official 2009 Colorado invasion thread

[texastoy88]

I think refining the activities and route will be our biggest asset. We can cover lots of ground and see alot of things, depending on how fast we want to move and for how long. With kiddos, I think we want to keep the pace enjoyable for them and schedule maybe some out of vehicle things like hikes and whatnot.

I don't know about you guys, but we are planning on packing fairly light (not a full kitchen for cooking full breakfast and steaks for dinner every night). With less to set up and take down everyday we can cover more ground daily. We will more than likely take the easy up canopy, but will only set it up if we are getting rain or something.

If we can nail down the leave date and time, we can schedule our route pretty easily. If we leave in the middle of the day, we will need to find a half way point, if we leave early morning, we can make it all the way to GSDNP by nightfall.

[TEXASLAWMAN]

My vote is leave early Friday morning and not stop half way. In fact I can say I am 98.9% sure we are leaving early Friday morning its only 14 hours per my gps. There is a 1.1% chance I would leave thursday night.

[Panzer]

Hey...we got stickied!

Sorry for the slow response. I was in Oregon for work last week with no computer.
Friday morning is good for me, I have to check with brother to see if he can swing it.

I am still good for rafting. I will get current confirmed prices tomorrow and get back to you for final confirmation.
How many people are we talking about ?
My tribe is 2 adult + 1 eleven year old.
Your 2 + 2
Todd???
Others???
It will help me get a price and plan if I know how many of us there are.

And yes we need to get this ironed out because I am out of town from 15-25 July for military and I have no idea how much communication ability I am going to have on this trip. It may be really limited like the Oregon one.

[TEXASLAWMAN]

I dont know how big my tribe is going to be yet! Right now its 2 adults a 10, 11 and 3 year old. But the second adult wants to leave the kids at home so still working on that. If its just us adults rafting is cool but if the kiddos go we proably wont. Driving straight through to the great sand dunes on friday is my plan still.

[wardfoto]

anybody got room for me to ride along in spirit? someday, i'll get to start going on this trip again....

[TEXASLAWMAN]

Ok its just us the kids are not going.

[texastoy88]

Originally Posted by Panzer

I am still good for rafting. I will get current confirmed prices tomorrow and get back to you for final confirmation.

Go ahead and get the pricing for us. We probably will not be able to swing it at this point with both kids, maybe just the two of us but not all 4, but get it anyway.

I am starting to look at the route going out, do either of you guys have a preference on the route going out? By way of Taos, or just the fastest route? The Taos route adds another two hours of drive time and lots more of I-40.

[TEXASLAWMAN]

31 days till we get out of this HEAT!!!

[texastoy88]

Originally Posted by TEXASLAWMAN

31 days till we get out of this HEAT!!!

No kidding, Yesterday was misserable! I am ready to get out of here.

[Panzer]

I think Taos is a good route going but coming back, with "get home-itis" I think the I-25 to 287 to DFW is better.

I am now good for Friday departure. Brother prefers a late, late saturday return. Need 24 hours-ish to get ready for monday. How does that sit with everybody?

60-65 seems to be the sweet spot for cruising in the 80. faster is possible but it really winds up the RPMs so I don't have a problem with a slightly slower planned cruise speed. Mapquest is showing 11.5 to 12.75 hours depending on the route....I would plan on 15 hours.

[texastoy88]

I have really started nailing down the days and locations for camping. I will keep alternate camping sites located by the Colorado Gazetteer. I am trying to research all the locations thru google earth also to make sure the roads we will be taking aren't cutting thru someones back yard.

So far from your suggestions, I have a plan layed out for leaving out Firday morning and returning home Sat evening. The first day and the last two days will require lots of driving though.

I will type it all up and lay it out the best I can today and post up. I will try to put together a map also to give a good idea of the route.

The long and short of it is, we start 700+ miles to GSDNP go thru Medano Pass to Canyon City, to the Cripple Creek area, to and thru Hayden Pass to an area around Monarch Pass, over to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, where we basically run out of time with a day of exploration there, then two days to return. Short day of return gets us 200 miles back toward home to around Fairview in the San Isebel NF area and the last day is 700 miles home.

I will try to get the map put together ASAP so everyone can look at it. There is lots of stuff that can be done along the way and the trip can still change, but this is just a general idea and plan. If we wish to stay an extra day in a good camping spot to relax, I am game.

Sadly to say, I think we are pretty sure out on the rafting. As much as I know my wife and I would love to, and I know the kids are up for it, $ is just going to be too tight after having to put a new a/c system in the rig.

