Ophir/Engineer/Mineral Creek most excellent Trip Report

[92LXAZ]

Let's place these at the beginning too.

Engineer/Mineral Creek

Ophir

Not sure where to begin. Our Road trip started June 26 and ended July 9. In summary included Ophir Pass, Mt. Rushmore, college visit to University of Sioux Falls for my oldest son (football), another visit to University of Mary in Bismarck, home to the farm, return trip back through Colorado to Silverton, stay at Grand Imperial Hotel for our Anniversary (7/10), Engineer Pass, Mineral Creek, nearly 4k miles. I would say quite epic and our first real wheeling. The 570 has been dedicated road vehicle but thought it time to get real.

Because I’m really a nerd. Not 100% accurate considering tire size but overall picture is there. Trip B read 3983.4 miles.

6/26/2020​	184.0​	11.741​	15.672​	$33.57​	Holbrook​
6/26/2020​	248.3​	14.324​	17.335​	$35.22​	Durango​
6/27/2020​	196.9​	13.308​	14.796​	$41.91​	Gunnison​
6/27/2020​	285.0​	16.250​	17.538​	$42.23​	Cheyenne​
6/28/2020​	284.0​	15.901​	17.861​	$39.10​	Rapid City​
6/28/2020​	257.6​	18.132​	14.207​	$46.22​	Mitchell​
6/29/2020​	211.0​	14.518​	14.534​	$34.83​	I29​
6/30/2020​	311.8​	19.362​	16.104​	$50.32​	Bismarck​
7/4/2020​	296.1​	18.743​	15.798​	$43.47​	Max​
7/7/2020​	215.1​	12.738​	16.886​	$30.56​	Van Hook​
7/7/2020​	293.2​	19.566​	14.985​	$50.27​	Spearfish​
7/7/2020​	278.5​	18.313​	15.208​	$47.60​	Cheyenne​
7/8/2020​	289.7​	17.126​	16.916​	$54.79​	Gunnison​
7/9/2020​	161.3​	13.590​	11.869​	$44.83​	Silverton​
7/9/2020​	287.8​	16.396​	17.553​	$40.32​	Holbrook​
7/10/2020​	187.8​	10.155​	18.493​	$29.24​	Chandler​
Totals​	3988.1​	250.163​	15.942​	$664.48​

Couple of take aways before getting into the pics, vid, and data…

…we already know that these vehicles are amazing, but come on, wheel pretty hard and cruise home in luxury!

Mineral Creek is NO JOKE! Now consider this, I’m no seasoned pro, it was extremely fun and SLOW. Will get into that later (wheeling damage pic included). We ran East to West out of necessity. West to East would be much better going up those obstacles.

Aired down to 22-23 or so. Wasn’t sure being loaded down on a 20” wheel anything lower is ok. Wildpeaks are actually really quite good. May consider 18” when tires are due, or just throw the Tundras from my 470 (although it’s the 470 turn to get to CO).

Only ran in 4L going down the Ophir shelf road (East to West). Normal L (1st gear) all other times. I’d use 4L going the other way on Mineral Creek. Kept AHC in High most of Mineral Creek, off and on the rest of the way. Played around with the suspension settings as well, either in sport or firm.

Found the Air up station in Silverton after Engineer, didn’t need my portable actually.

Be gentle when viewing some of the video and pics. Pretty giddy and excited so often times what seems like a good idea turns out lame. Don’t care much, had a great time and still fun to look back on.

Lost my stupid webcam video, was really looking forward to that. I think I forgot to format the SD card I put in as I moved to a larger size. Very disappointed.

Edit: forgot to add pizza at Golden Brock Brewery and breakfast at Brown Bear Cafe is excellent!!

Edit 2.0: Can't believe how many 4Runners and Tacomas I saw. Jeeps everywhere you looked of course. Didn't see a single 80/100/200 on the trails and only a couple of 470s and 100LC on the road. Zero 570s. I guess all of the cool people go in late July!!

Here are links to both albums.

Engineer/Mineral Creek

Ophir

Posting several pics here to make it seem like a legit thread! Enjoy. Get out there!

First leg, Ophir.

 

[92LXAZ]

Second leg...

