SAS SAS #8 Official Page 08/05/2024-08/09/2024 (1 Viewer)

[Rockymtnreaper]

I've also wanted to check out the La Garita Hills. Coming from Denver we can go over Poncha Pass, hit Saguache and head towards Creede, turning south and finding a spot to camp for the night down that way. Next day get back on the highway, pass Creede, and turn off on Stoney Pass. Maybe camp again on Stoney somewhere. Get in to Ouray Sunday night. Love it when a plan comes together.

Also, if I keep publicly advertising that Tucker is thru-hiking from Pagosa Springs to Stoney pass, he'll be forced to follow through. @Rockymtnreaper if you have any second thoughts now's the time to cancel haha.

Oh god, you are keeping me to this haha! I just love the idea of showing up to a cruiser event on my own two feet! Hiking from my house to Stoney Pass! I guess I would have to hitchhike back to Pagosa to get my cruiser

 

[TheBlackSheep]

I’ve totally missed this thread and I see a few familiar faces on the list. If I am in the area I might see about connecting. Send me a message if anyone is planning to take a trip over Stony Pass. I might be down for a hamburger at Freeman’s General Store.

Here are a few pictures of us from the early 2000’s around the July/August timeframe. Have a wonderful trip!

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The Hubs and I take Stony Pass back home at the end of the week. Very cool drive.

I don’t remember the water crossing being anything to write home about last year.

 

[TheBlackSheep]

I've also wanted to check out the La Garita Hills. Coming from Denver we can go over Poncha Pass, hit Saguache and head towards Creede, turning south and finding a spot to camp for the night down that way. Next day get back on the highway, pass Creede, and turn off on Stoney Pass. Maybe camp again on Stoney somewhere. Get in to Ouray Sunday night. Love it when a plan comes together.

Also, if I keep publicly advertising that Tucker is thru-hiking from Pagosa Springs to Stoney pass, he'll be forced to follow through. @Rockymtnreaper if you have any second thoughts now's the time to cancel haha.

I have 40 acres just outside of Saguache if y’all need a place to set up camp!

 

[4Cruisers]

We did that route year one with 2 trailers Jim. Not super difficult and the views are outstanding.

As @cornboy would caution - pack your eggs carefully.

 

[4Cruisers]

A build thread. Ha! It was built in the late 80’s/early 90’s around the time that AOL was going door to door getting people to sign up for chat rooms. My friend Josh brought it over from Australia and restored it here in Colorado. It went through a few builds, finally settling on a 5.7l TBI and H55f/splitcase, A/C, etc. He sold it after a long time in storage while he moved back to Oz for the second time. You should see the LX that he returned with, though he sold that, too. If he ever goes back I think that he needs to return with a few dozen of these.

The original low mileage H41 4-speed transmission from that '84 HJ47 is on my garage floor just a few feet from where I sit. I bought it from Josh many years ago when he was living in Santa Fe. So the transmission hasn't been in a Land Cruiser for at least a quarter of a century. It's awaiting a transplant into my '71 FJ40 build, and will be mated to a drum parking brake split transfer case from an '85 Belgian BJ45. Details of the build in my Post #15 here:

Transfer case selection

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[4Cruisers]

I agree with Potato Launcher. It’s a beautiful area and it is generally more quiet/remote than the rest of the area. The road is not challenging, either. Just gorgeous. The trail to Heart Lake and Carson City is also amazing, and that would drop you in Lake City.

Back in 1986 I drove the family in our '84 FJ60 over Stoney Pass from Silverton to Creede. We didn't see another vehicle from the time we left Howardsville, which is a few miles north of Silverton, until we got to Rio Grande Reservoir. And IIRC it was on a summer weekend. Those were the good old days for sure.

On another trip, we drove the FJ60 up to Old Carson on the Continental Divide from Lake City. It was kind of dicey because it was during a torrential downpour. I've always wanted to go back up there and drive the entire way from Stoney Pass to Lake City.

 

[RevISK]

WTF Ian? Dropping me like a bad habit or trading up?

You’ll always be my Thelma Chong, B!

 

[Mike Shull]

Back in 1986 I drove the family in our '84 FJ60 over Stoney Pass from Silverton to Creede. We didn't see another vehicle from the time we left Howardsville, which is a few miles north of Silverton, until we got to Rio Grande Reservoir. And IIRC it was on a summer weekend. Those were the good old days for sure.

On another trip, we drove the FJ60 up to Old Carson on the Continental Divide from Lake City. It was kind of dicey because it was during a torrential downpour. I've always wanted to go back up there and drive the entire way from Stoney Pass to Lake City.

We drove to Bear Town last year on September 2 and didn’t run into a single person. We also drove to Heart Lake towards the middle of September (during the middle of the week) and we ran into one neighbor getting firewood.

