4th Annual 100s in the Hills - Ouray, Colorado: August 1-3 (2 Viewers)

[Cowboy59]

Last year the sponsors were there throughout the weekend. It might be kind of crowded if he shows up Friday night but in my opinion thats when most of the fun is had...unless you are Chris and have to clean out a bucket. LOL. If he does come on Friday make sure he brings some brews or some grub!!!!

 

[fireball]

@Get outside Did you get this Ham? Do you need an external antenna or can I just plug this in and listen in on the trails? Was at a TLCA event this past weekend with run groups with mix of Ham and CB, very frustrating not to be able to hear everything! I won't have a license in time, but just want a simple easy setup for this weekend. Thanks!

Not really the correct section to ask this but wanted to check with those attending to get some feedback!
I haven't got my license yet but wanted to buy a cheap hand held ham to bring over just to listen wile on the trails during HIH. I do have my cb in the truck btw. Found this one on amazon with a lot of happy people, what say you guys out there with hams? Get it or am I just waisting $?

List Price $108 - Amazon prime $31 Or is there some other better option that wont break the bank?

Baofeng UV5RA Ham Two Way Radio 136-174/400-480 MHz Dual-Band Transceiver
View attachment 913705

 

[Bloomer]

Anyone bringing a SWR meter and mind helping me tune in my CB/antenna before the trail runs? I got a new Firestik antenna last Christmas and have never had an opportunity to us it. Last year, I had the magnetic antenna on top of the land cruiser. Looking forward to having a decent antenna this year if I am able to get it tuned properly.

 

[Get outside]

@Get outside Did you get this Ham? Do you need an external antenna or can I just plug this in and listen in on the trails? Was at a TLCA event this past weekend with run groups with mix of Ham and CB, very frustrating not to be able to hear everything! I won't have a license in time, but just want a simple easy setup for this weekend. Thanks!

Funny you ask because I just ordered it tonight and will be here wednesday. I had ordered the programming cable and car charger already since it's a different vendor. There are a ton of good reviews about this little one and I figure it's worth a shot! If it sucks or I can't have it programed by then I'll just have my CB.

I still have a ton of work to do on the truck with only one week to go!

 

[paflytyer]

Sorry everyone...... it's been a busy few weeks for the directors. Jonathan and I were just in Ouray for the FJ Summit. I can assure you that all the trails are in great shape, the town is as beautiful as ever and Ironton Park campground is ready for a slew of 100s from across the lands to descend on her green grass.

A few updates are in order.

Trails: We will be setting up the trail list ASAP (hopefully by Monday 7/22). Similar to last year, you will get an email with a "survey" to pick your trails each day. You'll select 2 or 3 choices because we limit the number of vehicles on each trail at 10. Last year everyone got their first choices for each day. Poughkeepsie Gulch is the only trail where we have any requirements. If you choose that trail please have at least sliders, 33's and a winch or solid winch point. If it's wet or muddy, the wall is very difficult to climb and almost all of us had to winch up last year. Everything else is doable in a stock configuration. Please ensure you have a good spare that matches the size of your other 4 tires. Having 35's and a stock spare under the truck isn't being prepared. We will be driving on rough and rocky terrain and a puncture is always a possibility. There are MANY deer and elk in the area, so use caution on the roads. There is a sizable black bear population as well, but nothing to be overly concerned about. We still try to keep camp as clean as possible.

Food: The Potluck is Friday night. Bring a dish to share (anything is fine) and a favorite local microbrew for the beer table. (Can someone from the South bring me some Sweetwater Brown?) You can get as simple or as elaborate as you like. We don't need a food list, just bring whatever you can. Some folks last year just stopped at the Mountain Store in Ridgway and brought a few salad/hot box type items. Some others made dishes that will make you drool just thinking about. During your trail runs you can expect your trail leader to inform you of the plan. Generally, a trail that goes over the passes into Telluride will stop in town for a quick bite. These include Black Bear, Ophir and Imogene. Poughkeepsie, California and Clear Lake may either eat on the trail or run into Silverton for a bite. Breakfast is on your own each day, but it wouldn't be out of the question for your trail leader to suggest the night prior that the trail starts at the Backstreet Bistro in Ouray for coffee and an Imogene Omelet!

