Colorado Wheeling, Ghost town, stuck in the mud

[pbkid]

Hi all, I havent been around much lately. For one, my computer died on me, and for two, i've been working almost 60 hours a week the past month.

Nonetheless, i got some free time on thurs, and decided I was going wheeling.

The day was great, about 85 degrees in denver when we left, and it was around 70 degrees at altitude where we started our trail. Everything was great and our trail took us on a route of abandoned gold mines, peaking at 13,600 feet altitude.

However, on our way out, we decided to try a pass through the only mud pit we could find up there. Much to our dismay, we ended up getting very very stuck. Which took us almost 8 hours to free 2 vehicles. We tried every trick in the book with the equipment we had. We tried making levers to increase our leverage, pullys, more straps, etc.

Well, it reached 7pm, and it was getting dark in about an hour, so we started to freak out because it had been raining the entire time we were stuck. This made for 3 soaking wet people in 30 degree temps once the sun dropped. I hiked up the hillside far enough to luckily get cell phone service (Thank God). I got a hold of our 3 wheeling buddy (He left before we went mudding), and begged him to come back and help us get free. While I had service I also called my parents and gave them our 3rd wheelers number, so they could coordinate with him to help get us down the mountain if needed.

Long story short, we ended up bending the class 5 trailer hitch on the red cherokee (our 3 wheeler), and thankfully my parents decided to come help with my dad's F350 diesel.
We linked 5 or 6 straps and starting yanking. However, the only place we could get the Ford to pull me was at a 90 degree angle to my Runner. This mud was so thick that when he would tug, it would start to roll over my Runner, rather than pull me out of the mud.

We ended up freeing the white cherokee, and he hooked up to my left rear and my dad hooked to the front right. Between both vehicles we got me turned back towards the road. Dad gave the Ford some gas, and we finally got out.
AT 4 AM.........

below are some cool pics we got. Unfortunately there arent many ones of us stuck in the mud, because we were all focusing on getting us free rather than getting pics.

enjoy :)

[pbkid]

Scenery-

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_1.jpg
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[pbkid]

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_10.jpg
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[pbkid]

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_20.jpg
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http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_28.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_30.jpg

[pbkid]

My Trusty Co-Pilots :)
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_22.jpg

Gold Mine Pics-
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_29.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_27.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_12.jpg
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http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_11.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_9.jpg

[pbkid]

And now mud/lake pics, I really couldnt resist until it got really deep :) -
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_31.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_32.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_33.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3290/8-26_34.jpg

[Triathlete]

Looks like a fun time! One of these days I will get to Colorado to do some wheeling/camping.

[Ldub]

Now THAT'S what I call a wheelin adventure...:thumbup:

Great pics, glad all y'all made it home safe & sound...though a bit late for supper.

I'm with Billy, just gotta get out your way for some exploring some day...:yesgray:

[VXorado]

Looks awesome Jack, at least until the mud.

Next time I'll be there with you, should have the VX trail ready by Friday evening :)

[VX crazy]

Glad you made it out, I HATE mud!

[pbkid]

thanks guys! it was really exciting.

and I think I really could have used your winch Jon. :)

[MeowMix]

Wow! Thank you for sharing! Colorado is so beautiful...your mountains dwarf those of Washington state. One of these days I'll join you on the trails too! We could all do a CO trip sometime after Moab one of these years, lol. I'd do it. ;Dy;

If only University of Colorado Denver took Western Undergraduate Exchange students, I'd be right there with you...already looked into it, no deal. :sady:

[RabidPony]

Nice pics. Looks like it was a beautiful trip, minus the mud. Also, good looking corgi. :D. Best breed of dog ever.

[samneil2000]

If only you had had a VX you might not have gotten stuck :P
Just kidding. Glad you guys made it out safe. Now buy a winch, and some MT tires.

[mdwyer]

Wow! Thank you for sharing! Colorado is so beautiful...your mountains dwarf those of Washington state. One of these days I'll join you on the trails too! We could all do a CO trip sometime after Moab one of these years, lol. I'd do it. ;Dy;

Colorado's especially beautiful right now. We've been getting a LOT of rain in the last few month. A number of 4x4 roads have been nearly washed away, making the drives even more interesting. :)

[nfpgasmask]

Gorgeous pics. Whenever I have been wheeling up in the mountains and I see ominous looking clouds like that, it always makes my balls shrivel a bit. :p You never know in the mountains what can happen if the weather shifts!!!

Sounds like a crazy story for sure. I'll be in Denver at the end of the month, hopefully I will have Sunday off to screw around.

