Trip Report - Buena Vista

[Isotel]

Wow, what an amazing trip!

Vic, and his daughter Michelle, along with myself and my friend Matt went up Friday and setup camp in the dark, we camped at the start of the Chinaman's Gulch Trail. We woke up in the morning the the most amazing sight of the Collegiate Peaks across the Valley from where we camped.

We met up with both Davids, and Vic's neighbor (who's name is slipping my mind), along with their family's and headed up to tackle Mt. Antero, the views from the top are breathtaking.. it was an easy run with a couple of stops for myself and vic's minor breakdowns.. We headed up the trail for Baldwin Lake and where able to go down into an old mineshaft at the top.. on the way back Vic had another steering issue when his tie rod end broke in two. We quickly brainstormed up a solution and got back in motion with some ratchet straps and the U-bolts and plate from his steering stabilizer. The trail fix worked and we headed back to camp for the night..

Andy Made it to camp and managed to get his tailer through the 5+ Rated Trail between the Cty Road and the camp site, we had a great time around the camp fire, and headed off to bed for the night.

in the morning Vic got his trailer up to rescue his 40 from the trail head. and we continued to Iron Chest.. We met up with the Tim and Jennie, and the Bighorn 4x4 Club and started up the trail. No one ran into issues, and got up to the mine in no time, I left a bit early, but i got word that Andy Broke U-bolt on the way down.

Matt and me walked up the carnage Trail, and watched some rigs make it thru the "V-notch".. This Trail is NASTY, i cant wait to get my 40 ready for it

this was a great trip, id think it could defiantly be a trip that we could run in the future, and possibly turn it into something bigger down the road!

[Isotel]

some Photos From Saturday

[Isotel]

Sunday on Iron Chest

[Isotel]

anyone have more photos or additions to the report? I know i saw alot more photos being taken than just me! Lets see them!

[minisrule]

[bigndn]

Nice pics!!! I'll be in the St Elmo area from Oct 18-28ish hunting muleys and am going to try to get some wheeling in (time permitting). Old Chinaman's Gulch and/or Carnage are on my list if I can find another rig to go. Do you know of anyone locally willing to go during hunting season (that's probably a stretch)?

edit: check my post in the Mud trails section. Thanks!

[Isotel]

i saw your post, its going to be getting chilly up there around then, and possible snow up above timberline, but Chinaman's is usually pretty clear of snow, maybe someone who missed the run will join up with ya, have fun!

[bigndn]

Originally Posted by Isotel

i saw your post, its going to be getting chilly up there around then, and possible snow up above timberline, but Chinaman's is usually pretty clear of snow, maybe someone who missed the run will join up with ya, have fun!

Yeah, I figure there will be snow above timberline, too. I have friends who live at St Elmo year-round, so when it snows, I'm certain I'll hear about it. Snow must be a large factor on those rocks........up here we still wheel in 4-6 feet of snow, but for the most part we don't have rocky trails like that.

[TearUmUpTim]

Better late that never.

Here's some that Jenny took on Iron Chest:
http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/a...Chest%209-2-7/