Back from Colorado

[clarkrw3]

Well we got back from Colorado last night (hope everyone going to Payette didn't get caught in horrible traffic there was miles of stopped traffic getting into Payson.) It was a long drive back from Crested Butte about 14hrs. This was a great if bittersweet trip. We had a good time and almost all of us got the stomach flu which seriously limited our exploration. We spent 4 days in Durango/Silverton/Ouray/Telluride and then drove to Crested Butte via Lake City and spent 3 mostly sick days in CB.
Also on the drive up my CV front drive shaft started going out getting increasingly loud from Shiprock to Durango. I haven't been very religious about greasing it, did grease it just before the trip but I had done too much damage. I took it out and found a lot of stiffness. This was Friday and so I put it back in and called/emailed/pm'd Christo. Well it got louder and after talking to Slee on Monday he sent me out another one to CB that was there for me when I arrived. Slee cautioned me that I didn't want it too cut loose under there and after Blackbear it was getting VERY LOUD and so we stopped in Telluride for lunch and I took it out and locked the central diff switch and went 2wd for the rest of the trip to CB. (I did check and couldn't find a drive line shop that was open or had parts.) After the new shaft it was smooth sailing.

DAY 1 On Sat we spent the day lazy and in the afternoon drove up to Clear Lake just outside of Silverton. Clear lake was Great....

Makalu testing the waters

 

[clarkrw3]

More from Clear lake
Cruiser enjoying the tundra

Day 2 Sunday was spent on the Historic Durango and Silverton train. My son loves trains and we all had a great day

 

[clarkrw3]

Liam and Emma had fun running around Silverton

Day 3 We got an early start and headed over to Black Bear pass. The plan was to do BB and Imogene pass but since the drive shaft went out and I took it out at Telluride and it was raining and the natives were restless we took the long way around and drove the black top back through Ouray.

 

[clarkrw3]

Finding out what the steps are about

My Dad and Mom finding out what the steps are about...and enjoying the white knuckle veiw

The infamous ROCK...now pushed to the outside but quite a squeeze

bridal veil falls....always wanted to climb this in the winter and never got the chance. But its beautiful anytime a year.

 

[clarkrw3]

Great views on the Road back "million dollar hwy"

Day 4 in RWD we headed off to Crested Butte via Silverton and Animas Forks and then over Engineer Pass and through Lake City

At Animas Forks we took a right rather than left and ended up on California Pass...

Wouldn't be CSC without getting lost right?

Well back to Animas

And up to Engineer

 

[a.mus.ed]

beautiful.

 

[clarkrw3]

Next just down from Engineer Pass we found our dream cabin

Then on to Lake City, a nice little town with very little food and LARGE NO DOG signs on all grass areas...so the dogs stayed in the back and the kids enjoyed the run of the town

Then on to Crested Butte and getting very familiar with the condo bathrooms. Emma started the trip just getting over being sick and My dad, wife and I ended the trip sick. My dad threw up for the first time since he was a sophomore in high school...so to say the sickness was bad is to put it mildly. We did get a short trip in in CB but not much, great town though. Got the drive shaft in and everything was smooth on the trip home. I may post some pics of CB once they are downloaded. But for the most part those three days were waisted

 

[clarkrw3]

Well I got some upload from CB

We took a short trip up Gunsight pass and found some water to play in.

do you notice anything odd about this photo?

My mom doing her first stream crossing....my dad wasn't up to driving.

she did GREAT

Even the OLD man enjoyed the water and trip Crom is going on 13

We kept an eye out for the locals and saw quite a few... we are happy to report none ended up in the engine bay...long story

The dogs finding uses for the new safety net

 

[FJ40LVR]

you notice anything odd about this photo?

Had to back up and hit it again?

 

[azrider]

looks like you had a great time minus the sickness. Makes me homesick seeing the pictures. I hope to do a lot of the trails you did once i get back home next year. You did miss out out on Payette, I did it with some great spotters and only bent up my stock front bumper a little on the side.

 

[clarkrw3]

Had to back up and hit it again?

The wife wanted a better angle for the camera...and well I always do what she says

 

[clarkrw3]

looks like you had a great time minus the sickness. Makes me homesick seeing the pictures. I hope to do a lot of the trails you did once i get back home next year. You did miss out out on Payette, I did it with some great spotters and only bent up my stock front bumper a little on the side.

It was fun!!! except for the sickness I love payette's and will have to make it up there maybe in september.

 

[azrider]

well if you ever want to go out wheelin let me know. After Payette I am 100% confident I can easily make it to Crown King, that will be my next run when I get a chance.

 

[DSRTRDR]

great pics


I remember driving the Million Dollar Highway back to AZ from a skiing vacation in Telluride - there was blinding snow, six extra hours added to an already long drive, only to see......................





























absolutely nothing

 

[DSRTRDR]

oh, the delays around Payson could have to do with the rodeo they were having - the stadium was packed from what I could see from the road....

we left town before it ended