Colorado Wheeling, Ghost town, stuck in the mud

[twalker920]

That looks like Argentine (hence the gold mines). I did that in my 2002 4Runner and my buddy in his Grand Cherokee (his magic awd was not as good as my locked center diff...go go gadget tow strap!).

It was much drier when I did it though. I can't wait to get the VX up there. Heading in to the mountains this weekend, up near Green Mountain Res near Heeney.


Near the summit (also happens to be right on the Continental Divide)


Hiking back down from the summit (4Runner and Jeep are the specks in the middle of the frame)

[pbkid]

If only University of Colorado Denver took Western Undergraduate Exchange students, I'd be right there with you...already looked into it, no deal.

you definately need to look into some other schools here, there are some really great ones. Whats your area of study?

Nice pics. Looks like it was a beautiful trip, minus the mud. Also, good looking corgi. . Best breed of dog ever.

thanks! she's a smart little crap.

she definately is very independent and stubborn all at once, but we love her

If only you had had a VX you might not have gotten stuck :P
Just kidding. Glad you guys made it out safe. Now buy a winch, and some MT tires.

i dont think it was the issue of the tires, unfortunately. We bent the hitch on the red jeep trying to pull me out.

Sounds like a crazy story for sure. I'll be in Denver at the end of the month, hopefully I will have Sunday off to screw around.

Bart

Bart, call us up. I'd be happy to at least grab some dinner or something. 7two, oh - 2 seven three - 10 nine nine.

I'm guessing you took 285 to Guenella Pass then took a left into the campground and went up there? Also, looks a bit like Red Cone, Wheeler Pass area.

Good memory Darren. Your VERY close. it was off of guenella pass, but it wasnt red cone, it was argentine pass.

...or Colorado State University in Fort Collins? Although its the worst school in Colorado and possibly the world

easy there Jon. a comment like that could buy you less wheeling time.....

Great pics Jack - awesome beauty! So then... I see no trail going into the mud, what gives?

where we got stuck? the entrance is back to the right in the picture.
My buddy in the white cherokee went in, and instead of turning around at the back of the pit, and coming out, he decided to turn out of the side. thats what started all the trouble. His front tires dropped into a marsh up to his headlights. Then I ventured in to go help him out......

That looks like Argentine (hence the gold mines). I did that in my 2002 4Runner and my buddy in his Grand Cherokee (his magic awd was not as good as my locked center diff...go go gadget tow strap!).

It was much drier when I did it though. I can't wait to get the VX up there. Heading in to the mountains this weekend, up near Green Mountain Res near Heeney.
Hiking back down from the summit (4Runner and Jeep are the specks in the middle of the frame)

YA! good eye. it was a great time up there for sure.

we are probably going to be doing red cone next week

[VXorado]

we are probably going to be doing red cone next week

Wednesday? Thursday? You can count me in.

[VX crazy]

I am voting to move the commune to Colorado......just sayin.....

Great photos Jack!

[pbkid]

thanks everyone. Jon, lets plan for when i get back from my trip as we discussed. Maybe ill come up wed and test fit that seat, and wheel thurs?

[VXorado]

thanks everyone. Jon, lets plan for when i get back from my trip as we discussed. Maybe ill come up wed and test fit that seat, and wheel thurs?

Ya, sounds good.

[MeowMix]

you definately need to look into some other schools here, there are some really great ones. Whats your area of study?

The reason I wanted to go to University of Colorado Denver is because I'm a nursing student; from what I was reading, the Anschutz Medical campus in Aurora is ranked around the same as the best nursing school in Washington state, WSU's College of Nursing here in Spokane (which I just applied to last month). I refuse to attend a school where I feel I'll gain a less than satisfactory education...I owe it to my patients to be the best caregiver I can possibly be.

I am voting to move the commune to Colorado......just sayin.....

I second this notion

[pbkid]

oh ok, thats great. i agree that your patients should get the best

from what I hear, the school I attended, University of Northern Colorado has a really great nursing program too. It also costs significantly less than DU.

