Heading to the mountains this weekend

[Barrman]

The Cowdog (6.5 bank turbo diesel 1987 V20) my wife and I will pay the 10 hour/600 mile tax Saturday to get to the Texas Panhandle. Roam around New Mexico before ending up dispersed camping somewhere in the Rio Grande National Forest Sunday night. Play in southern Colorado and end up at an RV park in Lake City Monday night. Cinnamon Pass for sure to Animas Forks, maybe the rest of the Alpine Loop but ending up in Buena Vista Tuesday night. Playing in that area Wednesday and Thursday with a 0800 reserved time slot to drive up Pikes Peak Friday the 24th. Dispersed camping Friday night near Cripple Creek. Then we will be near the Beaver Creek area for the next few days and finally back to the heat.

I don't anticipate any problems, but wanted to get this thread started so if I do have issues. People are aware of me in the area. I plan to post updates as the trip progresses.

 

[Bent77]

Are you going to the Fan Fest for the Hill Climb?

 

[Fastereddie]

Sounds like a good time

 

[ZooMad75]

I think driving pikes peak requires a reservation now too. Might want to check their website to know for sure.

If you want to hit any trails around Buena Vista let me know. I’ve got some favorites in the area that are fun but not full blown rock crawling.

 

[Barrman]

No. I would love to do that since anything mechanical is like a magnet to me. We are going to try and stay away from crowds and walking. My wife had her left leg amputated below the knee 18 months ago. She isn't good enough/ comfortable enough with the prosthetic to be out of the truck long. This will be her first time camping in the Cowdog since the surgery. That is why we aren't doing a real overlanding trip. I call it adventure travel. She needs real rest rooms, even surfaces for walking and such. Hopefully, this trip will get her confident enough to venture out more. But, I am not pushing her beyond taking the trip at this time.

Her and I did the steam train to Needleton and hiked into Chicago Basin 9 years ago. I am not sure if that is ever possible again but if the old Suburban can get her up into the mountains above tree line again I will consider this a successful trip.

 

[Barrman]

I have the entrance reservations and the time slot reservation for Pikes Peak all set.

We are going to stay at what used to be the KOA in Buena Vista. We had a national gathering of the M715 crew there back in 2008. We want to do the same trails again in the Cowdog. Visit St. Elmo, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, 4 mile loop, over Cottonwood Pass to the lake out there I can't remember the name of. Maybe Mount Princeton at least as far as the radio towers depending on snow.

One complication that popped up last night is my Trail Life troop has 9 people doing the steam train into Chicago Basin this weekend as well. There was a press release yesterday about the steam train may stop operation due to fire hazard at any given time. If my guys get dropped off but can't be picked up. They will text me through their Garmin inreach, hike out from Needleton to Purgatory ski resort and I will pick them up there to get them back to their vehicles in Durango. That would keep me off Pikes peak and some of the activities in that area since I will be 10 hour round trip the other direction.

 

[ZooMad75]

Wow glad you are getting out so she can see the mountains in our state.

It would be an all day trip but you could run this loop. You go to the old ghost town of St. Elmo, go south to climb Hancock pass. There is some mild crawling below tree line but I’ve guided stock JK’s through there with no lift and street tires. Multiple line choices but it’s pretty easy in a square with 33-35” tires. The summit is just above tree line and looks back over the valley you just climbed up.

Come down Hancock and follow the signs for Cumberland pass. It’s a right at the first road you encounter iirc. Cumberland is a graded dirt road on both sides. Super easy. But that will drop you into the historic town of Tin Cup. Follow the signs in town for Tin Cup pass to come back. Before going up the pass you will pass Mirror lake where there is a small campground on the north end with a vault toilet (just in case). The lake is awesome by the way. Follow the trail up to the summit and avoid the “old tin cup” section as it is a boulder field. Basically stay to the right. Summit is above tree line again and in the saddle of two peaks. Come down and it drops back in St. Elmo.

Good run.

Or a short version would be drive cottonwood pass out of Buena and into Taylor then down to the town of Tin Cup and the pass.

 

[Barrman]

Awesome. Thank you. Tin Cup was snow blocked the last time we were there and I have never done it.

 

[Barrman]

Two weeks later I am sitting next to an open window in Beaver creek enjoying the cool breeze at mid day. The trip has gone well so far. We didn’t do some of the stuff I had planned. But we did do a bunch and had a ball. We plan to take I-70 to I-25 then east on US-50 Friday ending up in the panhandle area. Then home Saturday.

I made videos about each days adventures. Even though I want as many people as possible to watch them and subscribe to my channel so I can make some money and retire early. I’m not so shameless as to link them all though. You can find the rest if you like this one:

 

[Barrman]

I wanted to post that we made it home as planned yesterday evening. My ac condenser developed a crack and all the refrigerant leaked out as soon as we got back in the Texas heat. That didn’t make the last 10 hours fun, but we did it. Thanks to all for being on call in case I needed real help.