Events/Trails Cruisers on the Rockies: Silverton July 24-28 2024 -- SOLD OUT!!!!

[imhighlander]

I used to do a lot of gnarly trails in my triple locked 80 but when I picked up a clean, low mileage 100 LC I "promised" my wife my wheeling days were behind me. Other than larger tires (285s) my 100 is bone stock, which does apparently include a rear LSD from the factory.

Will there be easy/ laid-back scenic trails planned, or is CROCKIES going to focus on the more hard core trails for built rigs?

 

[splashflash]

I used to do a lot of gnarly trails in my triple locked 80 but when I picked up a clean, low mileage 100 LC I "promised" my wife my wheeling days were behind me. Other than larger tires (285s) my 100 is bone stock, which does apparently include a rear LSD from the factory.

Will there be easy/ laid-back scenic trails planned, or is CROCKIES going to focus on the more hard core trails for built rigs?

Your 285s should be fine, I would recommend taking off the running boards though if they're still on. The trails are more scenic than difficult

 

[marcfj60]

I used to do a lot of gnarly trails in my triple locked 80 but when I picked up a clean, low mileage 100 LC I "promised" my wife my wheeling days were behind me. Other than larger tires (285s) my 100 is bone stock, which does apparently include a rear LSD from the factory.

Will there be easy/ laid-back scenic trails planned, or is CROCKIES going to focus on the more hard core trails for built rigs?

There are plenty of trails around Silverton/Telluride/Ouray that are not hardcore, based on my experience from the predecessor event that was called Hundreds in the Hills. I've led many of the milder trails in my stock suspension 100-series with 285s. Although, removing of the factory running boards would be a good idea. Even better would be installation of some sliders but it's not necessary.

 

[geo5]

Hey Y’all- is on-site camping typically included with Crockies?
Rocky Mountain Toyota Roundup is happening same area 7/23-26, no on-site camping, so I want to get lodging sorted sooner rather than later if no site camping for Crockies.

 

[ga12r1]

Hey Y’all- is on-site camping typically included with Crockies?
Rocky Mountain Toyota Roundup is happening same area 7/23-26, no on-site camping, so I want to get lodging sorted sooner rather than later if no site camping for Crockies.

Yeah. Primitive camping is included with Crockies registration in a large field at Crockies HQ. The camping area will be right next to all the group activity's and dinners.
We will be in Silverton. RMTR will be close to ridgeway. So we may cross on trails every now and then but shouldn’t really affect each other too much

 

[geo5]

Awesome thanks @ga12r1 , Not too worried about the FJs lol, lots of room to spread out.

 

[ga12r1]

I will be adding some new info to the cruisersontherocks.com website this week. In the meantime here is a copy of the January COTR Newsletter with a tentative Crockies schedule:


Hey guys! 2024 is here and planning for all three COTR events is well underway!

Cruisers on the Rockies 2024 "The Maiden Voyage" (Crockies)
Cruisers on the Rockies 2024 is probably the most anticipated COTR event this year. Crockies is set for July 24-28 in Silverton, Colorado. HQ and group camping will be at the Kendall Mountain Recreation Center in Silverton. The format for the event will be very similar to Cruisers on the Rocks held at Windrock Park in Tennessee. We plan to take everything the has been successful at COTR and move it west, while adding some exciting new activities too. Here's a preliminary schedule:

Wednesday
2pm: Check-in and camping open
7pm: Welcome Party and Cookout

Thursday
730-830am: Breakfast for all
745-930am: Guided Trail Rides depart
6pm: COTR Swap Meet

Friday
730-830am: Breakfast for all
745-930am: Guided Trail Rides depart
6pm: Potluck Dinner
730pm: Group Activity TBD

Saturday
730-830am: Breakfast for all
745-930am: Guided Trail Rides depart
6pm: Southern Style BBQ Dinner
730pm: Driver Raffle

Sunday
Clean up and Depart by 11am

The Kendall Mountain Recreation Area is at the base of Kendall Mountain and features a huge lodge and meeting facility surrounded by a large field for camping. The lodge has plenty of space inside for our group breakfasts, dinners, and raffle plus a huge wraparound deck that we will use for activities and the Welcome Party. The deck looks out over the field where primitive camping will be provided for all attendees Wednesday-Sunday. From the Recreation Area it's only a 1-minute drive or 5-minute walk to downtown Silverton, making it super easy to explore the historic city or find supplies or groceries at Silverton Hardware or Silverton Grocery.

