Buena Vista Weekend 7/26-27

[PPFJ60]

Where do you like to camp for the Buenas Vista weekend July 26-27?

[Isotel]

Last Year we camped next to the Trail head for Chinaman's Gulch.. It was a cool spot, but i would be open to looking at other spots/ ideas! Chuck do you know of any in the area??

[LCPilot]

I understand that the road through the farmland has been graded and isn't so "challenging" as last year.

[PPFJ60]

I like camping above Cotton Wood Lake. Its about 8 miles west of Buena Vista. There is an open area next to the river that can hold 20+ campers.

Just above Clear Creek Reservoir is another spot but it's about 12 miles North of Buena Vista.

[Isotel]

I would Love to camp up near Cottonwood!

i have not been there since i was a Kid!.. 8 Miles?? How far from of a drive is that from town?

there is a nice easy trail up there me and my Bro used to do (Ptarmigan Lake) we ran it in a stock Path grinder but it was a fun one, Short hike to the lake with Fishing above Timberline!

[PPFJ60]

My best guess is that it's 9.5 miles from the stop light on main street in Buena Vista.

[LC4LIFE]

I was there 2 weekends ago. The campsite at Cottonwood Lake has been redone and it was okay. I camped just west of Rainbow lake right on Cottonwood Creek. It would be a great spot and could easily accommodate 20 or more people and their rigs. Its 8.6 miles west on FR306. FR 306 is the road up Cottonwood pass and its the first light in BV.

[Isotel]

Looks like a sweet spot!

thanks for the info!

[Goslow]

I was told by Paul B., former club member, that the 1st road south of the road that goes from Nathrop to St. Elmo has numerous large camp sites that can hold all of our club members. I will be in that area the weekend of July 12 and will check it out, then reply back to this thread. Vic

[Isotel]

sweet! yea let us know the details! thanks!


who is Go slow??

[theRash]

Isotel --> June 26th and 27th is a Thursday and Friday. Don't you mean the 27th and 28th?

[PPFJ60]

July 26/27 is the planned Buena Vista weekend.

[Goslow]

Goslow = Vic

[supercharlie]

David and I are planning to show up on the 27th. Any idea what time we need to be at the trailhead. We plan on running Chinamans and the wife is planning on coming out for this one also.

[PPFJ60]

I spent July 4-6 in BV. I started to run Chinamans gulch but was side tracked by watching some buggies and an FJ80 with 35's run Carnage. Here is a couple of pictures of the FJ80 getting winched. At one point it took two winchs with one being doubled with a snatch block.

I ran the first part of Iron Chest but the weather started turning bad so we decided to head back.

I saw people camping in the field just East of the fish hatchery but did not find out any details on access to this area. The field would be a good location to camp due to it's location to the trails but it's not as nice as Cottonwood for camping.

[EricG]

Wow - wonder who's 80 that is.

[Isotel]

Originally Posted by PPFJ60

watching some buggies and an FJ80 with 35's run Carnage.

Kick Ass! nothing like Bringing a Mall Crawler on a Buggy Trail

Is this the Open Diff Beast from Eagle rock? i Love 80's the Fully Get it, and don't care about body damage


I am Getting Pumped up for this trip! How should we go about deciding on a camp spot, sounds like we have alot of good options..

[LCPilot]

It looks like a different 80. The one on Eagle Rock had dents on the passenger side and was collecting more on a regular basis.

[PPFJ60]

This is a different 80. This one has factory lockers. It did collect a dented left rear quarter panel and smashed left rear tail light on the run.

This guy's name is Darwin. Darwin does have a no turning back attitude but not the full steam ahead approach that Rey has with his 80.

As for camping......
I would like to recommend three choices to see if the group wants to vote on one of these three or suggest yet another.

Choice 1- Stay at the Snowy Peaks campground (1 mile North of BV) Pro- Its close to town and has hot showers. Con- have to pay for camping. Buena Vista Colorado Snowy Peaks RV Park campground camping recreational vehicle rentals (My camper is stored there so it works well for me).

Choice 2- Stay in National forest above Cottonwood lake. Pro- Its free camping and a nice camping spot. Con- It's maybe 12-15 miles west of the stop light in BV (a little out of the way).

