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Online Vulcanbill

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This year's CO vacation
« on: May 04, 2016, 11:17:12 AM »
Previous CO visit was so spectacular that we're going back.  This year, SW part of the state w/ Mesa Verde NP being the must do for this trip.  As usual, we'll be hauling the camper out and will have the XTs with us.  Figuring 3 days out and 3 days back, we will have about 11 days to play with.  In addition to Mesa Verde NP, we're contemplating a visit to Mission Wolf which is somewhere SW of Pueblo.  Other than that, we're pretty open.  Oh, and 4 corners, obviously. 

I'm assuming that there's some pretty good riding in the three massive national forests that surround that area.  What do you recommend we not miss from a riding and from a sightseeing / visiting perspective?  Last visit, we made it down to Silverton from points north, rode Ophir pass, Last Dollar Road and part of Yankee Boy Basin so we've seen some of that area.  We've also been to the big Utah parks as well as Moab.  Plus, that's a bit more driving than I'd like to do until I have to.  Tho the north rim is really really tempting...  NOnononono

Any spectacular campgrounds (31 foot trailer) or amazing free dispursed camping bits to know about?  Of course we'll research the crap out of this trip but previous requests for info from the natives have yielded excellent results in the past.  :)  Whatcha got?

BillO
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Offline kneescrubber

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2016, 02:04:19 PM »
I will be in Gunnison from June 18 - June 25.

CO 114 from Dove Creek all the way up to Grand Junction is awesome.

https://goo.gl/maps/GqrPT6vXiGz
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Online Black Hills

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2016, 03:32:22 PM »
LaPlata canyon (West of Durango) would make for a nice day of messing around on the XT's
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Offline Jim

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2016, 04:12:05 PM »
Gold mining ghost town visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animas_Forks,_Colorado

XT's - what type of bike? Dual sport? Street (only)?

The "jeep trails" I was on from Lake City to Ouray were fairly tame so exploring some of those trails via bike would be a thought. There are a TON of grand trails near Silverton / Ouray / Telluride.
http://www.traildamage.com/
http://www.traildamage.com/google_colorado.php

I second KS's CO-141 between Naturita/Uravan to Gateway. The GatewayAutoMuseum is a stop if there's interest.

Do you have my CO roads / comments map?
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Offline kneescrubber

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2016, 04:29:39 PM »
Quote from: Jim on May 04, 2016, 04:12:05 PM
Gold mining ghost town visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animas_Forks,_Colorado

XT's - what type of bike? Dual sport? Street (only)?

The "jeep trails" I was on from Lake City to Ouray were fairly tame so exploring some of those trails via bike would be a thought. There are a TON of grand trails near Silverton / Ouray / Telluride.
http://www.traildamage.com/
http://www.traildamage.com/google_colorado.php

I second KS's CO-141 between Naturita/Uravan to Gateway. The GatewayAutoMuseum is a stop if there's interest.

Do you have my CO roads / comments map?


Totally forgot about that Jim. Thanks.
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Online Vulcanbill

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2016, 04:34:04 PM »
Quote from: Jim on May 04, 2016, 04:12:05 PM
Gold mining ghost town visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animas_Forks,_Colorado

XT's - what type of bike? Dual sport? Street (only)?

The "jeep trails" I was on from Lake City to Ouray were fairly tame so exploring some of those trails via bike would be a thought. There are a TON of grand trails near Silverton / Ouray / Telluride.
http://www.traildamage.com/
http://www.traildamage.com/google_colorado.php

I second KS's CO-141 between Naturita/Uravan to Gateway. The GatewayAutoMuseum is a stop if there's interest.

Do you have my CO roads / comments map?


I don't think I do. 

XTs are small dual sports.  They're spectacular for those jeep roads that aren't rated too difficult.  Long way from home and need all limbs in working order so I don't push much riding even when I could do more.  :)  They're not useless for road riding but a day spent on asphalt isn't a particularly fun day on those little bikes.  But we are very interested in chasing the vistas. 
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Online Vulcanbill

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2016, 04:34:23 PM »
Quote from: Black Hills on May 04, 2016, 03:32:22 PM
LaPlata canyon (West of Durango) would make for a nice day of messing around on the XT's

researching...
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Offline Jim

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2016, 05:05:54 PM »
Chase some above timberline (about 10,000 ft elevation) jeep trails in the Silverton area for big views!

I was surprised at how tame they were. TrailDamage shows difficulty and elevation info. The XT's sound like they'd be perfectly suited to the jeep trails!!

On the Lake City to Ouray path (Engineers Pass, Corkscrew Pass, Cinnimon Pass) I paid attention to "could my honda station wagon do this". Of the ???40 miles of trails??? Only about 100 yards (three 30 yard spots) would have disqualified the car from taking the trails. Four wheel drive was not used for 99.5% of the day's trek.

I still haven't posted pix from the jeep trip last summer. Here are a few from the Animas Forks set:

If you pay attention to the roadway - it's typically in quite nice condition (the bike's would be fine with it).

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Links to my CO roads & comments map (both items are needed to make it whole):
www.JimWilliamson.net/temp
 - download both "CO-What-To-Do" items (text file and JPEG image)

EDIT: Consider a trip on the Durango & Silverton Railroad (or the Cumbres & Toltec that's a tad farther to the east - westbound is my pref on that train).
« Last Edit: May 04, 2016, 06:24:36 PM by Jim »
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Offline kneescrubber

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2016, 06:58:41 PM »
As odd as it may sound, timing is everything. General timeframe, all vehicles available and specific places you'll be staying would help eliminate the chafe.
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Online Vulcanbill

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #9 on: May 05, 2016, 09:14:10 AM »
Quote from: kneescrubber on May 04, 2016, 06:58:41 PM
As odd as it may sound, timing is everything. General timeframe, all vehicles available and specific places you'll be staying would help eliminate the chafe.

