- Location
- New Mexico
You were doing some epic trail running on this trip!
I am jealous as usual!
I am jealous as usual!
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Colorado Adventure 2009
- Thread starter IntrepidXJ
- Start date
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Day 3: Sangre de Cristo Mountains & The Great Dunes
Day 3 was spent exploring the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, including some time at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. We started out heading south on US 285 to Villa Grove, where we turned off the pavement and took Hayden Pass over the mountains.
After reaching the pavement again we headed south and topped off the gas tank in Westcliffe before making our way over to Medano Pass. I'll also mention that right before the turnoff to Medano Pass, we had a bear run across the highway in front of us....it was actually our first bear sighting.
Start of Medano Pass
Sandy two-track
Entering the National Park
First spotting of the dunes, straight ahead
Day 3 was spent exploring the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, including some time at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. We started out heading south on US 285 to Villa Grove, where we turned off the pavement and took Hayden Pass over the mountains.
After reaching the pavement again we headed south and topped off the gas tank in Westcliffe before making our way over to Medano Pass. I'll also mention that right before the turnoff to Medano Pass, we had a bear run across the highway in front of us....it was actually our first bear sighting.
Start of Medano Pass
Sandy two-track
Entering the National Park
First spotting of the dunes, straight ahead
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Looking back on the sandy trail
Finally getting closer to the dunes
Finally getting closer to the dunes
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Soon we reached the pavement in the park and headed over to the dunes to do a little exploring on foot. A few photos...
A storm started rolling in as we were leaving.....it got VERY windy.
The sign as we left the park
After spending some time at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve my original goal was to check out Hermit Pass, so we headed east again and took Pass Creek Pass Road back to Colorado 69 and headed north. By the time we reached Westcliffe again, it was starting to get late so I decided to skip Hermit Pass this trip.....so I'll have to return another time. We continued north and eventually made it back to Johnson Village, where we had a good dinner at the Coyote Cantina (one of my favorite places to eat in the area).
That's it for Day 3. Day 4 to be continued...
A storm started rolling in as we were leaving.....it got VERY windy.
The sign as we left the park
After spending some time at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve my original goal was to check out Hermit Pass, so we headed east again and took Pass Creek Pass Road back to Colorado 69 and headed north. By the time we reached Westcliffe again, it was starting to get late so I decided to skip Hermit Pass this trip.....so I'll have to return another time. We continued north and eventually made it back to Johnson Village, where we had a good dinner at the Coyote Cantina (one of my favorite places to eat in the area).
That's it for Day 3. Day 4 to be continued...
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Day 4: Independence & Pearl Pass
On Day 4 we slept in a little bit longer than on the previous days before getting up and breaking down camp. As I stated in the first post on this trip report, Amanda only had 4 days with me before she had to go back to work. Being the 4th day, we needed to head back to Grand Junction this day. There was one trail that I was not able to check out earlier on the trip because it was not yet clear of snow accoriding to my research before leaving, however, after checking again the night before, I knew it was now passable......so we made our way over to Pearl Pass on our way home.
In order to get to Pearl Pass we needed to head over to Aspen. I decided to head over Independence Pass. Even though it's paved, I figured since I had not drivin it before, I might as well check it out at least once...
Once in Aspen we headed up Express Creek Road to the start of Pearl Pass. This was an amazing trail and probably one of my favorites in the state! So let me warn you, I was a little camera happy and took a ton of photos......and I'm going to post a bunch of them. So if you don't like looking at photos of great trail scenery, then you may want to go read another thread instead
On to the photos....
Start of the trail
Waterfall along the trail
Recently repaired bridge
Now above the waterfall
Another sign as we climb higher
On Day 4 we slept in a little bit longer than on the previous days before getting up and breaking down camp. As I stated in the first post on this trip report, Amanda only had 4 days with me before she had to go back to work. Being the 4th day, we needed to head back to Grand Junction this day. There was one trail that I was not able to check out earlier on the trip because it was not yet clear of snow accoriding to my research before leaving, however, after checking again the night before, I knew it was now passable......so we made our way over to Pearl Pass on our way home.
In order to get to Pearl Pass we needed to head over to Aspen. I decided to head over Independence Pass. Even though it's paved, I figured since I had not drivin it before, I might as well check it out at least once...
Once in Aspen we headed up Express Creek Road to the start of Pearl Pass. This was an amazing trail and probably one of my favorites in the state! So let me warn you, I was a little camera happy and took a ton of photos......and I'm going to post a bunch of them. So if you don't like looking at photos of great trail scenery, then you may want to go read another thread instead
On to the photos....Start of the trail
Waterfall along the trail
Recently repaired bridge
Now above the waterfall
Another sign as we climb higher
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
You can see the Montezuma Basin trail in the distance
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
If you look closely in this one, you can see Pearl Pass on the left....there is a narrow shelf road leading up to it.
