Colorado trip

[BionicCruiser]

OK, we talked about mid-late August at the May meeting. too late and the kids are back in school. IIRC my kids (Rio Rancho schools) start Aug 21.

is 14-17 too late for the APS kids? i have a commitment on the thurs. the 7th, but will have to discuss with the wife if we plan to make this run anyway. i want to do the Oct "HDC in Moab" trip, so i will see if we can do both.

also up for discussion- place. fire away!

[beno]

With gas prices where they are at (and where they are expected to be headed), the farthest I am making it anytime soon will be the Puerco or Cedro....

Other than that, I am wrenching.

-o-

[firemedicpq1]

We had planned for the Moab trip in Oct. Probably not going to make another out of town gig. So, it's up to y'all on the Colorado trip. If Moab falls through, I heard that Farmington is a great playground as well, and it could be done in a really long day - just a thought if fuel prices keeps heading the wrong direction.

[Ruadhrigh]

I have the same concerns as Paul. I would like to do both but will be limited to one. At this point I am impartial to which one.

As far as where in Colorado, is there much to be done in the Cumbres area?

[marcfj60]

My only availability for an August trip would be Friday, Aug. 8 - Sunday, Aug. 10. I get that Friday off but cannot afford to take and 'vacation' days. Can we do something closer to home? How about exploring the north Jemez area and the mountains to the west of Chama and Heron Lake?

[juane]

Given the snow load in the San Juans and here in the Sawatch Range near Salida even August may see the passes still closed.

Concerning gas prices.....are we seeing the decline and end of a life style?

[beno]

Originally Posted by juane

Concerning gas prices.....are we seeing the decline and end of a life style?

I'd say "yes" to that question.

Until an alternative to petrol is found, the price of petrol will be pretty much the determining factor for most human activities...our society is based on petrol--almost every aspect of the global economy is based on it.

And the classic American "road trip" might be a thing of history in the near future.

[pappy]

Originally Posted by beno

And the classic American "road trip" might be a thing of history in the near future.

At least my annual Baja trip is safe. Fuel is significantly cheaper in Mexico ... at least for now. I'm just not sure I can afford to drive to the border.

[DanS HJ-45]

As far as where in Colorado, is there much to be done in the Cumbres area?

From Cumbres Pass to Wolf Creek pass is really a gorgeous area. Not exactly hardcore, and there's a lot of high alpine gravel roads and trails. But there is Elwood Pass (which goes from Summitville, CO to the base of Wolf Creek Pass), which as I recall is about like Cedro Peak in terms of difficulty. My IFS pickup did it (pre-diesel days) with bald tires a few (9?) years ago. Really, really pretty area to explore. There's a lot of mining and logging roads between Cumbres and Wolf Creek passes.

Also near Cumbres I know you can drive to chase the train, although I don't know how difficult the trail is. I think they drive trucks with supplies to Osier, and I know I've seen non-built trucks into Sublette and stuff. I'm planning on taking a trip out there sometime either in the late summer or early fall.

Until an alternative to petrol is found...

Until??? Mine (either of them) don't need dead dinosaurs to be drilled and refined to run. Unfortunately, my paycheck sure does. Danged if you do, danged if you don't.

Dan

[evanz80]

Originally Posted by pappy

At least my annual Baja trip is safe. Fuel is significantly cheaper in Mexico ... at least for now. I'm just not sure I can afford to drive to the border.

I heard on the radio where a lot of folks in Southern Arizona are crossing the border to fill up their tanks. I think they said Pemex charges about a buck less per gallon than in the US.

But, like you said, you've got to get to the border first!

[SteveLCetc]

I took a trip to southern CA last week in a Camry Hybrid - got about the same mpg as my Corolla, but in a *lot* more comfort.

Anyway, it got me to thinking about a plug-in hybrid for commuting - with electrical transmission inefficiencies and infrastructure, it comes out to be about one third the cost of gasoline with basic lead cell batteries - but you need 6 average batteries to equal one gallon of gas. For my commute to Santa Fe in the Corolla that's 18 batteries in the trunk. And back seat. With overload springs...

But, the relevant thought process turned to coal. Coal can be turned to liquid fuel - and it's only a fraction the cost of typical electrical power - 1.5 cents or so per kwh instead of 7 or 8.

After a few years of cooling and/or enough alarmists seeing the light, it could happen, bringing the cost of diesel back to well under $2 per gallon.

http://hdcruisers.org/nmhemphills/coal.pdf

[alia176]

Originally Posted by SteveLCetc

I took a trip to southern CA last week in a Camry Hybrid - got about the same mpg as my Corolla, but in a *lot* more comfort.