Summer.  Maybe late summer.  :)

2 Yamaha XT 250s, one 2010 4wd Dodge Ram truck, lodging will be 31 foot travel trailer w/ low ground clearance, staying a couple nights in/near Mesa Verde NP.  The rest is still kind of open pending suggestion and research. 
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Online Vulcanbill

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #10 on: May 05, 2016, 09:19:33 AM »
Quote from: Jim on May 04, 2016, 05:05:54 PM
Chase some above timberline (about 10,000 ft elevation) jeep trails in the Silverton area for big views!

I was surprised at how tame they were. TrailDamage shows difficulty and elevation info. The XT's sound like they'd be perfectly suited to the jeep trails!!

On the Lake City to Ouray path (Engineers Pass, Corkscrew Pass, Cinnimon Pass) I paid attention to "could my honda station wagon do this". Of the ???40 miles of trails??? Only about 100 yards (three 30 yard spots) would have disqualified the car from taking the trails. Four wheel drive was not used for 99.5% of the day's trek.

I still haven't posted pix from the jeep trip last summer. Here are a few from the Animas Forks set:

If you pay attention to the roadway - it's typically in quite nice condition (the bike's would be fine with it).

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Links to my CO roads & comments map (both items are needed to make it whole):
www.JimWilliamson.net/temp
 - download both "CO-What-To-Do" items (text file and JPEG image)

EDIT: Consider a trip on the Durango & Silverton Railroad (or the Cumbres & Toltec that's a tad farther to the east - westbound is my pref on that train).


Entrance to Engineer Pass from 550 was not minivan friendly when we stopped and looked at it last year.  In fact, I was really stoked about Engineer Pass last year until I saw that particular bit of rockway.  Will have to see about other entrances or that Lake City to Ouray you mentioned. 

Can't see pics due to work server scrubbing just about everything.  JPEG wouldn't download, possibly for the same reason.  Email is vulcanbill at gmail dot com if you're inclined to send that jpg.  Thanks much, as always.
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Offline Jim

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2016, 09:29:09 AM »
Quote
Entrance to Engineer Pass from 550 was not minivan friendly when we stopped and looked at it last year.

I'd imagine any trail work would be via the XT 250's.

Jeep trail speeds are often 4-7mph so the XT's would likely be "fly'n" at 15 to 20mph - which would still be a gentle stroll to smell the roses and soak the sights (and not break any limb).

Aside from using the XT's - ride along on a commercial jeep trek or even rent a jeep of your own.
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Offline Jim

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #12 on: May 20, 2016, 09:46:46 AM »
One for Vulcanbill...

The "A Story Worth Living" video shows some grand mountain scenery. Much of it looks to be Engineer Pass. If they did it on heavy ADV's (front wheel in the air from the rear bias weight), your XT 250's would be right at home (better tool for the job).

https://www.sport-touring.org/index.php?topic=3874.0

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #13 on: May 20, 2016, 09:55:51 AM »
Quote from: kneescrubber on May 04, 2016, 02:04:19 PM
I will be in Gunnison from June 18 - June 25.

CO 114 from Dove Creek all the way up to Grand Junction is awesome.

https://goo.gl/maps/GqrPT6vXiGz

I so should see what I'm doing that weekend... :)
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Offline Jim

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #14 on: May 26, 2016, 10:25:57 AM »
This popped up in the jeep group today. A nicely edited, easy to watch vid of the southwest Colorado mountains & trails.

Engineer & Corkscrew (day1); Black Bear & Imogene (day2). Interestingly, this is the order that I visited these trails when I was there.

AEV Customer Tour : Colorado Rockies

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Online R Doug

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #15 on: May 26, 2016, 10:32:27 AM »
It's funny how we'll all miss one-an-other.  I'll be in Denver and the northern part of the Rockies on June 17-18 and again on June 24-25 (WY, MT, SD, ect..) in between.



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Online Vulcanbill

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #16 on: May 26, 2016, 03:49:49 PM »
Quote from: R Doug on May 26, 2016, 10:32:27 AM
It's funny how we'll all miss one-an-other.  I'll be in Denver and the northern part of the Rockies on June 17-18 and again on June 24-25 (WY, MT, SD, ect..) in between.

You don't like riding with other people anyway.   :P

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Offline kneescrubber

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #17 on: May 26, 2016, 05:30:09 PM »
Quote from: Vulcanbill on May 26, 2016, 03:49:49 PM
Quote from: R Doug on May 26, 2016, 10:32:27 AM
It's funny how we'll all miss one-an-other.  I'll be in Denver and the northern part of the Rockies on June 17-18 and again on June 24-25 (WY, MT, SD, ect..) in between.

You don't like riding with other people anyway.   :P

And the effects can be like a booger you can't flick off your finger.   ;D
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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #18 on: May 26, 2016, 06:36:41 PM »
OK, two good points. 

Here's to a lot of pictures from everyone touring CO this June!   :beerchug:
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Offline maddjack

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Re: This year's CO vacation
« Reply #19 on: June 01, 2016, 02:02:50 PM »
Quote from: kneescrubber on May 04, 2016, 02:04:19 PM
I will be in Gunnison from June 18 - June 25.

CO 114 from Dove Creek all the way up to Grand Junction is awesome.

https://goo.gl/maps/GqrPT6vXiGz
I will be in Montrose just down the road June 18, then on to Utah and Arizona.
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