Summer 2013 adventure - Utah, CO, yellowstone, glacier, etc

[rwright07]

This summer I get to move back out west (much to the relief of my K5 thats been shuttered in a friends barn).

I have the majority of the summer off, and am planning on driving my dodge back across the country and turning it into a US scenic off highway exploration trip.

I have been planning my route and it includes a ton of exploring in Canyonlands/Moab Utah, and in the southern CO mountain passes. Areas which I have never been and am relying on trip reports, maps, and some luck to make this trip a success.

I am hoping the CK5 crew can help make this trip as successful as my 2007 adventure into the Baja penninsula.

Here is the link to my planned cross country route so far.

I plan on taking highways till Utah/Colorado, then doing as much exploring as possible.

I am hoping for some insight into the Canyonlands/Moab areas that are fullsize friendly, insight into my planned route through the CO passes, and every bit of wisdom CK5 has to offer about the Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Glacier national park areas.

I will by driving my 2006, 2500 4x4 quad cab short box cummins powered dogde. I have steel bumpers, a 12k lb winch, and am contemplating building rock sliders to keep my rocker panels intact.

CO trail route is as follows:
(Note that this will probly be in early July - Im hoping pass opening times are similar to 2012)
Head to Telluride from UT
Imogene Pass, with a trip up to governor basin.
Through Ouray and maybe to the top of black bear pass from the hwy550 side
- I am a bit nervous about the Black Bear switchbacks in my dodge.
Up Engineer Pass to the summit, then either engineer, or the road through Castle lakes campground to Lake City
CO rd 58 (Los Pinos Pass?) to 114 and gunnison.
Cumberland Pass to explore the area where Cumberland, Hancock, and Tincup intersect around the Alpine Tunnel area.
After checking out St Elmo and Mary Murphy mine head to Buena Vista.
N on 24 to Leadville and over Mosquito Pass to either Boreas or Georgia Pass into Breckenridge.

 

[ktmoutfront]

My dad did black bear in a 2001 stock ext cab short bed Duramax 2500hd 4x4. Bone stock. That looks like a great trip. Hit me up when it gets closer.

 

[Burbdood 74]

Here is the link to my planned cross country route so far.

I am hoping for some insight into the Canyonlands/Moab areas that are fullsize friendly, insight into my planned route through the CO passes, and every bit of wisdom CK5 has to offer about the Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Glacier national park areas.

All I can say about Yellowstone is if you plan on staying a day or two and want to stay in a motel/hotel, stay in West Yellowstone or maybe even Cody Wy. where the east entrance to the park is and make sure you make reservations for a room early, like 3 months early. The park is crammed with all kinds of tourists that time of year and even though some camp, lots of folks don't and it gets booked quick.

 

[rwright07]

All I can say about Yellowstone is if you plan on staying a day or two and want to stay in a motel/hotel, stay in West Yellowstone or maybe even Cody Wy. where the east entrance to the park is and make sure you make reservations for a room early, like 3 months early. The park is crammed with all kinds of tourists that time of year and even though some camp, lots of folks don't and it gets booked quick.

I will have a rooftent for the trip, I plan on spending 6/7 nights in the tent during the trip and only using motels when I havent found a campground with a shower for a while.

My dad did black bear in a 2001 stock ext cab short bed Duramax 2500hd 4x4. Bone stock. That looks like a great trip. Hit me up when it gets closer.

perfect, that is exactly what i want to hear. I suppose worst comes to worst, if I cant swing a turn I can hook the front winch up and pull the front end toward the hill to complete the turn.

Here is my final CO passes itinerary:
From Ophir, CO
Ophir Pass
Black Bear Pass
Telluride, CO CO
Imogene Pass
Governor Basin
Ouray, CO
Engineer Pass
Animas Forks
Cinnamon Pass
Carson Ghost town
Lake City, CO
Los Pinos
Gunnison & Tincup CO
Cumberland Pass
Tincup Pass
Hancock Pass
Buena Vista, CO
Mosquito Pass
Boreas
Georgia Pass

Now I need to figure out my Moab/Arches/Canyonlands (Maze & Needles disctrict) plan.

