Basically, I'd like to try a different trail each day, start off with some easier trails and drive any trails that might have some good fishing opportunities. My Guide to Colorado Backroads and 4-Wheel-Drive Trails says Clear Lake is great for fishing.
It's definitely not great for fishing, but you can catch a few smallish fish. (See above, I posted about Clear Lake the other day)
I scouted out some new fishing spots/possible HIH trails this week. More to come on that.
Current Area Conditions:
-Clear Lake is still blocked by snow and the lake still has ice.
-Poughkeepsie Gulch opened on Thursday and there was a roll-over on The Wall on Friday. Be careful and watch your spotter.
-Black Bear is open all the way and is in pretty good shape. There are some very deep ruts and mud holes just past the summit. Some are deep enough that you'll drag bottom and hit your bumpers. The large rock on the 4th switchback that pushed you towards the edge has been removed. The 2nd switchback is a little more narrow this year (Yikes). The Steps are in good shape and I led a group down in the rain with no issues. You will slide about 3 feet in one area. Watch your spotter and for the love of everything, TURN OFF YOUR LOCKERS while descending and making tight turns. I watched a Jeep very nearly roll because they had their front locker on. Then, the axle snapped because they tried to navigate a switchback while locked. When they tried to get out via 2wd, they promptly broke a u-joint. Done...
With that being said, unless you or your passengers are deathly afraid of heights, please join me for a Black Bear run. It is the one trail that you do not want to miss. The group I led down yesterday had very little experience (except for my tail gunner who has been wheeling with
@spressomon for years, 'nuff said). Some were barely built and everyone did an amazing job and took every hard line.
Dan, Big P was a great trail partner and I'm looking forward to traveling with him again.
-Imogene and Ophir are open and clear. The water on Imogene is still pretty deep.
-Soup or Secret is clear and open
There is still a fair amount of snow up high and the flowers are just starting to pop. It has rained for a little while every day. Black Bear had some very nasty lightning yesterday. Please stay in your vehicle during a lightning storm, especially when we're above tree-line. No photo is worth the risk. People are killed every year here from lightning strikes above tree-line. It's still pretty chilly at night, be prepared for 40 degrees or less.
There has been more bear activity this year than in previous years. A bear ripped open a few tents in a relatively clean camp near Ouray (about 100 yards from my camp) The only food item they had left out was a small bag of coffee beans. The bear destroyed that tent, ate the beans, then tore the other tent apart. I do not expect us to see a bear in our camp, but please keep your area clean.
EDIT: It also helps that
@bluecruiser stays up around the fire until 3 or 4am, so that's a good bear deterrent. Honestly, I would be amazed if we had a bear in our camp. I have been camping in a very primitive area where 4WD is required just to reach. Ironton is not really a bear haven and I bet we could leave honey sandwiches out all night without issue. But, please don't test that theory.
and the stream near camp is full of minerals. 
