http://www.theadventurelife.org/2010/04/rediscovered-century-old-map-more-than-doubles-colorados-ghost-towns/

http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/recreation/map/colorado/html-current/colorado-hi-speed-index.shtml

Brian Shelton

I posted last week that a friend of Adventure Insider underwent surgery to have a tumor removed from his brain.  I am please to inform you that the surgery went well and Brian is on his way to recovery and looks forward to getting back on belay.  In the mean time the climbing competition to raise money for this expensive surgery is planned for April 3, 2010 at the Sport Climbing Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Registration will begin at 5:30 and the competition will begin at 6:00.  The cost is $10 for a very worth cause.  Don’t worry about you climbing ability, there will be prizes for all abilities in addition to raffles and an all around good time.  A party will follow the competition.  Members of Adventure Insider will be there including Erick, Shane, and CJ.  Great prizes have been donated by Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Prana, Outdoor Research, Black Diamond, Diver’s Reef, and NOLS to name a few.  If you have questions please leave a comment and we will get back to you.

We hope to see you there!

For many years my roommates and I had passes to Ski Cooper, near Leadville, Colorado. Cooper is one of the smallest ski areas in Colorado, but it’s extremely family friendly. The lifts are slower, the runs are shorter, and it’s generally a more relaxing atmosphere than larger resorts.

After we married, Angie and I decided to take advantage of the Liberty Pass offered by Vail resorts. This special pass for military members offers unlimited skiing at Keystone and Arapahoe Basin for less than half of a full price season pass. I had been to Keystone and other large resorts before, so I knew what to expect. That year we hit Keystone 5 or 6 times, including one multi-day trip when we stayed in Silverthorne. We also boarded a day or two up at A-Basin, which is a really great place but has become very crowded over the past few years. Overall though, we didn’t really care for Keystone as much as other resorts, and couldn’t handle the crowds up the road at A-Basin.

Last year we bit the bullet and bought the full price Colorado Pass which included Breckenridge, A-Basin, and Keystone. We only went to Breck since we’re not big fans of the other two any more. The pass is pretty pricey (I think we paid $450 each), but if you get enough days in it can be worth it. What we realized about halfway through the season is that we really don’t like crowds. Since we can usually only hit the slopes on weekends, and we like to sleep in a little, by the time we arrive on a Saturday morning, the entire resort is usually packed.

In addition to the lift lines and crowded slopes, we really don’t like being so far from our FJ Cruiser. We like to go back to the FJ at lunch time for a sandwich, some great tunes, and a little relaxation. That’s very difficult to do at a large resort. At Breck, that entails taking a gondola, and usually a bus to get to a large parking lot and finally back to the car. It’s really not worth it. What ends up happening is that we’re stuck eating an overpriced chicken sandwich at a VERY crowded mountainside venue. In addition to our passes, we were dropping another $60-70 every time we went (gas, parking, food, etc). Our snowboarding hobby got expensive very quickly.

That’s not to say that we didn’t enjoy ourselves. The snow is usually pretty good, and the runs are nice and long. For great terrain and lots of variety, Breckenridge is hard to beat. Also, on the rare occasion that we were able to hit the slopes during the week, the resort was generally pretty quiet. With the large crowds removed, some of the other drawbacks are easily overlooked. I highly recommend a larger resort like Breck for those coming to Colorado on vacation.

This year, since Angie isn’t able to board, I chose to grab a military pass at Monarch again. The smaller resort with far less people is much better for my tastes, especially on the weekend. I’ve been able to get to the slopes very early in the morning and get some great turns before any lift lines form. Looking forward, with the new addition to our family on the way, I think we’ll be sticking with either Monarch or Ski Cooper for the foreseeable future. I don’t like the thought of teaching our little one to ski/board on a crowded resort mountain.

What are your thoughts on large resorts versus smaller ski areas? Do you prefer the ultra fast lifts and multi-mountain terrain, or smaller areas that are more cost effective and convenient? We’d love to hear about your favorite small ski areas, next season is just around the corner and we’re looking for places to check out!

I managed to get up to Monarch Ski Area on Saturday the 2nd for my first snowboarding trip of ’10.  It was a solo affair, since Angie is unable to board this year with our child on the way. I had checked several of my iPhone Ski Report apps before leaving an read that Monarch only got 1″ of powder the previous night. Luckily snow was in the forecast for Saturday, so I was hoping for a smaller than usual crowd for New Years weekend & plenty of room to stretch.