DU is around 35k a semester for IN-STATE

UNC is 7k a semester for in-state.

however, i understand, because DU is a really prestigious school.

The reason I wanted to go to University of Colorado Denver is because I'm a nursing student; from what I was reading, the Anschutz Medical campus in Aurora is ranked around the same as the best nursing school in Washington state, WSU's College of Nursing here in Spokane (which I just applied to last month). I refuse to attend a school where I feel I'll gain a less than satisfactory education...I owe it to my patients to be the best caregiver I can possibly be.



I second this notion

[MeowMix]

oh ok, thats great. i agree that your patients should get the best

from what I hear, the school I attended, University of Northern Colorado has a really great nursing program too. It also costs significantly less than DU.

DU is around 35k a semester for IN-STATE

UNC is 7k a semester for in-state.

however, i understand, because DU is a really prestigious school.

Yeah, that's why I was looking at Western Undergraduate Exchange discounted tuition rates. Even though I'm so far in debt due to both my ex and Whitworth that even 10K seems like a drop in the bucket anymore (thus, the VX)...still, every little bit helps. I'm already paying $16,000 a semester at Whitworth, and I don't even live on campus...cost doesn't bother me too awfully much, I just want to get a good education and attend a school with a good community and staff that actually care about the success of their students. You could probably give me the low down on UNC life

WhitU is a fairly prestigious school in my area as well...but overshadowed by Gonzaga, unfortunately. Silly basketball teams...

I know that University of Northern Colorado is a participant in the WUE program, and their nursing program is no exception (with DU, they do participate in student exchange, but you have to do the graduate school program...and Nurse Practitioner or PA is too much for me just yet). Perhaps I'll do some digging and check UNC out before I write them off.

...sorry for the thread jack, by the way.

[spaceCADETzoom]

That looks like Argentine (hence the gold mines). I did that in my 2002 4Runner and my buddy in his Grand Cherokee (his magic awd was not as good as my locked center diff...go go gadget tow strap!).

It was much drier when I did it though. I can't wait to get the VX up there. Heading in to the mountains this weekend, up near Green Mountain Res near Heeney.

Hiking back down from the summit (4Runner and Jeep are the specks in the middle of the frame)

How hairy do all these places get? Wanted to go through some backroads without needing a wheeling buddy with a strap. There anything around where I can get a few bumps but not be in much danger of getting stranded?

[twalker920]

The incident with the Jeep and tow strap was on dry, large rocks going up hill. It was just an odd and (as it turns out) isolated incident of the Jeep's 4WD system not putting power to the wheels that had grip. The one wheel hanging in space was turning all by its lonesome self. A quick tug forward and he was off and running again.

If it's reasonably dry, Argentine Pass is not a place you will get stuck. Especially if you don't deliberately go looking for the swamp

Hope that helps. Would love to do it again in my VX, but it will have to be a weekend...and soon since it looks like Fall arrived and brought Winter along for the ride.

[Gizmo42]

How hairy do all these places get? Wanted to go through some backroads without needing a wheeling buddy with a strap. There anything around where I can get a few bumps but not be in much danger of getting stranded?

There are a lot of light wheeling trails around that area that I've solo and when my rodeo was stock. I havent done Argentine yet but everyone says its pretty basic. Kingston Peak, Yankee Hill Road, Chinns Lake, and Bill Moore Lake can all be done with no damage and no strapping needed. Bill Moore is probably the hardest of the ones I listed but is no problem as long as you take the bypasses around the 2 optional areas.

Check out traildamage.net for info on any trails and their ratings. Also, the Charles Wells books are great to have if you plan to do much wheeling in the state (I just got the new 3rd editions).

[VXorado]

How hairy do all these places get? Wanted to go through some backroads without needing a wheeling buddy with a strap. There anything around where I can get a few bumps but not be in much danger of getting stranded?

Old Stage Road is easy and has access to a bunch of forest service roads that you could explore on your own. Its behind the Broadmoor near 7 Falls. I grew up in Colorado Springs and would go mtn biking off old stage road a lot.