[texastoy88]

Google map

OK. The Google map is in. I have us leaving on Friday morning and arriving back home late Sat. Here is the run down…

Day 1 (Friday)- From Gainesville, TX to GSDNP - 653 miles/approx 15 hrs (with stops every 2 hours) Camping Fee will apply even in back country camp area.

Day 2 (Saturday)-Leave GSDNP around noon after playing in the sand for a little while go over Medano Pass thru Westcliffe, Yorkville, Canyon City, to BLM Camp on the Shelf Rd- 83 miles,/Approx 6.5 hours driving

Day 3 (Sunday)-Continue up Shelf Rd to Cripple Creek Mining Town area for Exploration (half day) return south toward Hwy 50 on Phantom Canyon Rd to BLM camp area. - 42 miles/approx 4 hours driving

Day 4 (Monday)-Continue south on Phantom Canyon Rd to Hwy 50 to Royal Gorge Bridge Recreational area (half day exploration) to Gulch Rd SW to SR 69 to CR 1A to Cotopaxi/Hwy 50 to Coaldale, take Hayden Creek Rd to Hayden Creek camping area - 84 miles/approx 5 hours driving

Day 5 (Tuesday)-Continue thru Hayden Pass to Hwy 285 north to Marshall Pass Rd thru Marshall Pass to Sargents/Hwy 50 north to CR 888 to Camping area - 62 miles/7 hours drive time

Day 6 (Wednesday)-South from camp back to Hwy 50 west to SR 92 in Sapinero to Gunnison NF camping area - 80 miles/approx 4 hours drive time

Day 7 (Thursday)-From Gunnison NF caming area back to Hwy 50 west to SR 347 to Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP to East Portal camp ground - 56 miles/approx 3.5 hours driving

Day 8 (Friday)-From East Portal CG to Hwy 50 east to Cotopaxi to Westcliffe to Fairview to Ophir Creek Rd to camp. - 206 miles/approx 8 hours of driving

Day 9 (Saturday)-From camp south on Gardner Rd to SR 69 to I-25 @ Walsenburg to Hwy 87/64 to Dalhart - Dumas - Amarillo Hwy 287 Home - 695 miles/approx 14 hours driving time

Some of these days are only going to be a couple hours of driving which should allow us plenty of time to take in some hiking, some walks along the road side streams, and playing in the snow patches. Either we can find things to fill the time, or we can get to camp early and relax. We are good either way. I have put into day 3 and day 4 the exploring the Cripple Creek area and the Royal Gorge area. We can play it by ear in those areas and do what we want. I have a Colorado Gazatteer, the Wells Colorado Backroads and 4 wheel drive trails book, and GPS/Laptop that will help us find anything our hearts desire while we are there.

So… Are we there yet?

[nuclearlemon]

hope you all have a great time here. we'll miss ya at the rally

[cool breeze]

I didnt want to post up until I was more certain but it looks like we can join ya'll.! We've been knocking the idea around because our plans had us taking a trip the end of July with family and now it looks to be Colorado as the destination. So that would have us meeting the group up there if thats fine with everyone?

It will be my wife, our medium sized dog AKA Sancho the trail leader and I in the 80. We would seriously like to do any/all extra activites like rafting, hiking, snowing etc. We quickly glanced over the trails a few weeks ago and wer're wow'd by the scenery and cant wait to check it out, especially the back roads.
Tonight or tomorrow Im gonna sit down with the misses and check out all the details and nail down dates. What would be a good spot to meet up in CO? Im thinking some spot with cell phone reception and a good time window that the caravan will be stopped.

Ready!
Josh

[texastoy88]

Very Cool!! We would be glad to have you along. If there is any location on the schedule that looks good to you to meet up, just let me know. We can plan a stop to do something for a while till we meet up. I would definately suggest a spot with phone service, 2 years ago it took us over 24 hours to catch up with Panzer as he was in phone service when we weren't and we were in when he wasn't. We kept missing each other around the Alpine Loop between Silverton and Lake City and somehow he was always on the other side of the loop from us. I am guessing one of us should have stopped and waited.

It will be great having one more rig, so far it looks like only 4 including you. That is a nice sized group, shouldn't be too slow getting thru obstacles, or too big to fit into a small road side camp site.

Just let us know.

Are we there yet?

[texastoy88]

Some great anticing photos from Googleearth.

GSDNP...





Yorkville area...




Royal Gorge...



The Shelf Road..





Cripple Creek area mine..



Phantom Canyon Road...



Steel bridge on Phantom Canyon road..