Bart

[crager34]

I'm guessing you took 285 to Guenella Pass then took a left into the campground and went up there? Also, looks a bit like Red Cone, Wheeler Pass area.

[VXorado]

If only University of Colorado Denver took Western Undergraduate Exchange students, I'd be right there with you...already looked into it, no deal. :sady:

What about the main campus, CU Boulder? Thats where I went for my undergrad and its an awesome campus only 20 minutes from downtown Denver.

... or you can look into Denver University?

...or Colorado State University in Fort Collins? Although its the worst school in Colorado and possibly the world :p

[ZEUS]

Great pics Jack - awesome beauty! So then... I see no trail going into the mud, what gives?

[mdwyer]

...or Colorado State University in Fort Collins? Although its the worst school in Colorado and possibly the world :p

Hey, now. Dem's fightin' words. We have better riots than yours, at least.

[VXorado]

Hey, now. Dem's fightin' words. We have better riots than yours, at least.

Tu' Che

[twalker920]

That looks like Argentine (hence the gold mines). I did that in my 2002 4Runner and my buddy in his Grand Cherokee (his magic awd was not as good as my locked center diff...go go gadget tow strap!).

It was much drier when I did it though. I can't wait to get the VX up there. Heading in to the mountains this weekend, up near Green Mountain Res near Heeney.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/Argentine_4Runner.jpg
Near the summit (also happens to be right on the Continental Divide)

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/Argentine_1.jpg
Hiking back down from the summit (4Runner and Jeep are the specks in the middle of the frame)

[pbkid]

If only University of Colorado Denver took Western Undergraduate Exchange students, I'd be right there with you...already looked into it, no deal. :sady:

you definately need to look into some other schools here, there are some really great ones. Whats your area of study?


Nice pics. Looks like it was a beautiful trip, minus the mud. Also, good looking corgi. :D. Best breed of dog ever.

thanks! she's a smart little crap.

she definately is very independent and stubborn all at once, but we love her :)



If only you had had a VX you might not have gotten stuck :P
Just kidding. Glad you guys made it out safe. Now buy a winch, and some MT tires.

i dont think it was the issue of the tires, unfortunately. We bent the hitch on the red jeep trying to pull me out. ;)




Sounds like a crazy story for sure. I'll be in Denver at the end of the month, hopefully I will have Sunday off to screw around.

Bart
Bart, call us up. I'd be happy to at least grab some dinner or something. 7two, oh - 2 seven three - 10 nine nine.


I'm guessing you took 285 to Guenella Pass then took a left into the campground and went up there? Also, looks a bit like Red Cone, Wheeler Pass area.
Good memory Darren. Your VERY close. it was off of guenella pass, but it wasnt red cone, it was argentine pass.



...or Colorado State University in Fort Collins? Although its the worst school in Colorado and possibly the world :p
easy there Jon. a comment like that could buy you less wheeling time..... ;)


Great pics Jack - awesome beauty! So then... I see no trail going into the mud, what gives?

where we got stuck? the entrance is back to the right in the picture.
My buddy in the white cherokee went in, and instead of turning around at the back of the pit, and coming out, he decided to turn out of the side. thats what started all the trouble. His front tires dropped into a marsh up to his headlights. Then I ventured in to go help him out......


That looks like Argentine (hence the gold mines). I did that in my 2002 4Runner and my buddy in his Grand Cherokee (his magic awd was not as good as my locked center diff...go go gadget tow strap!).

It was much drier when I did it though. I can't wait to get the VX up there. Heading in to the mountains this weekend, up near Green Mountain Res near Heeney.
Hiking back down from the summit (4Runner and Jeep are the specks in the middle of the frame)
YA! good eye. it was a great time up there for sure.

we are probably going to be doing red cone next week :naughty:

[BigSwede]

I would like to take an extra week and wheel through the Rockies either going to or coming from Moab, next year. Anyone interested, LMK and we'll start to plan.

[VXorado]

we are probably going to be doing red cone next week :naughty:

Wednesday? Thursday? You can count me in.

[VX crazy]

I am voting to move the commune to Colorado......just sayin.....

Great photos Jack!

[pbkid]

thanks everyone. Jon, lets plan for when i get back from my trip as we discussed. Maybe ill come up wed and test fit that seat, and wheel thurs?

[MeowMix]

you definately need to look into some other schools here, there are some really great ones. Whats your area of study?


