I have really started nailing down the days and locations for camping. I will keep alternate camping sites located by the Colorado Gazetteer. I am trying to research all the locations thru google earth also to make sure the roads we will be taking aren't cutting thru someones back yard.
So far from your suggestions, I have a plan layed out for leaving out Firday morning and returning home Sat evening. The first day and the last two days will require lots of driving though.
I will type it all up and lay it out the best I can today and post up. I will try to put together a map also to give a good idea of the route.
The long and short of it is, we start 700+ miles to GSDNP go thru Medano Pass to Canyon City, to the Cripple Creek area, to and thru Hayden Pass to an area around Monarch Pass, over to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, where we basically run out of time with a day of exploration there, then two days to return. Short day of return gets us 200 miles back toward home to around Fairview in the San Isebel NF area and the last day is 700 miles home.
I will try to get the map put together ASAP so everyone can look at it. There is lots of stuff that can be done along the way and the trip can still change, but this is just a general idea and plan. If we wish to stay an extra day in a good camping spot to relax, I am game.
Sadly to say, I think we are pretty sure out on the rafting. As much as I know my wife and I would love to, and I know the kids are up for it, $ is just going to be too tight after having to put a new a/c system in the rig.
So far from your suggestions, I have a plan layed out for leaving out Firday morning and returning home Sat evening. The first day and the last two days will require lots of driving though.
I will type it all up and lay it out the best I can today and post up. I will try to put together a map also to give a good idea of the route.
The long and short of it is, we start 700+ miles to GSDNP go thru Medano Pass to Canyon City, to the Cripple Creek area, to and thru Hayden Pass to an area around Monarch Pass, over to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, where we basically run out of time with a day of exploration there, then two days to return. Short day of return gets us 200 miles back toward home to around Fairview in the San Isebel NF area and the last day is 700 miles home.
I will try to get the map put together ASAP so everyone can look at it. There is lots of stuff that can be done along the way and the trip can still change, but this is just a general idea and plan. If we wish to stay an extra day in a good camping spot to relax, I am game.
Sadly to say, I think we are pretty sure out on the rafting. As much as I know my wife and I would love to, and I know the kids are up for it, $ is just going to be too tight after having to put a new a/c system in the rig.
We would be glad to have you along. If there is any location on the schedule that looks good to you to meet up, just let me know. We can plan a stop to do something for a while till we meet up. I would definately suggest a spot with phone service, 2 years ago it took us over 24 hours to catch up with Panzer as he was in phone service when we weren't and we were in when he wasn't. We kept missing each other around the Alpine Loop between Silverton and Lake City and somehow he was always on the other side of the loop from us. I am guessing one of us should have stopped and waited.
Of course, the landslide on the road up to Animas Forks didn't exactly do us any favors. From there we had to route around and over Stoney Pass which added a day to the route.
One day ill be there but until now we are working on killing our livers in as many places as possible, anyone like tequila? Ill be bring some good stuff from mexico 
