Mt Blanca...Finally! (1 Viewer)

[BionicCruiser]

well, i finally got to go. we arranged to go with the NM4Wheelers. Brandon Roby was leading. Jill, the boys and I caravaned out with him Friday afternoon, us towing the 40 and it's offroad trailer and Brandon in his bobbed mini. everyone else was to meet us at the trail head Saturday morning. on Saturday morning the 8 or 9 vehicles he anticipated didn't show. just us 2. 20 mins before leaving 2 trucks came down the trail and out. we were later to find out they were taking out the body of a hiker that fell with no real injuries, but was stuck out overnight for 2 nights. he was only prepared for a day hike. died of exposure.
we started up the trail and ran into many backpackers, several gave us thumbs up and all were civil. we tried to be as respectful as possible too. my tranny was getting hot, so we added a quart. the steep road wasn't letting the pick up get any fluid. the first obstacle- Jaws 1. Brandon shows me the line and drives it with me rocking his bumper to unstick the touching frame. my shorter wheelbase made it easier for me, but i kept slipping off a rock after the main obstacle. it wasn't bad and i could have backed up a few more times to get to the other side of it, but Brandon just strapped me anyway. the trail wasn't to bad, mostly shale and loose rock from fist to head size.

 

[BionicCruiser]

Jaws 2 is the exposed one. the line is as close to the uphill side as possible to keep the off camber to a minimum which tilts toward a steep drop of over 100 feet(more like 200). Brandon took a couple tries at it and made it over. my first try the front end slid off the rock to the downhill side and stopped off camber enough to make me pucker for a second. then just backed off no problem and tried again. second attempt the back end slid over. no tilting, but now i was far enough off line to take the strap. i have good video of that, but no pics. just one of Brandon.

 

[BionicCruiser]

Jaws 2.5 wasn't too bad. Brandon goes right over. i figured i have a shorter wheelbase and try a different line. i should have gone full left or full right (hind sight ). in the middle i hung the rear diff. after 3 tries i got it stuck front and back of the diff, both tires basically off the ground. the high lift came out and we tied the axle to the frame, jacked it up and stacked rocks. i backed off and finally made it up under my own power.

 

[BionicCruiser]

Jaws 3 we both drove right up and i didn't even realize it was a major obstacle (thus no pics). time for lunch. a few of the backpackers passed us while we ate. Jill offered some of them fresh brownies. PR at it's best!
on the next section we ran into another vehicle coming down. this was a very narrow road. the other driver was able to nose up the hill enough to let us by. Whew! next up was a short jaunt to the lake. it's right at tree line, just under 12k feet. we had started at 7600 feet. quite a climb for about 3 miles.
we found a camp spot, set up and took a little hike around the lake and to Jaws 4. it didn't look too hard. about the same as what we had already done. a cabin sits next to the lake and we found a full set of good shape TJ fender flares. why were these just sitting here? we took them to clean up a leave no trace (and that's what i have on my 40 rears).

 

[BionicCruiser]

Brock started feeling sick after dark, and was the same the next morning, so we packed up and left early. the trip down was uneventful. a good pic of Brandon coming over Jaws 1. except that my front tire sprung a leak at a plug in the sidewall. another plug added and shortly thereafter it blew the plugs right out! oh well, it was getting pretty worn anyway. the spare was put on and we made it to the trail head and trailered up. all in all, a very fun trip and trail.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Looks like fun!

Were there fresh tractor tracks up there this year? 2-3 years ago when I backpacked up there someone had driven a front end loader up to the cabins by the lake (there is private property right around it) and it looked like *someone* was planning on building a new cabin.

Beautiful time of year to be out there!

Dan

 

[BionicCruiser]

no other tracks, only saw 1 vehicle and 1 ATV. the weather was great. we expected it to be much colder and it was warm all day and i only wore a sweatshirt till bedtime. Jill and the boys had jackets.

 

[firemedicpq1]

Nice Pix Shawn!

 

[OGBeno]

Now THAT looks like a trail my truck would enjoy...er, I mean, I would enjoy.

Nice report Shawn.

-o-

 

[BionicCruiser]

definitely go for it!
Brandon said last time he was there(July), a new Rover wagon on 35's was up there (with no scratches). an 80 on 35's should be able to do it with a fairly experienced driver. Jaws 1 is the only spot that is rough for long wheelbases.

 

[alia176]

Now THAT looks like a trail my truck would enjoy...er, I mean, I would enjoy.

Nice report Shawn.

-o-

Don't leave w/o me Onur....someone needs to video your carnage

 

[OGBeno]

Don't leave w/o me Onur....someone needs to video your carnage

There is some truth to this statement.



Shawn--would this trail be doable in during the first weeks of October?

Or, will snow settle in?

Thanks.
-onur

 

[BionicCruiser]

you got me. it would probably be very cold. you'd have to watch the weather for Alamosa (it's only about 10 miles from town). NM4wheelers have had 6" of snow on their 1st weekend of Sept run in years past.

There is some truth to this statement.



Shawn--would this trail be doable in during the first weeks of October?

Or, will snow settle in?

Thanks.
-onur

 

[SteveLCetc]

We would have to make it soon. When we went last year we drove up early, met at 9:00 am, and got back after dark. A one day trip. How about the 27th, the Moab shakedown run?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Onur:

It wouldn't be snowed in yet the first week of October. Bonus if you did it then maybe you could come drive the trails around the Cumbres and Toltec. I'm thinking of driving in to Sublette with Dad's 40 around then (depending on the schedule).

Dan

 

[SteveLCetc]

Onur:

It wouldn't be snowed in yet the first week of October. Bonus if you did it then maybe you could come drive the trails around the Cumbres and Toltec. I'm thinking of driving in to Sublette with Dad's 40 around then (depending on the schedule).

Dan

*Probably* won't be snowed in the first week of October. Probably will be at the end of October, after Moab. Since we were thinking of a run the last week of September, maybe that would be a good time.

I'd love to take the trails around the Cumbres Toltec too. Are you going the first week of October?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

*Probably* won't be snowed in the first week of October. Probably will be at the end of October, after Moab. Since we were thinking of a run the last week of September, maybe that would be a good time.

I'd love to take the trails around the Cumbres Toltec too. Are you going the first week of October?

Yes. *probably* is a very smart addition to make.

The first week of October is the plan. The family is riding the train on October 4, so I'm hoping to drive around there either before or after that, depending on A)my schedule and B)the girl's schedule. I'm hoping that we can do it on Sunday the 5th, because it'd be easier for others to join in, but we'll see.

I know it'll be hunting season up there, and I don't think those roads are all that hard, but I sure think it'd be cool to get some pics of cruisers in Sublette while the train fills up with water. I know (having ridden the train every year, save one of my life) that there are trails that go to Sublette and Osier, and those are the one's I'm thinking about. The aspens up there are unreal starting in a couple of weeks.

Dan

 

[OGBeno]

We would have to make it soon. When we went last year we drove up early, met at 9:00 am, and got back after dark. A one day trip. How about the 27th, the Moab shakedown run?

Sounds like a good idea Steve.

Better than going out Southern for yet another run with Snoopy rock...

I might go ahead and try to get the day off for this. I like what Shawn has posted.

It look challenging and that's what I am looking for.

-o-

 

[alia176]

9/27? Hmm...I will be home that weekend.

 

[TroutRunner]

Here in Durango at "Trailer Elevation" of 7500ft it has been low 40's at night. The other morning at 6am it was 38 degrees by the car temp when I left for work.

I would be prepared for snow but not necessarily expect it. Anything can happen in these mountains.

G