it's just too developed I guess.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:41 pm

Donnie wrote:

Wow, that's amazing. I don't like going offroading because I don't like to beat up the jeep, I like excursions if you will...just exploring around and stuff, nothing hardcore. I wish there was something like that around CT, it's just too developed I guess.

You can offroad and not beat your Jeep up.. I do it all the time.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:50 pm

Donnie wrote:

Wow, that's amazing. I don't like going offroading because I don't like to beat up the jeep, I like excursions if you will...just exploring around and stuff, nothing hardcore. I wish there was something like that around CT, it's just too developed I guess.

Kind of the best of both worlds out here. You can go up extreme stuff for heavily modded rigs, or travel the old mining roads that lead to ghost towns. That is my favorite pastime. I usually throw in the pan and sluice and do a little prospecting while I'm at it.

broncsrule · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:50 pm

Drive over the rocks, instead of into them. That usually helps me out.

gatorator · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:03 am

Do you turn the CW Macall song up loud on the stereo?

corwyyn · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:08 am

Eddo wrote:

With all the snow CO has gotten this year, blackbear might not be open until August this year.

And in the high country that's just about time for the next round of snow to start :wink:

gatorator wrote:

Do you turn the CW Macall song up loud on the stereo?

I think that was Wolf Creek Pass, but it would still be appropriate -
'When I say a rock I mean a ROCK! Now look at that, no bigger'n a grapefruit'

BVCRD · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:19 am

corwyyn wrote:

Eddo wrote:

With all the snow CO has gotten this year, blackbear might not be open until August this year.

And in the high country that's just about time for the next round of snow to start :wink:

gatorator wrote:

Do you turn the CW Macall song up loud on the stereo?

I think that was Wolf Creek Pass, but it would still be appropriate -
'When I say a rock I mean a ROCK! Now look at that, no bigger'n a grapefruit'

Typically, we don't start getting ant snow until the second week in October. Oh, I've seen snow every month of the year, just like I have seen Grizz every month of the year but it is rare.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:32 pm

BVCRD wrote:

Typically, we don't start getting ant snow until the second week in October. Oh, I've seen snow every month of the year, just like I have seen Grizz every month of the year but it is rare.

Yeah, I know it's rare to get snow that time of year, but I can recall being up at Fall River Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park in July and getting snowed on. Need to get back up there sometime with my camera...

alljeep · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:57 pm

Eddo wrote:

More than doable. I've seen stock KJ do it without much problems. It easy in any kind of lifted KJ. Those books really over-rate the trails, because they need to account for total inexperience drivers in completely unmodified stock SUVs of all kinds.

The switch backs are not bad at all. They look bad from afar and people like to make them seem worst than they really area.

Sorry no pictures of the switch backs, but the switch back are really the most uneventful part of the trail. I've seen full size pick-ups on the trail w/o problems so that should give you an idea.

How would you handle a flat tire on the steeper parts of this trail? I don't know the answer but it's a concern of mine because I do want to go there in the future. Any special jacking considerations? Chock wheels with the available large rocks around in addition to the parking break? Attempt to continue to drive up/down to a safer point?

Black Bear pass in a KJ?

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