 

[Mike Shull]

The original low mileage H41 4-speed transmission from that '84 HJ47 is on my garage floor just a few feet from where I sit. I bought it from Josh many years ago when he was living in Santa Fe. So the transmission hasn't been in a Land Cruiser for at least a quarter of a century. It's awaiting a transplant into my '71 FJ40 build, and will be mated to a drum parking brake split transfer case from an '85 Belgian BJ45. Details of the build in my Post #15 here:

Transfer case selection

forum.ih8mud.com

I just saw this thread. I remember Josh hedging on whether he should give that transmission up. I never knew who he sold it to. What an amazing connection. Doesn’t that H41 have a lower first gear than the US model? I can’t think of any other reason that he would hold onto it.

 

[Mike Shull]

The Hubs and I take Stony Pass back home at the end of the week. Very cool drive.

I don’t remember the water crossing being anything to write home about last year.

I’m not being very efficient with my replies. Ha. It’s usually only that deep in the spring. The rest of the year it is quite low. It was about 2-3’ deep in September last year.

 

[matzell]

I just saw this thread. I remember Josh hedging on whether he should give that transmission up. I never knew who he sold it to. What an amazing connection. Doesn’t that H41 have a lower first gear than the US model? I can’t think of any other reason that he would hold onto it.

Yes, 4.9x, like the H55f. I have a H41 and 4:1 orion in my 77.

 

[4Cruisers]

I just saw this thread. I remember Josh hedging on whether he should give that transmission up. I never knew who he sold it to. What an amazing connection. Doesn’t that H41 have a lower first gear than the US model? I can’t think of any other reason that he would hold onto it.

As @matzell indicated, it sure does. I have another H41 in my '76 FJ40, mated to a 3-speed transfer case. Other than a mini-truck/Tercel power steering set-up and the transmission/transfer case swap, it's all original with just over 66,000 miles. The body's rough, but it gets my wife and I where we're going. We drove it up to SAS #1 via Stoney Pass. Here's a photo at Merus Adventure Park in the Texas panhandle at the inaugural Land Cruiser Unite (thanks to @POTATO LAUNCHER for setting that up and to @Mesa Woman for taking the photo).

 

[CruiserTrash]

I have 40 acres just outside of Saguache if y’all need a place to set up camp!

I appreciate the offer, but we’re looking to explore and camp in the area south of Cochetopa Dome, not far past you. Never been down there but I’ve been getting info from folks and looking at maps. I wish we had more time to camp everywhere!

 

[4Cruisers]

Another option is the USFS Buffalo Pass Campground, on the pass just to the south of Cochetopa Pass. It's a small uncrowded campground. We stayed there on the way to one of the SAS events. I spoke briefly with one of the other campers who had a nice older FJ40.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Another option is the USFS Buffalo Pass Campground, on the pass just to the south of Cochetopa Pass. It's a small uncrowded campground. We stayed there on the way to one of the SAS events. I spoke briefly with one of the other campers who had a nice older FJ40.

I'll keep that in mind. We were going to down near the Stone Cellar Campground and explore the roads south and west of there. Looks like plenty of dispersed sites within a mile or two of there.

 

[Vics]

I was considering taking Stoney Pass into Silverton and then to Ouray on the way to SAS8 in early August. Is the terrain still such that there's deep water? It's been 20-30 years since that photo has been taken so maybe things have changed. I would hate to get all the way up there, then have to turn around, go to Durango, and come up 550.

I think @Rockymtnreaper was talking about thru-hiking to Stoney Pass from Pagosa Springs so I could give him a ride to Ouray. I really want this plan to work.

Love Stony Pass! I think it’s my favorite trail thus far but I haven’t done many yet. It was the first trail I had ever done in my cruiser a few years ago. I tagged along w a group of 100s I’d never met before… but such a cool experience, just connecting w other passionate Cruiser ppl.

 

[mesa man]

I was considering taking Stoney Pass into Silverton and then to Ouray on the way to SAS8 in early August. Is the terrain still such that there's deep water? It's been 20-30 years since that photo has been taken so maybe things have changed. I would hate to get all the way up there, then have to turn around, go to Durango, and come up 550.

I think @Rockymtnreaper was talking about thru-hiking to Stoney Pass from Pagosa Springs so I could give him a ride to Ouray. I really want this plan to work.

Did someone say “thru hiking”!!! I’m in!!!!
@Rockymtnreaper

 

[matzell]

Willow Lawn Service Center is happy to sponsor this great event again! Who needs a cooler?

That is not a sticker on there. It is actually printed on by the manufacturer. Should last a long time.

 

[TheBlackSheep]

I appreciate the offer, but we’re looking to explore and camp in the area south of Cochetopa Dome, not far past you. Never been down there but I’ve been getting info from folks and looking at maps. I wish we had more time to camp everywhere!

I feel like I don't have enough time and I live down here, ha!! I drive through there all the time on my way to Gunnison for my fav Chinese restaurant (I will drive absurd distances for food). Keep your peepers peeled, "my" bachelor herd of Big Horn Sheep hang out along 114. Bonanza and Penitente Canyon are high on my "to explore" list for the San Luis Valley as well. So many trails, so little gas money.

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

Willow Lawn Service Center is happy to sponsor this great event again! Who needs a cooler?

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These turned out great Rob. Outstanding my friend!