Sixth Annual Colorado Jeep-CJ Trail Report

[BusaDave9]

Participation for this year's the Colorado Trail Ride had 11 people and 7 vehicles (6 CJs and one Toyota Tacoma)

BusaDave9 (me) in a Blue 1979 CJ5
007 and his wife Khara in a Red 1977 CJ7
OldJeepLady in a Black 1979 CJ7
MrIPlayBass in a same black 1979 CJ7 as OldJeepLady
Posi in a Red 1969 CJ5
Bill D and Carol in a Dark 1980 CJ5
Ben in a Toyota Tacoma Pickup
Shooby in a Yellow 1978 CJ5

I handed out what I had left of the "Jeep-CJ.com" windshield banners.

:grinjeep:
​

Arrival Day - Saturday, August 13, 2016

Saturday was a travel day. I only live 50 miles from Silverton so I don't have much of a story getting there. Silverton is a cool little mountain town.

















This next picture is of a little car that follows the steam engine between Durango and Silverton looking for fires that the train may have caused. The car has long handles the operator pulls out. He can then pivot the car to take it off the tracks or turn it around.

 

[mriplaybass]

Road trip
We left Friday to head for Silverton. Our trip was anything but boring. In less than 125 miles, we blew the boot off the intercooler on our truck towing the Jeep. Fortunately we were close to a Ford dealer who had the necessary parts to get us back on the road.
As we were pulling out of the Ford dealer’s parking lot, our trailer brakes started applying fully regardless of the controller setting every time the right turn signal was turned on. We made it to the next town where we bought a new controller. Before installing it, we checked continuity at the plug. Somewhere there was a dead short between the right turn signal and the brake wire. With a total lost time of around 5 hours, we were finally on the way to Silverton without further incident.

 

[Bill D]

6th Annual CJ Trail Ride

Day 1

On Saturday morning,, August 13, Carol and I in the company of Posi and Rad met up with 007 and Shooby in Colorado Springs and set out for Silverton. Down 115 highway to 50 highway, through Canon City and points west we went. Posi and Rad in my pickup with Posi’s new old Jeep on a trailer behind. The rest of us felt adventurous and drove our CJ’s. Since we didn’t get away from Colorado Springs quite as early as we expected (11:00 AM) and encountered a bit of high altitude problems, we were late getting into Silverton. BusaDave9, MrIPlayBass and OldJeepLady were waiting for us at Handlebars even though we were an hour late arriving. After another great meal, mainly consisting of elk burgers and Alaskan APA beer, we called it a day and went to our motel for check-in.

No photos of day one.

 

[007]

My wife and I towed our CJ from where we live to Colorado Springs, where we met up with Posi, Rad, Bill D and his wife Carol and new participant - Shooby from Nebraska. From there we did a convoy down 115 out of Colorado Springs to US50, then west over Monarch Pass and into Montrose and then south on US550 to Ouray. We all got in town around supper time on Saturday.

 

[Posi]

I would first like to thank Dave for setting up another enjoyable trail run. He is a great trail leader, knows the area well, good wheeler, and a lot of fun to hang with.


I will have to add pics later I just walked in the doors, been a very busy few days.

A big thanks you to Bill D and Carol for hosting my cousin and I. We were putting in 16hr days getting the Jeeps ready for our trail ride.

4:30am starts,
looking off the back deck at Bill D's place

Near Bill's place

Early one morning

vid

Loaded up and ready to go on Bill's sweet tilt trailer

Found this early 5 and our first stop on our way to Silverton

Sunday's early morning frost in Silverton

 

[shooby]

I left Friday morning from Lincoln Nebraska driving my CJ5. It was a nice day, two lane highway 6 got me all the way through Nebraska without any trouble, made it to Colorado Springs in 10 hours where it started raining. Found out wipers didn't work.

 

[BusaDave9]

Day 1 - Sunday, August 14, 2016

For the first day I wanted to take the group somewhere none of them have been to before. Since we were staying in Silverton I decided to take them to Clear Lake. We took the highway only a few miles and turned off at Mineral Creek, not to be confused with the Mineral Creek at Lower Engineer Pass trail (why do they give 2 nearby creeks the same name?) After following the 2 wheel drive road a couple miles we stopped to lock our hubs.

