Monthly trip, May 9th, Bishop’s Castle and the Ophir Creek area

[LCPilot]

Meet at the Coyote Coffee Den ( Coyote Coffee Cafe - https://www.coyotecoffeecafe.com/ ) in Penrose, Show up at 8:00 to eat a great breakfast. or arrive by 9:00 leave at 9:15 and then drive to Bishop Cast;e. Then explore nearby trails depending the groups decision.

Summary: 7 people on the trip. 107 man hours total.

 

[Goslow]

I plan to be there.

 

[InvertedDriving]

How's this area for a 200 series? Noted in my calendar to try and make it!

 

[TK470]

I’m planning on being there.

 

[TK470]

How's this area for a 200 series? Noted in my calendar to try and make it!

My guess is that the trails aren’t too difficult and a stock 200 should be good.

 

[Goslow]

Yes, it’s an easy trail system, mostly, and is good for most anything.

 

[SAS]

How's this area for a 200 series?

I viewed the guides to these trails on TrailsOffroad and I think we'll all be fine. Guides were published in '23 but have reviews from September '25 with no significant changes noted for trail conditions. All are rated "easy" or "moderate", with one exception, Burn Road (FS Road 395) rated "hard". It is optional because it's not a main route--it's a connector between other optional roads and the main road, Ophir Creek Road (FS 360).

We've been down that way as a club outing years ago; it's rocky bumpy but not difficult, low probability of breaking stuff. At that time, we visited the private wolf sanctuary Mission Wolf and that was definitely a unique experience.

Let me see if I can find the old trip report from that one!

EDIT: here's the link to the 2018 trip! April Trail Ride - Saturday 21st - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/april-trail-ride-saturday-21st.1053266/

 

[TK470]

I’m noticing that this storm coming through is supposed to add 12-16” of snow in the Sangres and the Wet Mountains. This could be a fun trip.

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[Goslow]

I was elk hunting in the Ophir Creek drainage when the October blizzard of 1997 hit. We had 2 feet of snow and it took us 3 days to get out and back to COS. I-25 was still closed after three days. We drove home through Florence and Penrose, as that was the only highway open.

 

[COS80]

I’m noticing that this storm coming through is supposed to add 12-16” of snow in the Sangres and the Wet Mountains. This could be a fun trip.

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I sure do wish I could join this one.

 

[TK470]

I sure do wish I could join this one.

I'm guessing we couldn't get you as a passenger yet?

 

[COS80]

I'm guessing we couldn't get you as a passenger yet?

No, not yet.

 

[TK470]

No, not yet.

Well, you’ll be missed. I hope the recovery is going well.

 

[LCPilot]

I'll be there with Pam. She thinks that her 4 day old new ankle will be good to go.

 

[InvertedDriving]

I'll be joining. Likely staying in the area to find somewhere to camp after for the night as well. Open to any suggestions, and anyone welcome to join!

 

[TK470]

I'll be joining. Likely staying in the area to find somewhere to camp after for the night as well. Open to any suggestions, and anyone welcome to join!

There are a couple of good turn offs from Greenhorn Mountain Road that would be fun to camp at. It might be a bit snowy up there though.

 

[Goslow]

And plenty of good campsites in the area we will be driving.

 

[TK470]

I believe the circled is Greenhorn Mountain and it looks like it has a good amount of snow!

 

[jsk]

I can't make this one, but I'll see you all in the next one

 

[ICD FJ40]

Im in, see you all in the morning.