I left Colorado Springs dark & early, a good hour before sunrise so that I could get to Monarch by the time they opened at 9am. By the time I got to the parking lot it was already 1/3 full, so I still had a short trek to the lift. I spend most of my time at Monarch on the Advanced & intermediate only lift (Breeze Way), and that early in the morning there was virtually no one in line.

My first few runs were very nearly first tracks. There were a few riders here & there, but for the most part I was all alone. The wind & snow in my face, burning down some of my favorite (albeit short) runs in Colorado, carving wide & fast; that’s what winter is all about.

The great thing about living in Colorado is that it truly is an area for all seasons. From backpacking in August (See the Raggeds Wilderness) to 4×4 trails all summer and snow fun in the winter, there’s always something to do and I’m NEVER bored.

Now if I can only figure out a way to get paid for it!

Waiting out the rain

At Adventure Insider, we really look for adventures that are (to use a cliché) off the beaten path. We don’t want to cover the same trips that every other publication and website cover, and we really like our solitude.

Summer in the Raggeds Wilderness

This past summer, this desire led us to the Raggeds Wilderness, near Crested Butte, Colorado. There are literally hundreds of great places in Colorado for a multi-day backpacking trip, but what intrigued us about the Raggeds is that there is not much written about the area. In fact, we had a little difficulty finding which trails would meet our collective skill level (intermediate), and provide the great escape we really love.

Both of those requests were answered with the route we chose. Starting from just outside the Erickson Springs  campground (38.954157°,-107.270606°), we headed up the Dark Canyon Trail (#830). Our plan was to try to make our base camp near the beginning of Oh Be Joyful Pass trail on Silver Basin Trail (#836). Unfortunately there had been quite a bit of rain (and a few good showers that first day), so our first 6 miles were pretty slow going. By the time we got to our first big ascent “Devlis Stairway” (38.949329°,-107.192316°) the ground was muddy, sloppy, and almost impassible. Once we got up this ascent the sun was already starting to fade, so we decided to call it a night.

Heading up the trail

The next morning was much drier, so before long we were at the intersection of the Dark Canyon trail & the Silver Basin Trail. We were planning to head up silver basin trail to our base camp at the bottom of Oh Be Joyful Pass (OBJ) trail. Fortunately we picked up the Trails Illustrated map (Kebler Pass/Paonia Reservoir #133) that pointed out the fact that our original base camp was no where near water, so we decided to continue up Oh Be Joyful Pass trail to find a good spot.

Heading up the trail

Not far along the OBJ trail is a good size ridge with a great overlook to the valley below. We decided this would make a great stopping point (Base Camp: 38.937108°,-107.142046°) for the night since we needed to get some video & photos for reviews on several products (see MH Helion Tent Review & Therm-A-Rest Neo Air Review).  Although we didn’t make it, if you have the time I highly recommend you summit Oh Be Joyful pass (38.939714°,-107.115604°).

What a great view!

The next morning was a little rough for us. I was having some minor issues with my knees, and my two companions (Erick & Ed) had just previously spent 5 days in Glacier National Park. So since we had all the video & photos needed for our reviews, we decided to head down a day early. We expected to reach our vehicle (about 8 miles downhill) early in the afternoon, so we could make it to Gunnison for a nice steak dinner that night.

Views to the west

The downhill part of our trip went pretty quickly, but there were plenty of great views on the way down. The last 3-4 miles are very popular for those with horses, so watch your step. After getting back to the car, it was a short 20 minute ride to retrieve the FJ at the north parking area, and then back through Crested Butte to Gunnison for steaks and beer.

How to get there

To hike this trip from North to South (as we did) take CR-12 north from Crested Butte (you can also get to CR-12 from the north off of CO-133). You can also hike from south to north, which is less steep than our route.

Permits/Regulations

No permits are required to hike in the Raggeds Wilderness. Review all wilderness regulations for restrictions.

Outfitters

Gunnison is the closest town with several backpacking / outdoors shops. You’ll be able to find anything forgotten or missing there. Expect to pay a small premium for goods purchased in a mountain town.

Summary

This is a great trip to get away from the loads of people in many of Colorado’s back country areas during peak season.  You’ll experience several types of terrain that can be challenging at times. We’re looking forward to exploring this area again in the future.