Choice 3- Stay in National forest south of BV about 1.5 miles west of 285 on 270. Pro- It's closer to the better 4x4 trails in the area. Con- Never camped there so I don't know what to expect. I talked to the Salida Ranger District office (719-539-3591) and they indicated that this area is open to dispersed camping.

I vote for choice 1 as 1st choice and choice 2 & 3 as second choices.

[tomindallas]

Ha ha, Darwin is a coworker of mine. I'll send him this link. He just added the extra lift and gears and apparently now noticed he needs bigger tires. It's all good, because I buy all his take-offs and put them on my truck. TominDallas

[Isotel]

Sweet, Id vote for Option 2 or 3, I like camping in the woods, and for Free

Lets put it to a Club vote at the meeting.. If your not going to be at the meeting let us know what you want here!,, The other thing, is We can always camp in different spots, Normaly we meet at Gunsmoke for Fuel and incoming rigs from the springs at about 9 am..

[PPFJ60]

Fuel is expensive as it is and the fuel costs are cheeper in BV than at the Gunsmoke by about 15 cents when I was there over the 4th. Be sure to fuel up at either the Western station in Woodland Park or the one in Divide since they have the best price on fuel around.

[TearUmUpTim]

What day are we running Carnage, Sat or Sun? Not sure if I'm camping or not.

[Isotel]

Originally Posted by TearUmUpTim

What day are we running Carnage, Sat or Sun? Not sure if I'm camping or not.

Dam Tim, all you care about is 4 wheeling..

lol, I dont know, i think thats going to be for me and you to figure out, it would be cool to run it the same day that the rest of the group runs Chinamans..

Can we get a Head Count! Who is Going, What trail would you be interested in Running in the BV area, and on What day?

[TearUmUpTim]

Saturday is better for me but I'm flexible.

[Goslow]

I checked out the Road 270 camping this weekend. 270 is approx. 3 miles south of the road that you turn off of in Nathrop to get to St. Elmo. If you continue south on Hwy. 285 past the St. Elmo turnoff, go under the two water pipes over the highway and you will soon come to the 270 turnoff on the right.

It is a couple of miles on 270 to the National Forest on good, graded road. There are numerous huge campsites on this road, and, as someone else mentioned in this thread, the camping is dispersed. The added benefit of camping here is that there is a paved shortcut back to the St. Elmo road so that you don't have to drive all the way out to Hwy. 285 to get back to the St. Elmo road.

I will not be able to make it to the club meeting tomorrow, so I hope to hear in this or another thread where the group has decided to camp. I may leave early on Friday, July 25 to secure a campsite for the group, so I need to know the final decision or recommendation. If no decision is made, or I decide not to leave early, I'll travel with the group leaving on Friday night. However, I am planning to leave earlier as of now. If anyone else wants to leave early, let me know.

Vic

[Isotel]

that sounds like a good place to me!

[Isotel]

Originally Posted by Goslow

I checked out the Road 270 camping this weekend. 270 is approx. 3 miles south of the road that you turn off of in Nathrop to get to St. Elmo. If you continue south on Hwy. 285 past the St. Elmo turnoff, go under the two water pipes over the highway and you will soon come to the 270 turnoff on the right.

It is a couple of miles on 270 to the National Forest on good, graded road. There are numerous huge campsites on this road, and, as someone else mentioned in this thread, the camping is dispersed. The added benefit of camping here is that there is a paved shortcut back to the St. Elmo road so that you don't have to drive all the way out to Hwy. 285 to get back to the St. Elmo road.

I will not be able to make it to the club meeting tomorrow, so I hope to hear in this or another thread where the group has decided to camp. I may leave early on Friday, July 25 to secure a campsite for the group, so I need to know the final decision or recommendation. If no decision is made, or I decide not to leave early, I'll travel with the group leaving on Friday night. However, I am planning to leave earlier as of now. If anyone else wants to leave early, let me know.

Vic

At the CLC Meeting we Decided on Camping at this Spot!

We also decided on Chinaman's / Carnage on Sunday, and Iron Chest / an easier Trail on Saturday! More info when i get home!

Trevor

[PPFJ60]

I'm in! I will be heading out sometime on Friday. I will pick up my old camper in BV and take to the camping spot. I will have my mom/dad/stepbrother with me from Florida. I have been sending them pictures of the 4x4 trips we have been on and they want to experience it for them selves.