B.N.Z.MTNS
Elevation 8,500’
This weekend I was begrudging the fact that I missed out on another Blazer Bash due to some unexpected home damage and repairs that took my Blazer budget. As luck would have it I finally sold an old tractor and some implements that I have had on the market for a while now. I was able to recoup some cash from the home repairs and get my rig trail worthy... just a couple of days late for the bash.
Instead my wife and I decided to spend some time at our family cabin in Gunnison, CO. While up there we wanted to explore some of the passes that I have not been over before. The fall colors were just starting to turn and there was a fresh layer of snow on the peaks so it was just beautiful.
I have heard about Pearl Pass that travels between Crested Butte and Aspen. In the 1870's it was used by miners who traveled by jack train and later by freight wagons and was the principle mail route between the two towns. The books give it a difficult rating and I wanted to see how "difficult" it really was.
The first 10 miles or so were not too bad at all with just some rocky sections and mud and awesome tree tunnels. Then I decided to shift into 4 wheel drive to keep tires from spinning on the narrow shelf roads and the talus rock sections.
Then as we ascended above 12,000 elevation the snow got deeper and it was all about spinning tires and just finding where the trail even was. Though the snow play was fun we decided to discontinue the trip as the last few hundred yards over the pass were on a narrow shelf road with a bunch of exposure and nowhere to tie off to...no other rigs in sight. One little slip off the shelf would have been disastrous so I swallowed my pride and we enjoyed the scenery on the way back.
I have to say thanks to my wife for constantly jumping out and running ahead to get some nice pose and flex shots. I love that she loves to get away and do this stuff with me.
All pics are in sequential order from our cabin to the top of the pass and back home. One of those weekends that I would take back for anything.
Enjoy
Instead my wife and I decided to spend some time at our family cabin in Gunnison, CO. While up there we wanted to explore some of the passes that I have not been over before. The fall colors were just starting to turn and there was a fresh layer of snow on the peaks so it was just beautiful.
I have heard about Pearl Pass that travels between Crested Butte and Aspen. In the 1870's it was used by miners who traveled by jack train and later by freight wagons and was the principle mail route between the two towns. The books give it a difficult rating and I wanted to see how "difficult" it really was.
The first 10 miles or so were not too bad at all with just some rocky sections and mud and awesome tree tunnels. Then I decided to shift into 4 wheel drive to keep tires from spinning on the narrow shelf roads and the talus rock sections.
Then as we ascended above 12,000 elevation the snow got deeper and it was all about spinning tires and just finding where the trail even was. Though the snow play was fun we decided to discontinue the trip as the last few hundred yards over the pass were on a narrow shelf road with a bunch of exposure and nowhere to tie off to...no other rigs in sight. One little slip off the shelf would have been disastrous so I swallowed my pride and we enjoyed the scenery on the way back.
I have to say thanks to my wife for constantly jumping out and running ahead to get some nice pose and flex shots. I love that she loves to get away and do this stuff with me.
All pics are in sequential order from our cabin to the top of the pass and back home. One of those weekends that I would take back for anything.
Enjoy
You are not alone.
Good Lord, man! Good for you!