Suggestions anyone?

 

[rwright07]

I got some rock sliders built for my dodge.

2x6 .250" wall rectangular tube. tapered up and toward the truck at the ends.
4x 1.75 .250" wall DOM struts per side
3/8" plate for frame terminations and strut gussets.

I like the way they came out, pretty discrete for what they are.

 

[rwright07]

Good news and some frustrations.
Good: I had the time to sit down with David Day's canyonlands guidebook, do some research, and make a plan
Bad: My trip start date just got pushed back a week, moving me later into the summer (and the heat), around June 20.
Im not sure what this does to the portion headed west from Florida, but i am considering dropping the round about route through Atl, Chattanooga, Memphis, Little Rock, DFW, and Austin in favor of a straight shot across I10 or I40.

Here is the Utah plan:
See the map for illustration
Meet friends from CA in St George UT
1-2 nights in Zion
1 Night Bryce Canyon
Head up to Hans Flat ranger station (through Hanksville for fuel and supplies)
3 nights in the Maze: Flint Trail most likely through the Maze Overlook then into the Land of Standing Rocks (camp at Maze overlook and at either dollhouse 1 or at chimney rock)
Depending on timing, either head to moab directly or stop over for a night in San Rafael Swell
2 nights on the white rim trail (I was thinking white crack and Hardscrabble B camps)
Head back into Moab (leave hardscrabble and head to Arches) - 2 nights
Explore arches for a day, and spend a day running trails in moab

Head down to the San Jan CO area and run trails starting in Ophir.

 

[blazinzuk]

I am in Idaho Falls, make a detour here and go to crates of the moon. Its really cool and not a ton of people visit

 

[Malathion]

Highway 89 is currently closed between Bitter Springs and Page, AZ due to a land slide.

http://www.azdot.gov/us89/

If you are taking the White Rim trail, taking Indian Route 20 as an alternative to/from Page depending on which way you are going, shouldn't be a problem.

http://azdailysun.com/news/local/ro...cle_45ab95ec-5dee-5514-b5c9-e1958a669ef7.html

 

[ktmoutfront]

And I drove over that this summer. That is one big slide.

 

[Metrodps]

CO trail route is as follows:
(Note that this will probly be in early July - Im hoping pass opening times are similar to 2012)
Head to Telluride from UT
Imogene Pass, with a trip up to governor basin.
Through Ouray and maybe to the top of black bear pass from the hwy550 side
- I am a bit nervous about the Black Bear switchbacks in my dodge.
Up Engineer Pass to the summit, then either engineer, or the road through Castle lakes campground to Lake City
CO rd 58 (Los Pinos Pass?) to 114 and gunnison.
Cumberland Pass to explore the area where Cumberland, Hancock, and Tincup intersect around the Alpine Tunnel area.
After checking out St Elmo and Mary Murphy mine head to Buena Vista.
N on 24 to Leadville and over Mosquito Pass to either Boreas or Georgia Pass into Breckenridge.

OK bub you have camping reservations at chae Metro plenty of area to camp and you have shower and diner on me too!

 

[rwright07]

OK bub you have camping reservations at chae Metro plenty of area to camp and you have shower and diner on me too!

Awesome! where is your place? I look forward to meeting a fellow CK5er.

I got the call from the Canyonlands backcountry reservation line today. I got all my camps reserved.

7/1 - Panorama Point
7/2 Maze overlook 1
7/3 Dollhouse 1
7/4 BLM camping somwhere between dollhouse and Moab - Has anyone ever gone around to the south from Dollhouse past Lake Powel and Natural bridges national monument?
7/5 and 7/6 at Hardscrabble B

We will then be heading to Ophir and begin the trek through the San Juan mountain passes.

 

[rwright07]

After looking at the map some more, I think we will bypass the planned night at Panorama point, and head into the Maze via Poison Springs road instead.

