Brighten the Sangres & Medano Pass Weekend Trip: June 20th-22nd
- Thread starter Fitzgerald
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just being a PIA, long day at work.
Bring work gloves, heavy trash bags, and a bow saw for cutting limbs. We were not allowed to have chainsaws while the forest service was present, but I see no reason not to use them on our own. Trying to remember if the picnic tables were green or brown in case anyone wanted to volunteer to bring paint and a couple cheap brushes. I think they were green. I still don't know if I'm making the trip or not. Time will tell.
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- #23
Good info. I'll try getting a hold of the FS guy again tomorrow.
Oops. Thought you were a "for sure". I've downgraded you to "maybe".
Travis, I have a call into the Westcliffe Work Center for info. The local paper, http://wetmountaintribune.com/index.asp, doesn't have anything on Brighten the Sangres. If you have a minute, give me a call @ 963-8012.
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- #25
Thanks for the info Darryl. I'll give Jeff a call in the morning.
I received a call from Jeff Outhier this afternoon. He said what we have already guessed, that The official "Brighten the Sangres" event is no more due the budget cuts and so forth. But, the forest service will be grateful for any cleanup we, CLC, can do. He knows that both Hermit and Rainbow need cleaning, and that due to snow, the road isn't passable to the lake on Hermit. In 10 days, it probably will be, he noted. We can put any trash in the dumpster at the FS work center, which is where we met last year - its next to a gas station, Conoco, I believe. I forgot to ask him if the FS could pony up a gallon or 2 of the FS brown paint for the picnic tables. I'll see if I can get an answer. What we need is CLC's most knowledgeable FS brown picnic table painter to step forward and wrangle this activity. Vic, what say you???
I asked about camping, and its available, but not at the fair grounds. There is a FS cg at the start of Rainbow, but its a $$ site. If any of you have been on these trails, you know that there are many locations suitable for camping. In fact there is a site area with several tables in need of paint...
We did Hermit last year, but I haven't been on Rainbow since 2010. That year we had a guided tour with a FS volunteer. Most interesting, as she was really into the history of the area. I will also ask Jeff about the use of chain saws. I can guess their position right now, but its a really good tool for clearing dead-fall.
I thought we had a little icon of a clapping smilie, this is my best applause to Darryl. Thanks for you efforts on the research, and to El Presidente' too. Great job guys. I sure as heck would have brought forest green paint. Lol.
I can bring one.
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- #33
Not sure I'm going to be able to make the whole weekend.My wife had one of her managers move out of state, so now she's scheduled herself to cover that weekend. I'm working on getting my in-laws to watch the kiddos (at least the 10 month old) so I can still make it. I'll let you guys know what's up ASAP.
Still working on trying to make it out for the whole weekend. Should hear back from my mom-in-law this weekend.
Sam, you guys going to camp Saturday night or all you going to make it a long day trip again like last year?
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- #35
OK, sounds good.
I received a call from Jeff Outhier at the Westcliffe Work Center this morning. He said the pesky, old-always-need-painted picnic tables were replaced with expanded metal ones several years ago, so no worries on painting them. He did say that the campground where they are needs the fire pits cleaned. And on chainsaws, he said he wouldn't be along to help with that. Soooo. I have found over the years a good bow saw makes short work of most dead fall encountered along the trail. With a good bow saw, there's no fuel can, no oil, no futzing with one that ran perfectly yesterday. Key word here is good.
Now to see if I can find some time to check on the antique, as Sam put it, maintenance wise. Even with nylon lock nuts on the drive shaft, it always loosens up and needs to be checked to be sure they are secure. I did put on a new u-joint after the run last year and haven't been under it since...
Now to see if I can find some time to check on the antique, as Sam put it, maintenance wise. Even with nylon lock nuts on the drive shaft, it always loosens up and needs to be checked to be sure they are secure. I did put on a new u-joint after the run last year and haven't been under it since...
Has a time and location firmed up yet? Is the main pass open all the way through. Was thinking of running the pass to meet everyone versus driving all the way around. Camping for the night? Made a prelim run up Blanca to Jaws1 and was clean and clear, albeit a bit bouncy. Didn't get to see if the gate is open at the dunes for Medano though.
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- #39
As I mentioned at tonight's meeting, I unfortunately will not be able to make the trip this month.
Have fun "Brightening" the Sangres without me.
Have fun "Brightening" the Sangres without me.
It's hermit pass where we will be doing clean up from what I understood. Looks like 2 from here and I am going up Thursday night to camp. We plan on meeting in westcliffe at 9am on Saturday at the shell gas station. We will be on cb Chanel 4. Not sure if medano is open as bush ducks .com shows it is closed on 5/18 but it may be. Blanca is open to lake camo as one of the jeeps on another forum I am on went at it alone and did some fly fishing up there and hammered them.
Hermit pass basically starts at westcliffe and with discussion with some the have been there before, they said the trail is blocked with snow most likely at the top. I hope this helps. I will camp Thursday,Friday,and Saturday nights.
Hermit pass basically starts at westcliffe and with discussion with some the have been there before, they said the trail is blocked with snow most likely at the top. I hope this helps. I will camp Thursday,Friday,and Saturday nights.