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Getting closer to the pass
This was the only section of snow we encountered, and as you can see, there were already a few tracks through it.
Finally, at the pass!
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
The road down the other side to Crested Butte
Still plenty of wildflowers near Crested Butte
Once we made it to Crested Butte, we stopped for a quick lunch and topped off the gas tank before heading back to GJ via Kebler Pass again. I got to sleep in my own bed one night before heading back out on my own.
To be continued...
MetViper
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Copperas Cove, TX
B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!!
Great photos!!
Great photos!!
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
Man.... i hate you, but in the best way. Thanks for sharing your continuing epic trips. :thumbup:
Thanks for sharing your continuing epic trips. :thumbup:
- Location
- Maurertown,Va.
Great Photos,Its the next best thing to being there--
Wayne
Wayne
postalxj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Christiana, TN
You make me SICK!!!!!!
Great photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Day 5: Gore Range & Boreas Pass
Now that I am back from a snowy weekend in the Uinta Mountains, it's time to get back to my Colorado Adventure trip report....
After a good night's sleep back in my own bed at home, I got up early again and headed east on I-70 and US 24 to Red Cliff. From there, I hopped on the Shrine Pass road for a little ways and then headed up Lime Creek. The trail started out rocky when it was in the trees, but once it opened up, the trail smoothed out and offered some excellent views.
Wildflowers along the trail
Now that I am back from a snowy weekend in the Uinta Mountains, it's time to get back to my Colorado Adventure trip report....
After a good night's sleep back in my own bed at home, I got up early again and headed east on I-70 and US 24 to Red Cliff. From there, I hopped on the Shrine Pass road for a little ways and then headed up Lime Creek. The trail started out rocky when it was in the trees, but once it opened up, the trail smoothed out and offered some excellent views.
Wildflowers along the trail
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
After looping back around to Shrine Pass Road, I headed to the short Benson Cabin trail. This trail was short and steep, but never got out of the trees, so there were not really any good views....but I did get a few shots of the Benson Cabin.
Spot my Jeep
After making it back to Shrine Pass Road again, I made my way up Wearyman Creek to McAllister Gulch. This trail switchbacked up out of the trees and offered some great views in all directions.
Views of Mount Holy Cross
Spot my Jeep
After making it back to Shrine Pass Road again, I made my way up Wearyman Creek to McAllister Gulch. This trail switchbacked up out of the trees and offered some great views in all directions.
Views of Mount Holy Cross
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
I took the short spur up to the top of Resolution Mountain
I took this 360 degree panoramic photo at the top of Resolution Mountain
Click here for bigger panoramic photo.
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
After making it down to Resolution Creek, I headed up Ptarmigan Pass to complete the loop
At Ptarmigan Pass
Once back down to Shrine Pass Road, I finally finished the trip over to Vail Pass.
View of Mount Holy Cross from Shrine Pass
At Ptarmigan Pass
Once back down to Shrine Pass Road, I finally finished the trip over to Vail Pass.
View of Mount Holy Cross from Shrine Pass
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Before calling it a day, I decided to head over the Easy Boreas Pass starting in Breckenridge and ending in Como.
Bankers Tank
A few photos from the display at the pass
Headed back down to Como
That's it for Day 5. To be continued...
Bankers Tank
A few photos from the display at the pass
Headed back down to Como
That's it for Day 5. To be continued...
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Day 6: Georgia Pass & Red Cone to Montezuma
Day 6 of the adventure brought me to Breckenridge, where I headed out of town bright and early on Tiger Road and made my way up to Georgia Pass.
Headed back down to the highway
After making it back down to US 285, I hung a left and headed over Kenosha Pass to check out another trail I had really been looking forward to on this trip: Red Cone. I really enjoyed this trail. The trail and scenery were amazing. The skies were pretty cloudy this day, so the conditions weren't ideal for photographs, but that just means I'll have to head back another time I did end up taking a bunch of photos anyways...
Red Cone open, but Webster Pass still closed
Early on in the trail
Finally above tree line
Day 6 of the adventure brought me to Breckenridge, where I headed out of town bright and early on Tiger Road and made my way up to Georgia Pass.
Headed back down to the highway
After making it back down to US 285, I hung a left and headed over Kenosha Pass to check out another trail I had really been looking forward to on this trip: Red Cone. I really enjoyed this trail. The trail and scenery were amazing. The skies were pretty cloudy this day, so the conditions weren't ideal for photographs, but that just means I'll have to head back another time
I did end up taking a bunch of photos anyways...Red Cone open, but Webster Pass still closed
Early on in the trail
Finally above tree line
IntrepidXJ
NAXJA Member #647
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
The trail heading up to Red Cone
Getting closer...riding the ridge
Finally at the summit of Red Cone: 12,801 feet
Webster Pass down below
The trail down
The steepest section from the top
Getting closer...riding the ridge
Finally at the summit of Red Cone: 12,801 feet
Webster Pass down below
The trail down
The steepest section from the top