Hayden Creek Road..



Lake on the way up to Marshal Pass..



Late Day 6 scenery..



Soap Creek Camp area (night 6)



Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, East Portal Road..





OK.. that's enough... If I don't have you drewling to go.. I give up.

[Panzer]

Originally Posted by texastoy88

I am guessing one of us should have stopped and waited.

You damn skippy somebody should have stopped and waited.
That said we still had a nice couple of days camping around the loop playing catch.

I was flying over Cinnamon Pass so fast trying to catch ya'll that my trailer spent most of the time hopping around behind me with only one tire on the ground.

We also picked up another straggler. Keith, I work with him at SWA, got an FJC over the summer and just installed his lift and tires. He is going to join us from DFW until Wednesday and then break off and drive to PHX to meet family.

CAS

[texastoy88]

Originally Posted by Panzer

You damn skippy somebody should have stopped and waited.

Angie and I were all up for slowing up and playing around, but we weren't in the lead. Of course, the landslide on the road up to Animas Forks didn't exactly do us any favors. From there we had to route around and over Stoney Pass which added a day to the route.

Excellent knews. Sounds great to have another rig along. Anyone else?

Might I suggest him taking Hwy 87 down from Winslow AZ down to Phoenix. Beautiful scenery.

[cool breeze]

Thanks for the warm welcome, we cant stop drooling over how perfect the weather in co is right now. This may be the trip that makes us move out of the heat, its just ridiculous now. We would like to spend a little time in either co springs or denver and check out the city life. I dont know if that would interest any of yall?

Is anyone taking their mtn bike? I'm working on a mount/rake or something right now so i can take mine to explore some of the non 4x4 trails. By internet shopping co is a must to bike so i know ill kick myself in the ass if i dont bring it.

[texastoy88]

Originally Posted by cool breeze

We would like to spend a little time in either co springs or denver and check out the city life. I dont know if that would interest any of yall?

Sorry, I can't speak for the rest of the folks going, but The city is what we are trying to get away from on this trip.

[TEXASLAWMAN]

Ye I have no intrest in the city! I do like the smaller mountain towns though. I have a mountain bike but not taking it the less manual labor the better!!!

[Panzer]

Camera, swimming trunks and maybe a fishing pole are the only recreational items I am bringing on this trip.
Hoping to have the bike carrier fabbed onto the trailer for the 2010 trip.

[cool breeze]

Yeah I thought the cities wouldn't be of interest to you old farts One day ill be there but until now we are working on killing our livers in as many places as possible, anyone like tequila? Ill be bring some good stuff from mexico
But I am definitely gonna try to bring my bike, the trails just look too good to pass up. Even if i have to ride solo I will, would be great if someone else rode though..hint hint.

[texastoy88]

Originally Posted by Panzer

Camera, swimming trunks and maybe a fishing pole are the only recreational items I am bringing on this trip.

x2. I may bring a single small pole with minor tackle, but this is a pack as lite as possible but have all the necessities.

[TEXASLAWMAN]

Originally Posted by cool breeze

One day ill be there but until now we are working on killing our livers in as many places as possible,

Ill be killing my liver at camp next to waterfalls lakes and streams and maybe the fire. Dont mind stopping at some small local bars but the kids kill that. Still not bringing my bike

Originally Posted by Panzer

Camera, swimming trunks and maybe a fishing pole are the only recreational items I am bringing on this trip.

Im bringing Good Michelle for recreation thats about it.

[TinStar]

Originally Posted by TEXASLAWMAN

Im bringing Good Michelle for recreation thats about it.

Wouldn't BAD Michelle be more fun for recreation?

[Panzer]

Originally Posted by TinStar

Wouldn't BAD Michelle be more fun for recreation?

Damn that's funny.

[texastoy88]

Are we there yet?

:bounce :

[TEXASLAWMAN]

Originally Posted by TinStar

Wouldn't BAD Michelle be more fun for recreation?

No Bad Michelle is Johns Brothers woman. Good Michelle will be much more fun for me!

[luvspatcher]

Originally Posted by texastoy88

Angie and I were all up for slowing up and playing around, but we weren't in the lead. Of course, the landslide on the road up to Animas Forks didn't exactly do us any favors. From there we had to route around and over Stoney Pass which added a day to the route.

Excellent knews. Sounds great to have another rig along. Anyone else?

Might I suggest him taking Hwy 87 down from Winslow AZ down to Phoenix. Beautiful scenery.

Thanks John. I just might do that time permitting. I also wanted to swing by Canyon de Chelly.

Keith