Jack since it's Digger and Grif that are wanting to go to Colorado do you know when they are going the only time i can go is from the 3rd or 4th depends on if i training either one of those days to the 16th. I have enough vacation to take off 4 days so i'll have either 13 or 14 days being off.

 

Well it don't really much make a difference. I'm retired so I have the whole month off. Any time anyone wants to go is fine with me. It costs very little for me to stay in Colorado or Utah. Camping is free. Only cost about $20-$25 a day for gas doing trails(2 days on one tank is average). $15 a week for showers. The big cost is out and back. Colorado $225 in gas. Utah $300 in gas.

If you have any trails that really want to do just let me know what they are and what dates you are able to go and I'll make a plan. I want to map out the trails in Colorado so that might slow things down a little. So lots of 5 and 10 minute breaks as I save stuff at the end of each segment and lable campsites and points of intrest.

It's really just that easy. Just let me know what you want to do and when you will be there. If you don't have a bag that will keep you warm at night above 10,000 ft. just let me know and I'll bring one for you. But bring a sheet in case we camp low and it's warm.

 

What month are you talking about. I have vacation in June I think. (Memorial day week)

 

August. August is the best month to go wheel in Colorado. I used to have to put in for my years vacation in January. You never knew what the weather was going to be like. The rule has always been if a trail is going to be open that year it will be open by August. Last few years have been dry in Colorado and this has not been an issue. Everything has been open by July. But that may not be the case this year. On the plus side KS is sooo hot and dry in August I just can't think of another place I'd rather be than up in the mountians in Colorado.

Now June is good to go to the San Juans. The snow plows open the trails for the Heep rental guys so they can make money. But Black Bear and Poughkeepsie won't be open. Next weekend Digger from RRORC is going to go out to Buena Vista to do Chinamans with some other Ford guys. It's just a 3 hour trail and everything else will be closed. Kind of hard to justify spending all that $$$'s for gas to go to Colorado and do one 3 hour trail.

Now someone might twist my arm to go to the San Juan's and run the snow canal's. More than likely we wouldn't be able to get through Stoney either. The water crossing will be full or out of it's banks with snow melt and not crossable.

 

Ok so I guess June is out LOL Next vacation I have is Christmas week and that probably will not be good either.

 

That's fine Jack i'll put in for august if not i can do the first part of sept. Rollie do you have to take your vacation june? Or will they let you take it the first part of august?

 

Well Ophir, Cinnamon, Engineer, and Imogene should be open. You could contact the visitors center in Silverton to get updates on the other trails.

Course Beef Basin would open in Utah but it's going to get hot out there. I was using AC when I was out there last month. It's going to be pretty hot when I do the Outlaw Trail in July.

 

Last time I talked to Grif they were shooting for the last two weeks in August. But he has a bunch of stuff going on also. He's going to the Dakotas, and then down to Arkansas. But like I said it doesn't really make any difference. I'd rather spend the time in Colorado in August than back here in the KS heat.

 

Ive been snowed on in July up in those Colorado Mountains...be prepared! been down some freaking hairy trails too, the kind where you cant make a mistake...if you make a mistake and get away with it, consider yourself very very lucky!

Im scared and dont wanna go back..

 

Nodz i'll put in my vaction for august hoping i'll have everything done by then that needs to be done to my truck.

 

Well Grif says he is planning on being in Colorado August 10-14. So this should work out great.

I do sleep in my truck most of the time so if it starts to snow on us I just pull over to the side of the trail and tie on to something then just wait it out. Won't be much snow in August though. But we could get a rain shower. Those can be a little bit of trouble also. I just hope it is wet enough this year we can have a campfire. That's the only bad thing about going out in August. They have had fire bans the last few years.

And everyone is welcome to come out with us. I can hook you up with places to stay if you don't want to camp.

 

Hey Jack it finally dawned on me that since you would be just getting done with your one trip at the end of july that you wouldn't be driving clear back here so where ever you want to meet at for the colorado trip is fine with me just tell me the town and i'll be there either on the 3rd or 4th of august.

 

Thanks for the reminder. I just put it on Delorme. That Outlaw trail trip ends July 31st at El Paso, TX. If I go to Colorado via Wichita it is 1480 miles. If I go direct to Colorado it's only 615 miles. I'll be in need of a shower and washing clothes. So I'll just head for Leadville or Estes Park. They both have good places to do laundry and get a shower.

Have you decided on some trails for us to do?

Grif will be in the St. Elmo area the 10-14th. He is going to have his family with him and is planning on 1-2 days of light wheeling. He said he may just do two 1/2 day trips.

 

I've been looking but don't know really where to go and since your the expert i thought i'd let you pick i've looked on the maps and can't seem to see where the goods are at. It looks like alot of the trails are in the San Juans.

 

There are some good ones in the San Juans. A lot more trails in other parts of the state though. Lots of stuff NW of Denver. Lots SW of Denver. Lots around Fairplay, Leadville, and Buena Vista. What books do you have?