Anyway, it got me to thinking about a plug-in hybrid for commuting - with electrical transmission inefficiencies and infrastructure, it comes out to be about one third the cost of gasoline with basic lead cell batteries - but you need 6 average batteries to equal one gallon of gas. For my commute to Santa Fe in the Corolla that's 18 batteries in the trunk. And back seat. With overload springs...

But, the relevant thought process turned to coal. Coal can be turned to liquid fuel - and it's only a fraction the cost of typical electrical power - 1.5 cents or so per kwh instead of 7 or 8.

After a few years of cooling and/or enough alarmists seeing the light, it could happen, bringing the cost of diesel back to well under $2 per gallon.

http://hdcruisers.org/nmhemphills/coal.pdf

And how is this all related to the Colorado thread? Let's stay on track...

Start a new thread for high gas prices...

[SteveLCetc]

Originally Posted by alia176

And how is this all related to the Colorado thread? Let's stay on track...

Expand your mind. Don't sell your cruiser because you think gas prices are going to go through the roof.

[Beowulf]

Originally Posted by SteveLCetc

... with electrical transmission inefficiencies and infrastructure, it comes out to be about one third the cost of gasoline with basic lead cell batteries

Could you rig up a solar recharging station? I guess you would have to switch to the night shift and let your Corolla recharge at home during the day. Otherwise, you would have to set up the recharging station at your office and that seems problematic.

Will you be riding the Rail Runner when Billy gets that finished?
-Mike-

[Beowulf]

Originally Posted by SteveLCetc

After a few years of cooling and/or enough alarmists seeing the light, it could happen, bringing the cost of diesel back to well under $2 per gallon.

Thanks for the coal link Steve.

Converting coal to liquid fuel seems intuitively obvious to the casual observer. I believe the OPEC countries will keep jacking with the price until the US, Russia, China, and India get pressured to start investing in the infrastructure for CTL (and other forms of energy), then they will lower the price and we'll all get complacent again and shut down those initiatives. And the cycle will repeat as it has in the past.

It was interesting to read that H2 production is a by-product of CTL.

-Mike-

[Cruisergreg]

Originally Posted by Beowulf

Converting coal to liquid fuel seems intuitively obvious to the casual observer.

Nothing new, Nazis did it in WWII.

[SteveLCetc]

Originally Posted by Beowulf

Could you rig up a solar recharging station? I guess you would have to switch to the night shift and let your Corolla recharge at home during the day. Otherwise, you would have to set up the recharging station at your office and that seems problematic.

Will you be riding the Rail Runner when Billy gets that finished?
-Mike-

Yep, I'd need a solar panel about 25 feet on a side to get the equivalent of the 3 gals of gas it takes me to make the commute, which would cost about twice what the car cost new. Then I'd have to buy the motor and stuff...

Interesting thing about the Railrunner - the people riding the buses from Alb to SF just figured out that the day the Railrunner starts, the buses quit.

I'll use it if it has wireless and the time I'm working on it counts...

Nope, the next engine stuff I buy will probably be a diesel for the 40. I could probably get 30 mpg using it to commute. At 40 mph...

[Ruadhrigh]

Originally Posted by SteveLCetc

Nope, the next engine stuff I buy will probably be a diesel for the 40. I could probably get 30 mpg using it to commute. At 40 mph...

I see 3B's mated to H55s for sale all the time. Hurry up!

[SteveLCetc]

Originally Posted by Ruadhrigh

I see 3B's mated to H55s for sale all the time. Hurry up!

Where?

[Ruadhrigh]

JDM/Diesel section of the classifieds

[Ruadhrigh]

oh yeah, talk to Dan (HJ45) and see where his pops got his (came with a turbo )

[DanS HJ-45]

Dad got it from $OR. IIRC, $3500 for the engine (out of a BJ-73), Safari Turbo, and H55f. All look real clean and low mileage to me. Heck, that's less than I paid for my 2LT-E!!! I've seen similar or better deals on MUD, mostly in the diesel classifieds.

Here's hoping we get it installed in his 40 this summer or fall, because that drive to Moab last week in the 40 was expensive!!! I forgot how much it cost to drive around at 13-14mpg. Glad I got my faux-lux back now. I can afford to see some country again!

Dan

PS-my diesel conversion on the pickup has already paid for itself, 1.5 years later. And it's only the past couple of months that fuel prices have really climbed.

[BionicCruiser]

it seems there is minimal interest in this trip. as an alternative,
i have a week and a half off in July for my 20 year HS reunion. it will only take 3 days for the Tucson reunion event. we (me, Jill and the boys)will be going up to Colorado for camping July 21 or 22 to the 26th (i have to work on the 27th).

i was thinking of doing Mt. Blanca. i will need another vehicle with me to try this trail and Jill would like some female company too, so i'm hoping to get at least a few of you along! any interest?