2017 Ouray Colorado @ Colorado West Jeeps - Event Date: 15 Aug. 2017 - 17 Aug. 2017

dluber wrote:   Looks like a terrific event!

This wasn't really an event!, just a few friends spending some time together. To have an "Event" in Ouray would be very difficult, as most of the trails are accessed south of town on highway 550 (million dollar highway). This is a main road with no shoulder and 1000 ft drop, and from town to the closest trail there is about 2000 ft rise in altitude. To run 550 with more than a dozen Flattys really hozes up traffic. On top of that, Black Bear/Imogene is a 10+ hour day with a dozen Jeeps, the Alpine Loop most likely longer, we had some issues and got as far as Animas Forks and ended up running to Silverton and back to Ouray. Most of the famous trails are very long, rough and over 10,000 ft, our beloved Go-Devil has little extra to offer at these heights, if not tuned to perfection, vapor lock is a killer..... My advise to anyone going, keep the group small or less than 10 Jeeps, or break up into groups of 10 or less, this will keep things moving, also bring everything you need with, if you stay in or near Ouray, there is little to offer, no convenience stores of any kind and the closest grocery store is 10 miles away. I will return some day as it's a wonderful place to visit and the scenery is unbelievable. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from going, just bringing the realities to light.

Lee

Lee, thanks a lot for the explanation!  I would have loved to have gone, but now understand that it wasn't an "open" trip and that you needed to keep the numbers in check.  Appreciate your honesty!

Hope to make the cut some day as it really does look like a terrific trip!  Was "Colorado West Jeeps" leading the trip?  They're a jeep tour company in Ouray?  Probably a good way to go.

Sweet!  So, does Nivrat work for Colorado West Jeeps?  I guess more to the point...do they do trips for folks if they bring their own jeep?  Is it a "book way in advance"  kind of deal or can we just show up and expect to get on the trail that day or the next?  How many days were you guys jeeping around the area?  Any other good trails we should know about?  Did you guys camp or find a motel or B&B somewhere?  I may just have to drag Hawky and Tumbleweed down there some day! 

Hay Tom,  Ruthie & I went to a Jeep Jamboree in Ouray  in September, 1998.  A really great trip, we ran Imogene Pass, got to Telluride via the Dallas Divide. Animas Forks, California Pass & Corkscrew Gulch.    That was a two day Jamboree. 
 I picked up a Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails by Charles A. Wells.  You are familiar with area 3 in this guide book,  it is Buena Vista, Monarch.  Mike's back yard.  Wells has guide books for other areas too.
Till we Jeep again.  Tom 

I'm not saying an event is out of the question, I was told by a local that a Toyota group does one in July with 800 vehicles (not sure if that's true or not!), LOL, that's a heads up to those planning on going, check the schedule in advance. A flatty event fall colors style would be a huge PIA for the organizer. Perhaps today I can post up a few photos. Back to work tomorrow

Lee

I hope someone will organize another run in this country for next year.  I don't think I'll attend though.  While the country is amazingly dramatic in it's grandeur, the rough trails, and bench or shelf roads are more than Nancy could stand.  Quite frankly, she was scared on some of those trails.  And my Blue Mule is not set up very well for some of the rock crawling we did.  Since I subscribe to the philosophy "Happy Wife, Happy Life", I'll be looking for some milder, less dramatic trails to explore in the future.  I do agree that small groups of a dozen or less work best in this country.  Turnouts on some trails are few and far between.  Smaller groups mean you impact other trail riders less.  And it's easier to make decisions about where to go.  And to make sure everyone is keeping up.

Hi Tom:

I believe Nivrat (Mike) works for Switzerland of America 4x4 in Ouray, CO.  Here is their web site, which is informative to explore:

https://soajeep.com/trail-maps-conditions/trail-conditions/

Waaaaaaaay back in the day (1961), the descent into Telluride way one way up on the half hour and down on the even hour, cause you did not want to pass on that road.
Is it only 1 way down now?

I hear the local 4x4 club goes up once a year. I think it would be a real challenge to go UP Black Bear. Don't know where to find the date, sure someone knows.