CLC April 2015 Run - Texas Creek : Saturday 25th
- Thread starter Fitzgerald
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Okay, I'm out. Fishing stories are way too hot. Trying to tie as many flies as I can right now.
Luke dropped the CO2 tank at my house so if somebody wants it you can swing by. Get a hold of me so I know to leave it out. Have fun!
Luke dropped the CO2 tank at my house so if somebody wants it you can swing by. Get a hold of me so I know to leave it out. Have fun!
for tarpon you would get lots of credit, steelhead would be a close second. Hope to get my 40 going. Probably just old fuel or no fuel.On the North side of the river. I camped in my filth wheel trailer over there is years past.
Just rolled into super 8 in fountain, will be there tomorrow. Hope there is some challenging sections.
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- Jan 15, 2011
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- Pueblo West, CO
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- kyle-landcruiser.blogspot.com
if anybody heads through Pueblo West this afternoon and wants to check out the FJ40...let me know! Wish I could join in, but working all night means sleeping in the morning...
Saturday morning, several of us met at the alternate rally point for a trip down to Texas Creek. Sam had scouted the area in previous week(s) so we knew what to expect--some pin-stripes and big panoramic views! Sam, Reed, Doug and I met in Springs, and Vic would meet us at the intersection on HWY 50.
Reed had blown a trailer tire coming down to Springs the previous night. Doug took him to get that serviced, while Sam and I departed for Texas Creek.
We arrived and found Vic waiting for us; not too long afterwards, Reed and Doug pulled up so we all proceeded to the trail-head; air down, final checks, commo, etc.
The group took Trail 6040, stopping a couple of times to inspect a mine (barricaded but visible through the metal bars) and to take in the view of a scenic overlook (or dozen).
6040 meanders north in a wide sand/gravel wash; as you gain elevation, the wash narrows but at no point did it seem fewer than several meters. The wash goes east/northeast but 6040 takes to the hills, and we begin to climb. There are a few switch-backs, but the trail is easy to moderate.
We arrived at the intersection of 6040 and a spur, 6056, which descended rapidly and put us on a north-facing slope. We found some snow here, but only in small patches across the trail, so it was easy to cross. At the 'bottom' was the intersection of 6056 and T6057A/T6062, which both exclude trucks. This area is relatively flat and sunny, making it a great site to break for lunch.
The group climbed back to 6040 and proceeded to a dead-end on 6040C. We took a short break there, and decided to ride 6040A, which is the northern-most trail in the system.
Going 'in' to 6040A was the most narrow portion of the trail; this resulted in a lot of pin stripes, and cringing sympathetically for anyone who cares about such things. There was one point on the trail where we figured it may pose a challenge coming back 'out'. This point is a near-90* turn with a dirt shelf where either the snowmelt collects, or as we later suspected, is where a natural spring surfaces. Due to no stone/gravel here, it became very soft, very quickly. Five trucks went in, but only the first two out made it without the winch. By the time the third truck attempted to pass, it had become too soft.
Doug's 40 was the first victim. He literally smoked the Warn VR-8000 winch. Enter the grandaddy of winches, Vic's 8274.
My FJ60 required some extra creative recovery techniques. Vic was adjacent to me on the dry ground. He 'deadman' anchored his 40 to a tree behind him, and ran his cable to an anchor tree and tackle/block back to my front bumper. Reed parked his 80 beyond the tackle/block tree and made a straight-line pull to my front bumper.
At this point, we proceeded back to 6040 and then down to the trailhead. Since there was plenty of light remaining in the day, Reed and Vic stopped to 'flex' on some rocks in the broad wash. Then back at the trail head we aired-up, inspected our trucks for damage/driving hazards. From here we parted ways, until next time.
Reed had blown a trailer tire coming down to Springs the previous night. Doug took him to get that serviced, while Sam and I departed for Texas Creek.
We arrived and found Vic waiting for us; not too long afterwards, Reed and Doug pulled up so we all proceeded to the trail-head; air down, final checks, commo, etc.
The group took Trail 6040, stopping a couple of times to inspect a mine (barricaded but visible through the metal bars) and to take in the view of a scenic overlook (or dozen).
6040 meanders north in a wide sand/gravel wash; as you gain elevation, the wash narrows but at no point did it seem fewer than several meters. The wash goes east/northeast but 6040 takes to the hills, and we begin to climb. There are a few switch-backs, but the trail is easy to moderate.
We arrived at the intersection of 6040 and a spur, 6056, which descended rapidly and put us on a north-facing slope. We found some snow here, but only in small patches across the trail, so it was easy to cross. At the 'bottom' was the intersection of 6056 and T6057A/T6062, which both exclude trucks. This area is relatively flat and sunny, making it a great site to break for lunch.
The group climbed back to 6040 and proceeded to a dead-end on 6040C. We took a short break there, and decided to ride 6040A, which is the northern-most trail in the system.
Going 'in' to 6040A was the most narrow portion of the trail; this resulted in a lot of pin stripes, and cringing sympathetically for anyone who cares about such things. There was one point on the trail where we figured it may pose a challenge coming back 'out'. This point is a near-90* turn with a dirt shelf where either the snowmelt collects, or as we later suspected, is where a natural spring surfaces. Due to no stone/gravel here, it became very soft, very quickly. Five trucks went in, but only the first two out made it without the winch. By the time the third truck attempted to pass, it had become too soft.
Doug's 40 was the first victim. He literally smoked the Warn VR-8000 winch. Enter the grandaddy of winches, Vic's 8274.
My FJ60 required some extra creative recovery techniques. Vic was adjacent to me on the dry ground. He 'deadman' anchored his 40 to a tree behind him, and ran his cable to an anchor tree and tackle/block back to my front bumper. Reed parked his 80 beyond the tackle/block tree and made a straight-line pull to my front bumper.
At this point, we proceeded back to 6040 and then down to the trailhead. Since there was plenty of light remaining in the day, Reed and Vic stopped to 'flex' on some rocks in the broad wash. Then back at the trail head we aired-up, inspected our trucks for damage/driving hazards. From here we parted ways, until next time.
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Very scenic! Looks like you guys had a great time.
The mud was fun. Even though my rig could tackle tougher trails the banter between the gents of CLC made this trail a ton of fun. We learned how to talk "proper trucker" on the radio, had to double line Tracy's 60 out of the sinkhole, watched a Warn VR 8000 winch self destruct (albiet it gave a valiant effort) and Vic and I were able to flex it up pretty good on the end.
Here is the lunch spot
Here is the lunch spot