Quick Info

Location: Raggeds Wilderness, Colorado, USA (Info)
Permits: None required.
Distance: 18mi (But several trails offer shorter/longer routes)
Difficulty (1-10): Our route was intermediate (5-6)
Maps: Kebler Pass/Paonia Reservoir Trails Illustrated #133. (Buy) Download Google Earth KML

Rainbow over the Trooper Traverse - Colorado

I first came across a description of the Trooper Traverse in an article — aptly titled “Lost Trails” — published in the June 2007 issue of Backpacker magazine (Subscribe). The Trooper Traverse is a spectacular journey that is rich with history and likely to make a lasting impression on even the least sentimental among us. This 30 mile one-way trip features some of the most pristine high country in the United States. Contact with other humans (on or off trail) is quite limited, as roads and other trails are few and far between. But, if you’re up for the challenge, this trip will reward you many times over.

History

The Trooper Traverse was first accomplished in the winter of 1944 by members of the 10th Mountain Division who were headed to Europe to fight in WWII. Some of these soldiers never came home; others went on to become leaders in the wilderness community. The founders of both the National Outdoor Leadership School and Outward Bound completed the original Trooper Traverse. For a more in-depth history of the trail and its original participants, see Lou Dawson’s article on Wild Snow.

The Way

Approaching a pass on the Trooper Traverse - Colorado

The Backpacker article lacks some information that would be useful for proper planning. For example, Backpacker states there is no technical climbing. While this may be true ‘technically’ speaking, inexperienced packers may find the descent from Williams Mountain to be a bit intimidating. Also bear in mind that you’ll be above 11,000 ft nearly the entire way — another factor that may be intimidating for less experienced packers. While these details should not be deal-breakers in your decision whether or not to attempt the Traverse, you should be aware that the third and fourth day may go more slowly than you than would typically expect. Plan a solid four days for this trek. Intrigued? Start your planning now for next summer to ensure you have time to properly prepare.

Transportation

Arrange for some sort of pick-up in Aspen. You can either leave a vehicle at the trailhead in Aspen (GPS: 39°12.349′N 106°47.888′W), or better yet: arrange for someone to take you back to Leadville when you’re finished. If you do choose to leave a vehicle in Aspen: from Main St. and Mill St. in Aspen, head North on North Mill St. for .3mi., bear left onto Red Mountain Rd. for 1.1mi., make a sharp left to stay on Red Mountain Rd. and proceed .3mi., make a sharp right to stay on Red Mountain Road and proceed 1.3 miles to the parking area.

A hidden stream on the Trooper Traverse - Colorado

To get to the Leadville trailhead, take CO-82 east over Independence Pass from Aspen, head north on US-24 for 11mi. to the turnoff for the Leadville Fish Hatchery, CO-300 for .8mi., turn Left CR-11 for 1.2mi. and make a right onto Halfmoon Road. Follow this road 4.4mi. to the Mt. Massive/Mt. Elbert parking lots. Depending on your vehicle, you may want to park here (GPS: 39°9.103′N 106°25.159′W). High Clearance 4×4 vehicles should be able to make it across Halfmoon Creek and park further up the trail (GPS: 39°9.247′N 106°27.844′N).

Day One

Once parked and ready to go, head up Halfmoon Rd. The first day camp is fairly close to the trailhead, but keep in mind the backpacking version is shorter than the original ski trip of 40mi. That said, you may want to progress past the original campsites on the first two or three days to prevent the last day from turning into a late hike. Remember, the pack trail on the last day that is shown on some maps, no longer extends as far up as shown. The path to night one camp (GPS: 39°9.122′N 106°28.712′W) is not far up the road, but continue on into early evening to get a jump on day two.

Day Two

Clouds over the Continental Divide - Colorado

On day two, head back to the end of the valley to Darling Pass (GPS: 39°8.637′N 106°31.207′W) this is a moderate hike, but take your time and enjoy the views over your shoulder as you climb above tree-line. Plan to get a fairly early start as thunderstorms are common in the afternoon. At the top of Darling Pass take a moment to enjoy the view of the meadow valley before you and know that you are one of the fortunate few who have ever had the opportunity to enjoy this view. In June and July (during the height of the wildflower bloom) the views in this valley are absolutely spectacular.

Continue down into the valley toward the small stream drainage. This leads to a pack trail that will lead your ascent to the top of the Continental Divide. Don’t get too attached to the idea of being on a trail, however, when you reach the crest of the first little hill, you’ll want to veer to the North and proceed up the North side of the valley. A nice shelf near the top of the valley served as the original day two camp. But, if weather permits, continue up to the pass near the divide to camp on the ledge overlooking the valley (GPS: 39°9.289′N 106°33.337′W). There are few campsites in the world that rival the views from here. The wind in this location can be a drawback, but when all’s said and done, the view is more than worth it.