The reason I wanted to go to University of Colorado Denver is because I'm a nursing student; from what I was reading, the Anschutz Medical campus in Aurora is ranked around the same as the best nursing school in Washington state, WSU's College of Nursing here in Spokane (which I just applied to last month). I refuse to attend a school where I feel I'll gain a less than satisfactory education...I owe it to my patients to be the best caregiver I can possibly be.


I am voting to move the commune to Colorado......just sayin.....

I second this notion ;Dy;

[VXorado]

thanks everyone. Jon, lets plan for when i get back from my trip as we discussed. Maybe ill come up wed and test fit that seat, and wheel thurs?

Ya, sounds good.

[pbkid]

oh ok, thats great. i agree that your patients should get the best :)

from what I hear, the school I attended, University of Northern Colorado has a really great nursing program too. It also costs significantly less than DU.

DU is around 35k a semester for IN-STATE :eek:

UNC is 7k a semester for in-state.

however, i understand, because DU is a really prestigious school.


The reason I wanted to go to University of Colorado Denver is because I'm a nursing student; from what I was reading, the Anschutz Medical campus in Aurora is ranked around the same as the best nursing school in Washington state, WSU's College of Nursing here in Spokane (which I just applied to last month). I refuse to attend a school where I feel I'll gain a less than satisfactory education...I owe it to my patients to be the best caregiver I can possibly be.



I second this notion ;Dy;

[spaceCADETzoom]

That looks like Argentine (hence the gold mines). I did that in my 2002 4Runner and my buddy in his Grand Cherokee (his magic awd was not as good as my locked center diff...go go gadget tow strap!).

It was much drier when I did it though. I can't wait to get the VX up there. Heading in to the mountains this weekend, up near Green Mountain Res near Heeney.

Hiking back down from the summit (4Runner and Jeep are the specks in the middle of the frame)

How hairy do all these places get? Wanted to go through some backroads without needing a wheeling buddy with a strap. There anything around where I can get a few bumps but not be in much danger of getting stranded?

[twalker920]

The incident with the Jeep and tow strap was on dry, large rocks going up hill. It was just an odd and (as it turns out) isolated incident of the Jeep's 4WD system not putting power to the wheels that had grip. The one wheel hanging in space was turning all by its lonesome self. A quick tug forward and he was off and running again.

If it's reasonably dry, Argentine Pass is not a place you will get stuck. Especially if you don't deliberately go looking for the swamp ;)

Hope that helps. Would love to do it again in my VX, but it will have to be a weekend...and soon since it looks like Fall arrived and brought Winter along for the ride.

[Triathlete]

SCZ...it is always good to have a 2nd vehicle no matter how easy the trail is. Anything can happen when your in the middle of nowhere.

[MeowMix]

oh ok, thats great. i agree that your patients should get the best :)

from what I hear, the school I attended, University of Northern Colorado has a really great nursing program too. It also costs significantly less than DU.

DU is around 35k a semester for IN-STATE :eek:

UNC is 7k a semester for in-state.

however, i understand, because DU is a really prestigious school.

Yeah, that's why I was looking at Western Undergraduate Exchange discounted tuition rates. Even though I'm so far in debt due to both my ex and Whitworth that even 10K seems like a drop in the bucket anymore (thus, the VX)...still, every little bit helps. I'm already paying $16,000 a semester at Whitworth, and I don't even live on campus...cost doesn't bother me too awfully much, I just want to get a good education and attend a school with a good community and staff that actually care about the success of their students. You could probably give me the low down on UNC life :happyface

WhitU is a fairly prestigious school in my area as well...but overshadowed by Gonzaga, unfortunately. Silly basketball teams... ;py;

I know that University of Northern Colorado is a participant in the WUE program, and their nursing program is no exception (with DU, they do participate in student exchange, but you have to do the graduate school program...and Nurse Practitioner or PA is too much for me just yet). Perhaps I'll do some digging and check UNC out before I write them off. ;Dy;

...sorry for the thread jack, by the way.

[twalker920]

SCZ...it is always good to have a 2nd vehicle no matter how easy the trail is. Anything can happen when your in the middle of nowhere.

Agreed. The great thing about a vehicle like the VX is it can get you places no one else can get to. The bad thing is that it can leave you stranded where no one else can get to you.

[Gizmo42]

How hairy do all these places get? Wanted to go through some backroads without needing a wheeling buddy with a strap. There anything around where I can get a few bumps but not be in much danger of getting stranded?