Here was the group email sent to my friends coming along through UT and CO.

So we are going to meet in St George, UT on the evening of Friday, June 28. 14 days adventuring to get to Denver.

That evening will camp outside Zion NP, and spend the next day exploring Zion.
We will leave in the late afternoon, to try and arrive outside Bryce Canyon in time to make camp before sunset on 6/29.

6/30 explore bryce in the morning and head to Capitol Reef in the afternoon.

I think I want to take Poison Springs Rd into the Maze instead of the long road around past Hans Flats. We will likely camp near the Dirty Devil river unless we get there before sunset. This is a shorter, more technical route that is very rarely traveled due to the river crossing, unless there is has been recent rainfall it shouldnt be an issue in june. Google it. It looks amazing and isolated - a great intro to the Maze.

7/2 we will head into canyonlands proper and begin exploring the Maze district, taking the flint trail with a camp that evening at the Maze overlook.

on 7/3 we will head into the land of standing rocks within the Maze and camp and explore the dollhouse area.

Departing camp the morning of 7/4 we will take the southern route around the park, briefly see Natural Bridges National Monument and the valley of the gods, and head for Moab UT. we will rage in Moab that night to celebrate FREEEEEEEEDOM! and will be camping on BLM near arches NP.

I have reserved the Hardscabble A and B camps 7/5 and 7/6 on the white rim trail. One of those nights will be spent at Hardscrabble camp on the white rim, and the other on BLM outside moab UT. This also leaves us options- explore/hike a bit at arches and offroad some on BLM or take more time getting around the southern route from the maze

On 7/7 we will head to Ophir, CO and begin the series of passes on BLM/national forest land that will take us through Telluride, Ouray, Lake city, Gunnison, Buena Vista, Leadville, and end in Breckenridge before arriving into denver.

Here is how that route might shake out:

Ophir Pass then Black bear down into Telluride. - I am a bit nervous about the Black Bear switchbacks in my dodge.
Imogene Pass, with a trip up to governor basin.
Through Ouray and then up Engineer Pass to the summit, then either engineer, or the road through Castle lakes campground to Lake City
CO rd 58 (Los Pinos Pass?) to 114 and gunnison.
Cumberland Pass to explore the area where Cumberland, Hancock, and Tincup intersect around the Alpine Tunnel area.
After checking out St Elmo and Mary Murphy mine head to Buena Vista.
N on 24 to Leadville and over Mosquito Pass to either Boreas or Georgia Pass into Breckenridge.

 

[Metrodps]

Just 3 miles north of Ouray and FYI on July 4th we have big fire works display during the day there is a parade and we have a fire hose fight on main street. I will PM you my info.


Ouray and the surrounding towns in Southwest Colorado provide a truly original experience on the Fourth of July. Virtually unchanged since its birth in the 1800's, this tiny mountain town provides an historic taste of our countries special day. Traditions in Ouray on the fourth have lasted through the years, changing only slightly.

Main Street closes at 10:00 am for the annual Fourth of July Parade. Cheer for all of the different organizations and individuals marching, or, enter yourself!

After the parade, the fun is just beginning. Family fun and games start at 11:00 am, and are an all day event at Fellin Park. The Ouray Elks, among others will be offering great barbeque options, from burgers and brats to some of the best ribs ever. If you're looking for an escape from the outdoor activities, all of the restaurants and shops will be open and ready to provide you with a great experience of small town hospitality and good cheer.

Highway 550 will close down for the second time of the day at 2:00 pm when the annual water fights commence. A tradition started in the late 1800's, with as many rocks as there was water shooting from the fire hoses, these hearty miners stood for up to an hour against each other with no protection but a ladies bathing cap. These days, competitions are timed and teams wear protective gear, limiting the number of injuries but certainly not the amount of fun audiences have watching competitors push their endurance to the limits.

[YOUTUBE]/EQ7sqNSz7Lw[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Metrodps]

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[rwright07]

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got my mailbox cleared and all my old messages downloaded.
Sorry, and thanks for the hospitality!