Bill had trouble getting his CJ into four wheel drive. We pulled over to investigate. I crawled under his Jeep to find out the rear of his front drive shaft came disconnected. Even with his hubs unlocked I could not turn his pinion gear more than 90 degrees. His front differential went out and we'd have to wait until later to find out more specifically what is wrong with his front end. Bill kept up with us in 2WD







We continued to climb. Our destination was a lake just before the distant ridge.



Almost there



Then we arrived at Clear Lake





Bill's CJ5



After we had a lunch we started back.





When we got back into Silverton Posi removed the front diff cover.

Most of the of the ring gear bolts were loose. Some backed off so much that the differential wouldn't turn. One bolt head was broken off and a couple were bent.

We were unable to find replacement bolts in SIlverton but Posi was able to get the differential back together. It should last the week.



When the differential wouldn't turn a U-joint on the drive shaft busted loose. OldJeepLady and MrIPlayBass replaced the U Joint.



We always had a great time at dinner talking about the day's trail rides.

Map of today's route: Spotwalla Map - Clear Lake Trip

 

[007]

I didn't run Sunday. We unpacked, wrapped my exhaust with some manifold wrap and did some more fuel line insulating. We then headed to Silverton just in time to see them working on Bill's front differential.

I also had to get a body mount welded, it broke some how while in tow. This carpet kept my sanity until we reached Ouray.



Special thanks to Switzerland of America Jeep Tours for the quick weld!

 

[mriplaybass]

[FONT=&quot]Sunday 14th[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Clear Lake[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Before we even get to the first trail, BillD has a problem with engaging his front differential. Dave crawls underneath to discover a broken U joint. The trail is easy, so BillD and Carol complete the ride in RWD.[/FONT]




[FONT=&quot]Clear lake[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot] Oldjeeplady enjoying the view[/FONT]

 

[Posi]

 

[shooby]

Some of these trails quite a bit steeper than my driveway

 

[Bill D]

Day 2

Sunday was the first day to hit the trails. After a hearty breakfast, we formed up and drove as a group to a dirt (dirty) access road on the way to Clear Lake. At the bottom of the road up to the lake, we stopped and aired down. We also locked hubs and got ready for the climb. I had spent a year getting my Jeep ready for this. I had installed an ARB air locker in the rear and had 4:1 gears installed in the D300 transfer case. Ready! Off we go! I made it almost 18 inches before things came to a screeching halt. Again, nothing . Eighteen inches forward or eighteen inches backward was it. No four wheel drive and no low range with the transfer. I finally unlocked my hubs and disregarded low range. By slipping my clutch and taking runs at all the steep inclines, I could, finally made it to the top. Clear Lake is a beautiful place sitting in a basin with high San Juans around it on three sides. The drive up is beautiful also but I have to admit, I saw very little of it. Our time at the lake was very enjoyable and I really wish that Carol could have seen it. She had reported in sick on the first morning out (not morning sickness) and had stayed at the motel.

Well, I was up but now had to come down. The only problem was the lack of a transfer with low range. I used way more brake coming down than I was comfortable with and spent a lot of time letting my brakes cool. We finally got to the bottom without further incident and returned to the motel. To say I felt bad was an understatement to the max. After all my time and money preparing for this trip, and I was out of the action on the first day. Posi insisted that I park on a nice grassy place in the motel parking lot and he crawled under my Jeep with a handful of wrenches and before long showed us what had caused the problem. One of the bolts holding the ring gear to the carrier had backed all the way out and was in the bottom of the case. Another was partially out and bent and the third was sheared off with the shank in the ring gear and the head in the bottom of the case. OK, so we now knew what the problem was but Silverton is not the Jeep repair capitol of anything. Dave set out to find what he could and Posi set about getting the bad parts out and rearranging the remaining good parts (bolts) with the help of MrIPlayBass and OldJeepLady. Shortly Dave reappeared with a tube of silicone gasket and they put it all back together. I’m not saying it is the way I want to leave it but it held together well enough for me to make it up to Poughkeepsie Gulch later in the week.

I have a few photos of Clear Lake and I am sure there are a number of others of the Jeep repair.