There are a lot of light wheeling trails around that area that I've solo and when my rodeo was stock. I havent done Argentine yet but everyone says its pretty basic. Kingston Peak, Yankee Hill Road, Chinns Lake, and Bill Moore Lake can all be done with no damage and no strapping needed. Bill Moore is probably the hardest of the ones I listed but is no problem as long as you take the bypasses around the 2 optional areas.

Check out traildamage.net for info on any trails and their ratings. Also, the Charles Wells books are great to have if you plan to do much wheeling in the state (I just got the new 3rd editions).

[Bob Barker]

Beautiful scenery! Thanks for sharing.

[twalker920]

I would love to get a small group from here out to somewhere in the CO mountains before the snow hits. It has to be a weekend though for me. I have at least one 4-wheeling book lying around somewhere...I should dig it up. Didn't need it so much with the Mazda sedan >.<

[VXorado]

How hairy do all these places get? Wanted to go through some backroads without needing a wheeling buddy with a strap. There anything around where I can get a few bumps but not be in much danger of getting stranded?

Old Stage Road is easy and has access to a bunch of forest service roads that you could explore on your own. Its behind the Broadmoor near 7 Falls. I grew up in Colorado Springs and would go mtn biking off old stage road a lot.

[VXorado]

I would love to get a small group from here out to somewhere in the CO mountains before the snow hits. It has to be a weekend though for me. I have at least one 4-wheeling book lying around somewhere...I should dig it up. Didn't need it so much with the Mazda sedan >.<

Moab in October. Its only about 6 hrs with cheap hotel rooms.

[Gizmo42]

Too late, snowing in the mountains now. LOL

Stupid on call for work, I need to get at least a little wheeling in before trails close again. Hardly done any wheeling this summer.

[twalker920]

Looks like this Sunday will be nice if anyone wants to try something then. Maybe something up around Georgetown/Idaho Springs? I recall doing some close but fun trails up there in my 4Runner. Or any other suggestions.

[Gizmo42]

I dont get off of on call for work until next wednesday :(

[BigSwede]

I was looking at some websites, would love to do something like Black Bear Pass on the way back from Moab, but it looks like there is no chance it will be open in May. Are there any cool, scenic trails that are open in late May? I haven't done any Rockies wheeling and definitely want to...

[VXorado]

Looks like this Sunday will be nice if anyone wants to try something then. Maybe something up around Georgetown/Idaho Springs? I recall doing some close but fun trails up there in my 4Runner. Or any other suggestions.

I might be able to meet up on Sunday but I won't know for sure until Saturday. I ordered new tires from Discount Tires & I'm patiently waiting their arrival (hopefully today). I will keep you updated.

[Gizmo42]

Steve, it mostly depends on how much snow we get during the winter. Sometimes some of the smaller trails closer to denver that dont get over 12k ft will be open. Most of them are up and back trails that take a few hours. This year nothing was open until into august because the mountains got pounded with snow last winter. All the watershed basins were 250-400% above normal snow pack. Normally its mid to late June before enough snow is melted off to get through anything.

[twalker920]

I might be able to meet up on Sunday but I won't know for sure until Saturday. I ordered new tires from Discount Tires & I'm patiently waiting their arrival (hopefully today). I will keep you updated.

Ok cool. Anyone who wants to find a trail Sunday send me a PM on Saturday and we'll set up a time and place to meet and a trail to try. If it doesn't happen it doesn't happen.

[crager34]

DOITAGAIN! DOITAGAIN!

I would love to see more Colorado wheeling pics. Ohhhh how I miss my home. :drama:

[Triathlete]

This year nothing was open until into august because the mountains got pounded with snow last winter. All the watershed basins were 250-400% above normal snow pack.

Damn that global warming!:winky:

[VXorado]

I'm still interested in finding a trail Sunday but I'm still working on the VX. I got the tires but they're 35s so it depends on how much its gonna take to lift the VX more & get it back on the road.

[BigSwede]

Steve, it mostly depends on how much snow we get during the winter. Sometimes some of the smaller trails closer to denver that dont get over 12k ft will be open. Most of them are up and back trails that take a few hours. This year nothing was open until into august because the mountains got pounded with snow last winter. All the watershed basins were 250-400% above normal snow pack. Normally its mid to late June before enough snow is melted off to get through anything.

I'm sure it is quite variable, to a point. But from everything I have read Black Bear is never going to be open by late May. We'll have to see how the snow season is this winter.

[pbkid]

sorry i didnt respond any sooner guys. I have been on vacation for 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, the only days i can wheel or do anything like that now is wednesdays or thursdays. I work every weekend :( .

I think Jon (vxorado) and i may try to do a trail on thursday if anyone is interested?