Colorado Wheeling, Ghost town, stuck in the mud

[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

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

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

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.

...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.