Along with all the group activities at Crockies, we will also have guided trail rides leaving out each morning. We will be offering a choice from at least 10 different runs each day, giving everyone the opportunity to experience the world famous trails while also learning proper trail etiquette and Tread Lightly practices.

Everything regarding the Kendall Mountain facility is set and we are currently working with federal agencies to secure all the necessary and proper permitting for the guided trail runs. Once permitting is in place, we will open up registration for the event in late March or early April. Look for more info next month!

COTR Trail Cleanup Day 2024
Before the big events of Cruisers on the Rockies 2024 and Cruisers on the Rocks 4, there's the FREE COTR Trail Cleanup Day. We are currently looking at March 16th at a location in North Georgia. We plan to meet in the morning and supply participants with trash bags so they can then explore the trails in the area on their own while picking up trash along the way. We will meet up again in the afternoon to gather the trash and have some fun! That evening we will be serving BBQ fresh off the smoker along with plenty of beverages. Everyone that brings back a bag of trash from the trail will get a ticket to drop on some awesome prizes we will be drawing for after the dinner. After the drawing we will be staying late to hang out, swap stories, and tell lies. It's gonna be a blast! Final details will be going out early next month.

Cruisers on the Rocks 4 "The Fantastic Fourth"
Dates for COTR4 are October 24-27 at Windrock Park in Tennessee and registration will open early July. We are really excited about this year and have some awesome plans! Since we had so much fun dressing up for the 60s and 70s theme at COTR3 and since we are so close to Halloween, we've decided to make this year's Thursday Night Welcome Party and Cookout a full-blown costume party! We are also working on adding a few more competitions and activities to this year's event. Another addition to COTR4 will be several interesting new trail runs. Even though we are 10 months out, it's hard not to get excited!

It's gonna be a busy year for the COTR crew and we are so glad to have you guys on board! We can't wait to see you soon!

Lee



PS: I've attached a few photos of the Kendall Mountain Lodge and the camping area.

 

[ga12r1]

FREE tickets to the March 16 COTR Trail Cleanup Day “Cleanup on the Rocks” are now available at cruisersontherocks.com. Due to space at Warwoman Dell the number of tickets are limited! Make sure to get yours today!!! More info is available on the registration page. If you have any questions feel free to ask them here!

 

[ga12r1]

I know a lot of you guys out west aren't very familiar with our East Coast event "Cruisers on the Rocks" so thought I would add a few pictures from last October's Cruisers on the Rocks 3 "The Trip".

COTR3 was a 100 truck event limited to 100 and 200 Series only. In addition to guided trail runs we had a 60s and 70s themed ("The Trip") welcome party and cookout, Potluck Dinner, Dissent Off-Road Cornhole Tournament, hot breakfast every morning with sausage, bacon, and eggs for everyone, Swap Meet, and a BBQ Dinner(cooked overnight onsite by COTR Trail Leader Matt Bowling) and Raffle. We plan to take all of this out west and add even more fun activities!

We run some awesome trails but the most important part of the COTR events are the people. So I'm not including any truck and trail pics(we see plenty of those everyday), just pics of the people part of the event.

I can't wait to see everyone again this July and October!!