 

[BusaDave9]

Day 2 - Monday, August 15, 2016
Black Bear Pass, Ophir Pass

The forecast was for rain later in the week so we decided to do Black Bear Pass Monday. Ben was hesitant to take his Toyota Pickup on BB Pass so he rode with me.
We headed up highway 550 to Red Mountain Pass where we locked our hubs and started up the trail to Black Bear Pass.




This next picture is of highway 500 and Bear Mountain (just left of center)





We took this "short cut" when climbing up Black Bear Pass.









Then we arrived at the summit of Black Bear Pass. This next picture is looking toward Telluride. The town is out of sight in the far valley.


Next we started down the other side toward Telluride








Then we took a break when we could see Telluride down below. The miners left cables, some on the ground and some still suspended overhead.


Next we passed by Ingram Falls.

We took another break near the mine at Ingram Falls.



This next picture is of Telluride from the switchbacks of Black Bear Pass.

I like this picture that 007 shot. I marked in yellow the one way section of Black Bear Pass.

Black Bear Pass dumped us out into Telluride. We usually would take Imagene Pass back but that brings us to Ouray. Instead we took Ophir Pass. Except for OldJeepLady and MrIPlayBass none of the other participants have been over Ophir Pass so for the sake of variety that's the way we headed. We took the highway south of Telluride to the turnoff at Ophir. Ophir used to be a ghost town in the 40's and 50's but now there's about 170 people that live there. There are new homes being built there.

After Driving through town we started on the trail.

I spotted a Tahoe on the trail ahead of me stuck at a place no one would be able to pass. I got out and approached the drivers side. The driver said he only had two wheel drive. Someone told him that a two wheel drive would be able to drive this trail. He asked my opinion and I told him he'd never be ablet to drive that 2 Wheel drive over Ophir pass. He said he'd back down to a spot to turn it around. As he was backing down Posi jumped out of his jeep yelling "You want that thing up there? I'll drive that Tahoe up this pass." I told the Tahoe driver that Posi would be able to get it up there and he got out to let Posi drive. Posi hopped in and gunned it. Posi got that Tahoe up to an easier spot and let the driver take over.
This next picture is looking back toward Ophir


... and another stop at the top:

Then we started down the other side


Map of today's route: Spotwalla Map - Black Bear, Ophir

 

[007]

So Monday started out with a bang for me. We had originally planned to head out to Animas Forks, then out Engineer Pass back down to US550 near Ouray. The group was a bit concerned about the weather for the coming week, so plans changed just as I was about to leave Ouray. The new plan was Black Bear Pass – what a way to start the week! I was excited yet a bit nervous. I hadn’t had any shake-down time but the long haul up to the summit would be plenty of testing. I’ve been over Black Bear Pass several times, but I’ve never driven it. I could tell that the road has degraded quite a bit (as had every road we took).

Ophir Pass was a new one for me. I’ve never been over to Telluride without coming back via Imogene Pass.

I did take video this particular day, and I know others have shot a lot of pictures. I didn’t shoot much this trip…

Here’s part of the ascent to Black Bear Pass…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-YVnX6LdfQ

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Here’s an interesting little obstacle on the way…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbhhUaXSu9s

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Here’s the “steps” and first switchback…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TesmuIkfbBg

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Edited by CJ - added embeded videos

 

[Posi]

Sorry, the only thing I recall from this day was having lunch in Telluride enjoying the public entertainment. Video below




Oh, I found some pics

 

[mriplaybass]

[FONT=&quot]Monday 15th[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Black Bear Pass[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ophir Pass[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As the rain begins to fall, 007 checks out his Gopro after helping Shooby put on his top[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Shooby wondering what the ???? has he gotten himself into with these crazy people? (He says he will be back next year, and we all look forward to wheeling with him again)[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]From the front, Ben, Rad (next to Lil’ Red), Khara, 007, & Bass[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Posi proudly posing with Lil’ Red (no more Barbie Jeeps for Posi!!)[/FONT]




[FONT=&quot]L to R, Bass, Rad, Dave, Khara, 007[/FONT]




[FONT=&quot]Going down Black Bear Pass[/FONT]





[FONT=&quot]VIDEO:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]007, Khara, and the rest of us decide to take a break after descending Black Bear steps[/FONT]





[FONT=&quot]Telluride, a long way down[/FONT]





[FONT=&quot]L to R, Rad, Dave, Shooby getting ready for the decent into Telluride.[/FONT]

 

[shooby]

All I could think of after Posi got that Tahoe up the hill was the scene in "Patton" where the general shot the two mules and had 'em thrown over the side of the bridge...

