Events/Trails LCDC 7 - Summer 2021 Official Thread

[Bias Rutus]

Hi guys... Just wanted to write a quick post letting you know I will be a first-timer to LCDC, coming from Mississippi with my wife and son, and we won't know another living soul there. So, I don't know how many of you are regulars, already know each other, are traveling with packs of friends, etc., etc., but if you don't mind, and you see some obvious noobs like walking around like lost puppies, please go out of your way to introduce yourselves. We'll be in the brand new, fully stock (except for KO2s), gray/terra 200 with no mods and a MS tag. Surely we won't be hard to find. So I look forward to meeting most of you, making a few new friends, and with a little luck, my wife will want to come back next year!

If no one has told you yet, I would suggest you leave your running boards at home. You can do a lot of trails totally stock with K02s and without running boards.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

That is awesome thank you! Not sure how many you have but we can put them in folks swag bags or have some at our welcome desk Wednesday night.

I'll PM you to see what works best.

 

[kcjaz]

Is it possible to UBER from Ouray to Telluride? I may have some folks with us that will be without a vehicle and don't want to ride along on BBP. I was thinking if I could get them to Telluride somehow on the highway, we could meet up there.

 

[kcjaz]

Looking for super easy but scenic trail on Wednesday morning. Trying to get a passenger "acclimated" before taking her on more challenging trails. Would also be interested in doing this with others. Was thinking Governor Basin or Clear Lake/Bandora Mine. Never been to this area, just reading in the book... Suggestions

 

[taccruiser97]

Clear Lake is not too bad. Another one I would recommend, very easy unless there has been a lot of rain, would be Last Dollar Road.

 

[indycole]

Is it possible to UBER from Ouray to Telluride? I may have some folks with us that will be without a vehicle and don't want to ride along on BBP. I was thinking if I could get them to Telluride somehow on the highway, we could meet up there.

Unlikely but you never know. It could very well be easier to rent a car in Montrose.

Looking for super easy but scenic trail on Wednesday morning. Trying to get a passenger "acclimated" before taking her on more challenging trails. Would also be interested in doing this with others. Was thinking Governor Basin or Clear Lake/Bandora Mine. Never been to this area, just reading in the book... Suggestions

Maybe Yankee Boy? It's rated as difficult in the most recent Wells book but I don't know why. There's the occasional rocky section and then the very end has a loose rock climb. You're rarely exposed to steep drops on Yankee Boy which is why I'd suggest it over even easier trails in the area. I'd actually consider that one over Governor despite the rating differential in the book. Last Dollar is also about as good as it gets in terms of scenery without any obstacles. As the other poster mentioned, though, it can get pretty squirrely when wet... especially the saddle a little over half way through.

Owl Creek Road is essentially a dirt/gravel road that goes up the Cimarrons and is incredibly scenic. It's near Ridgway.

 

[Markuson]

Looking for super easy but scenic trail on Wednesday morning. Trying to get a passenger "acclimated" before taking her on more challenging trails. Would also be interested in doing this with others. Was thinking Governor Basin or Clear Lake/Bandora Mine. Never been to this area, just reading in the book... Suggestions

LastDollar is a nice detour between Ouray side and Telluride side.

Clear Lake is a gorgeous drive as you make the main ascent/switchbacks.

 

[indycole]

LastDollar is a nice detour between Ouray side and Telluride side.

Clear Lake is a gorgeous drive as you make the main ascent/switchbacks.

I'd hold your horses on Clear Lake, unfortunately. The clean-up project due to the Ice Lakes fire was pushed back. We're awaiting confirmation from the USFS but both Clear Lake and Bandora Mine may not be open this year. This is quite a bummer as I was planning on running Clear Lake after Poughkeepsie on Thursday. We also have a dedicated Clear Lake trail day planned on Saturday.

 

[Markuson]

I'd hold your horses on Clear Lake, unfortunately. The clean-up project due to the Ice Lakes fire was pushed back. We're awaiting confirmation from the USFS but both Clear Lake and Bandora Mine may not be open this year. This is quite a bummer as I was planning on running Clear Lake after Poughkeepsie on Thursday. We also have a dedicated Clear Lake trail day planned on Saturday.

Well dang… That's too bad. Easy & gorgeous…

One of my all time favorite Ouray photos comes from the trail heading up to Clear Lake…

 

[laserturbo91]

First time for my wife and I as well. Might be crazy but I’m planning to disperse camp the whole time we’re there. Any suggestions on where we can set up each night would be greatly appreciated.

Not crazy at all. That’s all I’ve done for the two other times I’ve been out for LCDC and will be doing it again this year. It’d be a little bit of a hike but just south of Telluride is Alta Lakes, a dispersed campground at 10k feet. For closer to the official LCDC town this year, it looks like there is dispersed camping along a road just before the Amphitheater campground.

 

[kcjaz]

I work at onX and will be joining you all in Ouray. We will be offering all LCDC '21 drivers a free six-month subscription to the Offroad product. A little closer to the event we will send individual promotion codes by email to each driver, so please stay tuned!

