5/4 Trail Ride, anyone?

[COS80]

The northern gate is closed. The south end rangers aren't answering their phone, but I say we just pick a new trail.

 

[COS80]

How about Mosquito Pass?

 

[Goslow]

It will still be snowed in.

 

[COS80]

We are going to do Rainbow Falls. Meet for breakfast at Susie's Westside Cafe at 1686 S 21st St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 at 7:00am. Stop for gas and meet anyone who doesn't want breakfast at the Valero at 520 US-24, Woodland Park, CO 80863 around 8:15am, and depart for the trail at 8:30am (or immediately, if no one else confirms they're coming).

I hope to see you tomorrow!

 

[COS80]

This was a spectacular trip! It was just Vic and me (and my buddy Nathan riding shotgun). It was my first time to Rainbow Falls, and I love this trail - especially "Little Moab"! The run up to LM was relatively tame. There were a three other people in Jeeps, and we were watching each other run up and down different sections. Vic and I both conquered more than we thought possible, at least in part due to the Official Little Moab Measuring Rod.

 

[COS80]

First a COS-based Jeep club arrived with 10 or so vehicles, some of them pretty serious beasts. They told us they were shaking them down before heading to Real Moab next week. Then a bunch of ATVs, pick-ups, dirt bikes, and everything else arrived, until there were probably 30 vehicles.

 

[COS80]

Then the coolest of all arrived: eight brand-new Ineos Grenadiers. We started talking to some of them and learned it was an outing organized by the owner of Red Noland Ineos, and included owners and employees. One of them was a pre-production model, and they only started making them in 2023.

 

[COS80]

The driver of the dark blue one invited us to ride with him on his very first voyage down a real off-road obstacle. These things ride like a dream! Four-wheel independent suspension is like a couch. The interior was spectacular, with the best switchgear I've seen in eons - especially the overhead switch panel (which I regret not taking a picture of). The maroon one was the organizer's.

 

[COS80]

Wildflowers

 

[COS80]

One last pic. I forget what road this was, but we bailed on it at this point, because it just got worse from here.

 

[COS80]

One video

 

[Goslow]

Here are the switch panels in the INEOS.

 

[JoeCova]

Then the coolest of all arrived: eight brand-new Ineos Grenadiers. We started talking to some of them and learned it was an outing organized by the owner of Red Noland Ineos, and included owners and employees. One of them was a pre-production model, and they only started making them in 2023.

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I saw these last year on Eagle Rock, broke the steering, was very unimpressed. Great mall crawler though.

 

[Goslow]

Pics

 

[COS80]

I just learned that I misunderstood before, and the Ineos actually has solid axles.

Edit: I just configured one, just for fun... $97k!