 

[Bill D]

Day 3

We started the day off by eating breakfast and then assembled for a drive up highway 550 to the top of Red Mountain Pass. We then locked our hubs and went on up Black Bear Pass trail another couple of thousand feet to the summit. Black bear assent was probably more nerve wracking for me than last year. The condition of the trail was worse than last year and it is never very good. Add that to the fact that my front differential was missing several important parts. Posi had assured me that it was safe so I stopped worrying about it. After making it to the bottom in Telluride, we ate lunch in the city park. We then fueled up and travelled south to the Ophir Pass road. Ophir Pass is an underrated pass in my opinion. It’s very rocky, narrow, and a long way down. It was here that we were stopped by a Chevy Tahoe with Texas tags blocking the road. Posi showed him how to get it up the hill by driving it for him but the Tahoe may never be the same again. Posi has extensive experience driving vehicles he doesn’t own (Last year’s Barbie Jeep for example).

We decided two major passes was enough for one day so we celebrated with a dinner in Silverton and some bed time.

 

[BusaDave9]

Day 3 - Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Engineer Pass
After breakfast we headed out the north end of Silverton onto the county road. This turned into the trail to Animas Forks. We stopped at Eureka townsite to lock our hubs.

There isn't anything left of the town of Eureka. It used to be mining town a hundred years ago but none of the buildings are standing any more.
This next pic used to be a mill where they separated the gold ore from the rock.

These mining mills were usually built on a mountainside.
The trail followed the Animas river.

We continued to Animas Forks Ghost town.





It always amazes me that people lived this high up in the mountains (10,000 feet) in the 1800's. But After Animas Forks we had more climbing to do.

This next pic is of California Gulch. Animas Forks Ghost town is mostly out of the picture to the left.

Now we really started to climb above the tree line.

At the top of Engineer Pass we took a group shot.

This is called "Oh Point" on Engineer Pass.

It was cold and windy up there.

Then we started back down.

After Engineer Pass we continued north past Mineral Point, another old minning site.



Then we met a woman ahead of us waving her hands "Stop! You can't go on. A big pickup broke his ball joint and is blocking the trail. You have to turn back"
It would take us hours to turn around. I really didn't want to do that so I hiked down to see for myself. Then I saw a pickup coming my way with a front tire that wobbled terribly. This is the pickup that was blocking the trail. He asked me how far to Silverton. I told him he would be much better off turning around. That would be the shortest way back to pavement but it would be rough till then. He turned around and most of us didn't like the fact that we didn't get in front of him. His trail repair didn't look good but he said it was "stronger than stock".
As we continued on Lower Engineer Pass trail we could see Poughkeepsie Gulch.

We stopped at the fork to Poughkeepsie Gulch. We didn't take Poughkeepsie Gulch but we did play on the mud and obstacles here.

As we started to continue the same woman we saw before once again told us "You can't go on. The idiot broke down again. This time it's worse. His truck is on the ground and can't be moved." The woman turned around and headed back to Silverton. If we did that we'd be four wheeling in the dark before getting to Silverton so I hiked on to see the truck. Once again he was able to get his truck limping forward so we also continued.

As we continued the trail went down a canyon.




The guy with busted pickup also made it to the highway.

From here we rode the highway 3 miles into Ouray to have dinner at O'Briens Pub

 

[007]

Tuesday was another nice day. We head out of Silverton towards the ghost town of Animas Forks, then head up Engineer Pass to the summit, then back down and out Lower Engineer Pass to US550. It’s possible that the group probably thinks I’m whining, but the road from Silverton to Animas forks is perhaps the worst road I’ve ever driven on, like so bad I want to complain to the county. It was ridiculous. It’s absolutely zero challenge, unless your patience are a challenge. It’s made of compacted mud and large rocks. Roughest road of the week.

Once there we hiked around the ghost town, used the restrooms there and then headed up Engineer Pass to the summit. The summit was C O L D and windy. It was a pretty challenging drive up, but well worth it. From the summit you head right back down then take a right and follow lower Engineer Pass for a few hours. I’ve taken this road “up” but never down. Each way is a different kind of challenge.