You can come and go as you please, but please let your trail leader know if you plan on splitting off from the group at any time. There are showers in town (which I always use, they're clean and easy) and food is available in Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride and Silverton. Fuel is cheapest in Ridgway right now. I generally air down on the first day and don't air up again until I head for home. YMMV, and there is free air in Silverton and Ridgway. The Hot Springs pool in Ouray is open and a great place for the family to have some fun. I think Jonathan and I have eaten at most places in the area and can recommend something in each town. Everything from bar food to family sit downs. These aren't late night towns though (except for Telluride), so you won't find much for food at 10pm.

Start upping your water intake now. Just this past week I was spotting for the FJ Summit on Black Bear and didn't have enough time to drink a lot of water. Eventually, my legs cramped up to the point where I couldn't walk. I spent 6 hours running up and down the trail and the altitude literally evaporated the water from my lungs. I ended up with a massive headache and my legs are still sore. Hydration is key. If you start feeling any signs of Acute Mountain Sickness, please let your trail leader know. Muscle cramps, bad headaches, dizziness, fainting, blurry vision..... these are early signs. You may have some trouble sleeping as well. Altitude effects everyone different and is based mostly on your genetic makeup and not your overall health. If you are a certified first responder or have medical training, that's another important piece of information for your trail leader to know. Colorado's Good Samaritan Law protects you in case you're called upon to help someone.

If you're nervous or become uncomfortable on the shelf roads, stop and let your trail leader know. This isn't a macho contest. Some of these trails are EXTREMLY narrow and require your utmost attention. If you've never driven anything like that before, being nervous is normal. Be safe and have fun and this will be a trip of a lifetime!

Here is a video of Black Bear that I made from this week. Enjoy and see you in Ouray!

 

[gearguywb]

Great video!

 

[Cowboy59]

Sweet video Stan! Find out today if I get to be there...

 

[NUKEM]

HAM Radio question: I do not have my HAM licence. I'm testing on Aug 8th, but have two new Baofeng GT-3 MarkII radios. Do I need to get a CB or can I communicate within the group on the HAM? Do we have a channel that we'll be transmitting/receiving on for this event? Sorry I came from the world of the two way radio... So much to learn

Who may a station licensee designate to be the control operator of an amateur station?
A. Any U.S. citizen or registered alien
B. Any family member of the station licensee
C. Any person over the age of 18
D. Only a person for whom an amateur operator/primary station license grant appears in the FCC database or who is authorized for alien reciprocal operation

 

[paflytyer]

You cannot transmit without a license until you've passed the test and your name appears in the database. You may listen, or you can even transmit in certain cases (when you have a Certified Radio Operator with you) but you cannot just buy a radio and start talking.

We ask that everyone abides by the FCC radio communications rules in this area. There is a group of us that will be on 2M for the event and communicating throughout the day. At a minimum, everyone should at least have a working CB, but a 2M radio is great for listening to the HAM chatter.

 

[NUKEM]

You cannot transmit without a license until you've passed the test and your name appears in the database. You may listen, or you can even transmit in certain cases (when you have a Certified Radio Operator with you) but you cannot just buy a radio and start talking.

We ask that everyone abides by the FCC radio communications rules in this area. There is a group of us that will be on 2M for the event and communicating throughout the day. At a minimum, everyone should at least have a working CB, but a 2M radio is great for listening to the HAM chatter.

Thank you, That's what I thought.

