Since we are on the topic of family days and easy routes, Cody and Cole have me leading the Group 1 (Easy) route on Thursday. I know that is before some of you get there. But for those who are there on Thursday and want a family-friendly route this would be a good one. Shrine, Weston and Boreas Passes can all be done with stock 200's. (In fact, most of it can be done in a Corolla.). There will be some washboarding at times and the east side of Weston Pass is bumpy (I wouldn't take a Corolla on that - not one I cared about.). There will be plenty of opportunities to make stops for photography, stretching the legs or finding a tree. Shrine Pass has a trailhead to a short walk to a lookout towards Mount of the Holy Cross. Before Route 6 was built in the 1940s, Shrine Pass was the primary route from Denver to Glenwood Springs. Weston Pass has a "waterfall" and plenty of history. In the late 1800s it was one of the busiest roads in Colorado and now you won't see more than a handful of vehicles while driving it. Boreas Pass was an old railroad grade and has a railroad museum at the top. Though a popular scenic drive out of Breck, the traffic should be less midweek. Google Maps says the route is 4 and a half hours of driving. (I can send you the Google Maps route.). But if anyone needs to bail part way or if the weather becomes a problem it is easy to get back to Breck between the 3 segments. I will have printed copies for the historical background on the routes. (Weston has roadside markers that map to brief historic vignettes along the route. Great for the kids to watch for.). Bottom line, if your family is only going to be there on Thursday or Friday and wants to do a family friendly route then feel free to join us.
