SolidAxleSummit #3 is almost here!

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Which are the trails you guys are most interested in running? Looking for inputs to help determine which I should list in response to Casey’s email.
Imogene Pass is on my list
 
I am also trying to reach out to my bunk mates to see what they thought as well...but haven't heard back
 
kind of misleading...the huge one ON the road was demolished and moved. this rock is on the edge of the roadway. State saving money from having to remove it by giving it a cute name lol
 
Who from AZ is still gong to SAS? I saw in the big thread that two from AZ dropped out and Dave Gore is not going to make it as well.

With just 3 weeks to go I’m looking forward to the trip and meeting some of the other Mud heads.
 
I love that we are kicking it old school on the trail comms. While HAM has been around for a while, too... Old rigs, old tech!
Saddletramp said:
The recommended communication for this is C B. We can use ham on the trip up and for side conversation.
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Just to make some of you desert dwellers jelly, right now in Ouray:

Screenshot_20190713-154717.webp
 
Saddletramp said:
Who from AZ is still gong to SAS? I saw in the big thread that two from AZ dropped out and Dave Gore is not going to make it as well.

With just 3 weeks to go I’m looking forward to the trip and meeting some of the other Mud heads.
Click to expand...

We had to cancel our plans for this trip, mama didn't have enough time off (PNW trip got first dibs) and we have Elk,Deer, and Antelope tags this year! Maybe next year, I did have reservations at the KOA so that should have also made some room for anyone else looking for a place to stay.
 
wtmtnterror said:
We had to cancel our plans for this trip, mama didn't have enough time off (PNW trip got first dibs) and we have Elk,Deer, and Antelope tags this year! Maybe next year, I did have reservations at the KOA so that should have also made some room for anyone else looking for a place to stay.
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Was this in one of the cabins or just a campsite?
 
It was for a campsite.
 
Stoney Pass is open
Be aware of crossing the river in the morning has been easy but exciting in the afternoon. Lost a jeep downstream recently.
Tip - With snowmelt all water crossing will be more exciting in the afternoon.
 
Here's the most recent update for trails in the HIH thread.

paflytyer said:
*HIH9 IMPORTANT UPDATES*

HIH Family,

After a brief HIH committee meeting (that means @bluecruiser and I talked on the phone) we wanted to get as much info out there as possible. There are a lot of "open" trails that are not actually open, and many that will not open. I just got home from Silverton and was able to run a few trails and get a look at a few others.

What is open?
Owl Creek Pass, Last Dollar Road, Ophir, California, Corkscrew, Alpine Loop (kind of)

Stony Pass is being called "open" and I did not drive it myself but heard from good sources that it is open, but not safe.
CAUTION: A couple from Louisiana attempted to drive Stony Pass in their Jeep. While crossing Pole Creek, their Jeep was stuck briefly and they were swept downstream. The husband survived but they have still not recovered the wife's body. PLEASE DO NOT attempt a backcounty route to HIH alone. Authorities ID woman missing after Jeep swept away in creek

This happened 17 days ago and does not mean this route will not be doable enroute to HIH, but please plan ahead and have alternate plans and means to camp in place if needed. Turning around is never wrong, even if it adds 6-8 hours to your trip. Arrive Alive! Off camber snow crossings are a bad idea too.

"Open" and "Closed" are terms that we've all been using, but "passable" and "impassable" are better descriptions. There are no gates, gatekeepers or bearded wizards with staffs. There's either too much snow or there isn't. Many of these trails are made "passable" by county workers with heavy machinery. There was simply so much snow this year (even in JUNE!) that there is just no way to move it off the trail. The avalanche debris in the area is unlike anything I've ever seen.

FJ Summit is happening this week and they're doing their best to find trails for the huge amount of vehicles that attend that event. They're good at what they do and we'll know more as the week progresses. We have a few HIH members at that event so we'll be getting daily updates. This was a "once in every 500-years" kind of winter for us in Colorado. Last year, we were at 84% snowpack for that area and in a terrible drought. As of late-May, the average snowpack for the entire state of Colorado was 416% and the San Juans were at an astonishing 728%! Unreal. April and May were insane. We had nearly a foot of snow on May 20th in Denver.

County crews are working around the clock to get trails open, but here's what I have from folks connected to the area:

Black Bear is a VERY low priority and the chances it will open for HIH are probably less than 10%. Sheriff Masters (San Miguel County Sheriff) is, and has always been, opposed to Black Bear Pass as a viable county road anyway, so this plays well for him. I seriously doubt we'll see Black Bear open for HIH. A county worker told DeAnne (our Silverton Chamber of Commerce/HIH liaison) that it would most-likely open for a few weeks in August.

Poughkeepsie Gulch is still under a few feet of snow. I'm a little more optimistic about this one simply because it's connected to Engineer/Cali/Hurricane and I expect folks to start trying to bash through the snow to get to the Wall. The issue is beyond the Wall, as we try to climb up the shelf and into the areas of California, Hurricane and Corkscrew. We expect that shelf to still be holding snow. I'd say we're an optimistic 50/50, but that may be too optimistic. This will be either nature (sun, heat and rain) or buggies on 40s and a few shovels to break this trail open.

Imogene probably has the best chance of opening, but there is a ton of snow up top around Tomboy mine.

Even our beloved Super Secret (CO14) is not passable. I tried running it via the North Loop (Red Mountain Pass) and was stopped by snow just before you make the twisty climb through the trees. I obviously couldn't see the top, but a few of us with winches and anchor points could probably make it through the first few snow drifts. There were already signs of quads and side-by-sides going off trail and around the snow, which is terrible to see, but unfortunately what happens when inconsiderate people drive on the trails.

Clear Lake is blocked by large snow and they will wait for nature to open that route.
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Weird to think its 113* here and its snowed-in there...
 
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