 

[92LXAZ]

On the farm and at my bros house in Bismarck for the 4th.

 

[92LXAZ]

Making our way back, Engineer/Mineral Creek...

 

[92LXAZ]

And as stated some damage. I had the line and missed it. Got out several times along Mineral Creek to check lines. In hindsight I should have had my wife out in front and showed here where I wanted my wheel to be. Sucks more for the pride. I'll bend the bracket and it will be fine. Yes I know, bring the slider suggestions. Not in the budget now. Again with hind sight not sure I'd want to do it again in the 570. It's still our go to church and road trip car so don't want to beat it up too much.

 

[afgman786]

Looks like an awesome trip! Can't wait to get out to CO again and have my LC this time to enjoy some of those views

 

[grinchy]

Rubbing's racin'

 

[sdnative]

That looks absolutely wonderful right now.

 

[bloc]

Lower engineer/mineral creek rd is no joke lately, at least in something the size of a 200. I don't remember it being nearly as bad five years ago.

 

[92LXAZ]

That looks absolutely wonderful right now.

Especially now with all of the BS. So nice to get away.

Lower engineer/mineral creek rd is no joke lately, at least in something the size of a 200. I don't remember it being nearly as bad five years ago.

It's crazy, I heard it was rough and slow but didn't have this in mind.

 

[molanginaeda]

Rumor said coming down mineral creek is harder than going up.
Hope your running board intact.

 

[bloc]

Rumor said coming down mineral creek is harder than going up.
Hope your running board intact.

I watched a guy in a TuRD PRO tacoma almost go ass-over-teakettle heading downhill right here:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Couldn't believe I made it up that part without even scraping. When I came up the taco guys were filming on their iphones and I completely forgot to have them airdrop me the video. On the map it looks innocuous but it is quite rough in person.

Also there is a big washout developing here: Google Maps

That one will be a big job for the county to fix. @92LXAZ do you remember that bit? Google's satellite image is from 2020, but it was so bad last year I don't know how it would make it another year without being impassable.

 

[92LXAZ]

Rumor said coming down mineral creek is harder than going up.
Hope your running board intact.

Absolutely agree.

Nope on running board, pic and explanation in post #5. I can't remember exactly where it happened.

I watched a guy in a TuRD PRO tacoma almost go ass-over-teakettle heading downhill right here:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Couldn't believe I made it up that part without even scraping. When I came up the taco guys were filming on their iphones and I completely forgot to have them airdrop me the video. On the map it looks innocuous but it is quite rough in person.

Also there is a big washout developing here: Google Maps

That one will be a big job for the county to fix. @92LXAZ do you remember that bit? Google's satellite image is from 2020, but it was so bad last year I don't know how it would make it another year without being impassable.

I don't remember sorry. There were a few I got out and analyzed a bit, the one I hit the running board on was the hardest to read but I still had the line, just missed it. Nothing impassable IMO, but you better be lifted and/or sliders if not lifted much. Passed a few stock Jeeps and an older Cherokee in a group that was moving really slow (4th guy I spoke with in that line was not happy and trying to get around them)...anyway I don't see how those guys made it over some of them.

 

[92LXAZ]

Too add a funny story a lady at the top of Engineer told me that I should take a picture and send to Lexus, "impressive" she said. I just thought meh, they already know.

A couple others impressed we were out there with it. One guy in a Rubi said he's getting one when he's done with the Jeep. Got a holla and thumbs up from a guy in an FJ. One of the switchbacks up to Engineer is really steep coming around the corner, he yelled at me to "get it!"... I yelled back you know it! Got a thumbs up as I easily came up. Now going down that section I was knuckled!

 

[M1911]

I did Ophir a few years ago. Spectacular views.

 

[Hank Tank]

And as stated some damage. I had the line and missed it. Got out several times along Mineral Creek to check lines. In hindsight I should have had my wife out in front and showed here where I wanted my wheel to be. Sucks more for the pride. I'll bend the bracket and it will be fine. Yes I know, bring the slider suggestions. Not in the budget now. Again with hind sight not sure I'd want to do it again in the 570. It's still our go to church and road trip car so don't want to beat it up too much.

View attachment 2367683View attachment 2367684

No worries! My LX has the same dimples in the same exact place. Ha!