Trail Leader Group Shot at Welcome Party and Cookout

My wife and my mother. The two ladies that make the events happen.(and me as Leevel Knievel)

Potluck Dinner

 

[ga12r1]

Dissent Off-Road Cornhole Tournament

Winner and 2nd Place

 

[ga12r1]

Pork Butts coming off the COTR smoker after cooking all night

125 Chicken Thighs going on the COTR Cooker

Pitt Master and COTR Trail Leader Matt Bowling after pulling and all nighter

 

[Trapper50cal]

Elvis AND Evel Knievel??? That's special gathering right there!

 

[ga12r1]

Shots from COTR Drivers Raffle

 

[marcfj60]

Looks like a great time was had by all!

 

[ga12r1]

For guys unfamiliar with COTR events we us SCHED for online trail signups and also for event scheduling. We do sign ups a few weeks before the event and everyone is able to pick the runs they want and also change runs up until the run starts. We also give a description of the trail, whose leading, primary and backup radio channels and frequencies, meetup coordinates, and a difficulty level. On the event side we also give times and sign ups for activities, workshops, and dinners. There is no requirement to sign up for activities and dinners to attend but we do require trail signups.
Sched is easily accessible on a desktop or any mobile device.
Once registration is over I also send out a series of emails over several weeks to attendees to explain what to expect, how to prepare, what the difficulty levels mean, and other info.
Here's a link to the SCHED schedule fore last Octobers COTR3. Makes sure you check it out!

Cruisers on the Rocks Schedule

Check out the schedule for Cruisers on the Rocks

cruisersontherocks2023.sched.com

 

[ga12r1]

All COTR events use GMRS/FRS for trail communications. I believe that proper trail coms are important not only for overall enjoyment of a run but for safety as well. We wanted to make sure that good communiuctaion is available to everyone without licensing, tuning, or high price. GMRS/FRS fits this requirement perfectly.
Primary and backup channels and frequencies for each run are posted on SCED at least 2 weeks prior to the event so all participants have the opportunity to program and test their radios if necessary. Participants will know the channels and frequencies they will be running each day of the event well in advance so there are no surprises.
It's worked great at every COTR event!
Here's a little article Midland Radio did about trail communications at COTR3:

GMRS Two-Way Radios Bring Communication to Cruisers on the Rocks

Discover how GMRS two-way radios are revolutionizing communication for Cruisers on the Rocks. Learn why Midland's reliable radios are a game-changer.

midlandusa.com

 

[marcfj60]

Dang it. Now I have to buy a third radio to go with my CB and HAM.

 

[ga12r1]

Dang it. Now I have to buy a third radio to go with my CB and HAM.

Yeah. I hear ya Marc. Most all our trail leaders carry extra handhelds to hand out (I carry 5). As a trail leader though it’s nice to have a higher wattage unit mounted in the truck.
I’ve actually been on Ophir and able to communicate with leaders on the steps of Black Bear with us both using 40w units on simplex.
And CB will just not cut it in the hills and hollers of the east coast.
We usually work out a discount code for anyone needing a new radio or wanting to upgrade after registration too

 

[geo5]

Dang it. Now I have to buy a third radio to go with my CB and HAM.

Just throwing this on here:

 

[marcfj60]

Yeah. I hear ya Marc. Most all our trail leaders carry extra handhelds to hand out (I carry 5). As a trail leader though it’s nice to have a higher wattage unit mounted in the truck.
I’ve actually been on Ophir and able to communicate with leaders on the steps of Black Bear with us both using 40w units on simplex.
And CB will just not cut it in the hills and hollers of the east coast.
We usually work out a discount code for anyone needing a new radio or wanting to upgrade after registration too

I got the CB for trail coms with my local club close to 20 years ago. It was fine for small groups close together. But then when I started going to larger gatherings, the HAM advantage became clear. But it's a big hurdle for folks new to the sport. I never went all in with a mobile base station. I just have a handheld. If ~$150 - $200 gets me something with great range and capability to communicate with anyone with a wide range of GMRS/FRS radios, I'll do it. I'll just whine about it a little bit. I was just looking at the 275 thinking it might be the sweet spot.