 

[fireball]

Well, I just bought a Ham. I have no idea how to use it. If anyone could be so kind as to stop on over and show me what to do with this thing sometime Thursday evening I will pay you in one of the most delicious currencies in America: ice cold beer. Maybe I'll park next to @Get outside and you can help us both?!

If that doesn't happen, @Bloomer and I will just talk back and forth on our antiquated CB radios!

 

[Bloomer]

Haha! Only if someone has a SWR meter and can help me tune it in.

 

[slimbuddha]

Haha! Only if someone has a SWR meter and can help me tune it in.

I'll bring one.. If I can find it.

 

[ntsaint]

I will talk w you guys on the CB. That's all I have.

@Bloomer even an untuned CB should be fine for HIH. Mine isn't tuned up and it was fine last year.


...via IH8MUD app

 

[Get outside]

I installed my cb with a firestick antena, tested and worked fine, never tuned anything and it did fine! I'll have it on as well.

The radio I just got is just for the listening part, after the night run in Idaho Springs last winter I realized even if I can't transmit I still want to know what tha heck is going on ahead of me on the trail!

I'll do all the testing when I have more time!

 

[paflytyer]

Communication:
For those of you worried about on trail communication..... just bring a CB and you'll be fine. If you've got a HAM radio but no license but want to listen, by all means bring that too. HAM radio is great if you have the time to take the test and get set-up. @nakman is well versed in amateur radio and can explain much more than I can. A CB is fine for what we're doing. The difference between the two is night and day though. For instance, I could easily talk 50 miles line of site with someone on top of Imogene or Black Bear with HAM radio. CB will maybe get a mile if you're lucky. But, even a 1/2 mile is plenty with just 10 trucks on the trail. That's all you need.

Agenda:
Most folks will arrive sometime on Thursday. I plan on being there early Thursday morning to finalize a few things, so I will be in and out of camp most of the day. By Thursday night there will be a nice campfire going and a lot of good conversation. Food is totally up to you. Please do your best to bring a bundle of firewood if you can. We will have some, but we'll burn a good amount over the weekend. Most of the local gas stations will sell bundles for less than $5. The Ridgway Mountain Market sells it for sure. There are a lot of new folks this year, don't be shy and think that everyone knows everyone, this is our chance to put faces with forum names and by the time we're done, you'll have 35 or 40 new friends..... with real names. No one calls me paflytyer.

Friday morning your trail leaders will stage around camp sometime around 9am. We will let everyone know where to go. Remember, this isn't a 300 vehicle event, we'll all be mulling around chatting and getting ready, no one will get lost. You might line up earlier depending on your trail, but that will be finalized within the next few days. You will get a waiver to sign, your trail leader will have a brief meeting with you and explain the plan of the day. This will give you the opportunity to ask any questions or voice any concerns. If you're new to taking your 100 offroad and have questions, ask away! This is the absolute best opportunity to learn about your vehicle and build your confidence in driving on the trail. I guarantee that you will leave this event with a better knowledge of your 100, a better understanding of it's capabilities and a new found confidence in responsible off-highway travel.

The next two days will be pretty much the same. Sunday is usually the day where folks run a trail in the morning, then head for home or their next adventure.

Camp
@jonharis will load up a map to camp

 

[paflytyer]

Thanks ! That's very helpful. We are so looking forward to this trip! This will be my 3rd trip to Ouray & the first in the Land Cruiser. My 2001 Jeep Cherokee took every trail except the Wall on Poughkeepsie Gulch. It will be great to see how well the LC takes the trails. A guy I work with has a LX that Slee hooked up and a home in Telluride. I guess he didn't get singed up for this event but wanted to come by and meet the vendors/sponsors etc... Is this ok? If yes what day is best?

Please have him email us at info@100sinthehills.com

 

[Get outside]

So Stan, no fire bans this time around?

 

[paflytyer]

So Stan, no fire bans this time around?

Currently, there are no fire bans for our area.

 

[ntsaint]

Louisiana crew is rolling out 1 week from today!