Hey @dntlflosstycoon, did the promo codes go out yet? I did t see an email yet and want to make sure that I just didn’t miss it.

 

[Icangetstuck]

I have a camping spot at the ouray koa that I need to cancel. 26th-1st. Let me know if someone wants it and we can try to see if it can be transferred.

30amp back in, water & electric

 

[Ratchey]

I just cancelled my room at the Ouray Inn from Monday to Monday. Not sure how long it will be available but if anyone is interested it might be worth a shot.
I also had to cancel the trip. Just found out I was laid off today. Hopefully someone on the waiting list still has the opportunity to join.
Have a great time everyone.

 

[tincan45]

Ice Fire! I know the San Juans are Majestic, but that's some Games of Thrones stuff I'd really like to see.

 

[molanginaeda]

Currently, Imogene is closed due to rain storm.

 

[txtortoise]

Is the Imogene closure a multi-week issue for road crews?

if booked for Imogene should we change trails or tread water a bit?

 

[indycole]

Is the Imogene closure a multi-week issue for road crews?

if booked for Imogene should we change trails or tread water a bit?

I’d highly recommend staying in your Imogene group if booked. It’d be unusual, but not impossible, for something like this to last very long.

We have a number of audibles to pull from if needed but will wait at least until the event make any changes if needed.

 

[molanginaeda]

Thanks @indycole for the info.

My post on imogene closure is just an update for today weather related problem. Summer storm weather in Ouray is very common.

This condition will not reflect next week schedule. The road crew for Ouray County will be working on reopening the trail ASAP or provide update info.

 

[unclemat]

On our way to our first LCDC! (in Pittsburgh, PA now) Finally. Had to cancel last year. Our schedule was again crazy (moving next month), and there was a good chance we would had to cancel again.

Planned to take our new 2021 HE, but ran out of time to get it ready - wanted at least to install sliders and skids.

So driving the 2015 which has skids/sliders already. The snag is I just found out the rear suspension is sagging and we are hitting bump stops more than we should. Surprised me since only recently we went on a 2000 mile trip with similar amount of load and while I could feel extra load it wasn't too objectionable. Unloaded the truck was perfectly normal. Carrying wife, two teenagers and some camping gear. Nothing crazy. I suppose the rear springs reached the too tired point though the truck has only 71k miles.

Will go light on trail as much possible so hopefully it won't be too much of an issue - also signed up for easier LCDC trails anyway.

We will arrive in Moab Tuesday and stay there until the event. Have this thought, a long shot, but maybe there is someone in the area who has low mileage stock springs taking shelf space? I would try to find a shop where I could get them installed before the event and for our return trip.

I might call Slee and see if they can help. Perhaps I should just throw on some Old Emu springs anyway.

Huge thank you to @RobW0 for the free rear stock springs I picked up along the route! Just arrived in Moab, UT.

Now I am wondering if I am simply running too heavy for the stock springs? I stopped on a state scale and was told ~7300 lbs. with nearly empty tank. Right at GVWR! I have no idea how accurate those scales are. Feels high.

So I have BudBuilt sliders and skids - mix of aluminum/steel. Per Bud's specs that's total of 333 lbs. But bunch of stock parts are removed, I'd think that's closer to 300 lbs net. No other mods on the truck except wheels - Rock Warriors with 285/70/17E KO2s. Maybe 40 lbs. over stock. Let's round up to ~350 lbs of extra equipment over stock. Passengers are ~600 lbs. Assuming the offical 5765 lbs. curb weight of 2015 200 series. 7300-5765-600+120 = ~700 (120 lbs to account for empty tank, as I believe curb weight includes weight of fuel). Hard to believe I am hauling 700 lbs. of camping gear. Well, that would include the extra springs, but still...

Even if 7300 lbs. was accurate, the 200 should not behave like crap on expansion joints and hit bump stops, so I am inclined to believe my springs are worn, though there are several reports of folks complaining about stock suspended 200's lack of ability to carry weight.

I am really confused since only recently I carried really similar load... one light passenger less (~120 lbs) and it wasn't nearly as bad.

So I am really wondering now if I should even bother replacing the springs with stockers, or just wait and upgrade them to something heavier. 2015 is meant to be the "mild cruiser", while the new 2021 is to be built, so the plan was to keep it mostly as-is (keeping sliders and "downgrading" all skids to aluminum).

I am inclined to swap in the new stockers to see what happens - can anyone recommend a shop around Moab for such a job?

 

[unclemat]

Yes, original shocks. 73k miles now. Damping feels ok to me - softish, but not overly bouncey. I planned on replacing them with takeoffs from the 2021 to "refresh", did not feel that's needed right away.

It just when we hit bump stops where things are unpleasant (as expected) and due to the sag it's not that hard to hit them. Now I unloaded the rig (haven't driven yet) and it sits kinda low. Want to say lower than before we headed out, and perhaps leaning towards driver. Don't have tape measure to take measurements and compare.

Thanks on the reminder on the KDSS valves!

Anyway, I should stop hijacking this thread with my suspension woes. Really wish I had more time to prepare....