Day Three

Get an early start on day three — take in some breakfast while you enjoy the sunrise over Darling Pass and and watch the morning sunlight fill the valley below. When you’re ready to hit the trail, head up the last couple hundred feet to the top of the Continental Divide (GPS: 39°9.389′N 106°33.544′W) and pause for a moment to appreciate crossing this epic boundary. While thousands of people every year cross the divide, very few cross it in such an impressive manner. Once across the divide, traverse southwest along the boulder field. Keep your eyes out for mountain goats and the elusive bighorn sheep. As you

Looking back on the Trooper Traverse - Colorado

descend the pass, you will see Lost Man Lake far to South. Look for the pack trail that winds down the valley (it follows along the stream leading down from the Lost Man Lake). When you find the “T” (GPS: 39°10.077′N 106°35.534′W), proceed straight though onto what appears to be a foot trail – but quickly fades into vegetation. Other than the altitude and grade, this terrain is fairly easy to traverse.

Extreme Caution

Continue up the ridge to the Southwest to the top of the Williams Mountains. Near the top of this ridge is a great place to drop your pack and take a break, as the descent on the west side (GPS: 39°10.316′N 106°36.960′W) is extremely challenging. This is the most difficult part of the trip. It’s very important to take your time on this descent. The slope is extremely steep and littered with large boulders and medium to small sized scree. If that wasn’t enough to inspire extreme caution, this is where the pack trail to the end should exist but – See note below in ‘Planning’ section – it doesn’t. Proceed down the valley towards Aspen, following any game trails you find heading westerly, and find a nice place to camp alongside the creek for your final night.

Day Four

Aspens on the Trooper Traverse - Colorado

On your final morning continue down Hunter Creek Valley towards Aspen. Keep an eye out for the trail keeping in mind that at many points it fades to vegetation and possibly swamp (during wetter years). Eventually you will pick up a solid trail. Continue on the trail (#35) until you come out on an old 4×4 road. Follow this road until you reach the intersection for Woody Creek. Stay left at this intersection, continuing down the valley. Follow the main trail past several other forks. You’ll end up skirting the edges of a very large summit – it’s very steep so watch your step. Continue down the large 4×4 road to Red Mountain Rd. where your car should be located. Finally, head down to Aspen for a well-deserved beverage and an early dinner!

Planning

For route planning use the National Geographic Trail Illustrated 127 Aspen/Independence Pass ({amazon}B000YU8S8M Buy{/amazon}). This map shows the pack trail in Hunter Creek Valley more accurately than the USGS Quadrangle. And almost as if it were made for this route, it conveniently covers Leadville to Aspen. Plus, it is waterproof and tear resistant so it should hold up nicely for the duration of the trip. Note that the pack trail shown in the Hunter Creek Valley doesn’t extend as far up the valley as the USGS 24K Topo maps show.

Summary

Keep in mind however that the entire route is at high altitude and of course, is quite remote. Proper planning is the key to not only enjoying the trip but being safe in doing so. Keep and eye on the weather before you head out and during the trip. Four full days is sufficient for the trip but could be done in three for fast packers and five for those who want to take a little extra time. The Trooper Traverse is a challenging route that will put you in the backcountry that is

Nearing the end of the Trooper Traverse - Colorado

as pristine now as it was in 1944. Add to that the knowledge that you’re following in the footsteps of some truly brave men, and I think you’ll find this to be an experience of a lifetime.

Alpine views - Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge, Colorado is famous for being one of the best skiing/snowboarding destinations in North America. The mountains surrounding Breckenridge offer some of the best snow in the state, and the scenery is second to none. This popular winter destination is well served by the many summer activities available in Breckenridge.

From alpine slides to real Colorado mountain biking, Breckenridge has something to offer everyone.

One of my passions is scenic off roading, so last September, we decided to head to
Breckenridge and find a few off road trails. We went with 2 FJ Cruiser’s, a Jeep Wrangler, and a Chevy Avalanche for the run. We started off simple and decided to get Boreas Pass & Georgia Pass out of the way.

View from Bross - Breckenridge, Colorado

Boreas Pass is a very easy dirt road, any car will be just fine on this pass during good weather. The south side of Georgia Pass is about the same, but once we arrived at the top we found a very challenging trail. After a quick jaunt up Glacier Ridge, we headed down the north side of Georgia Pass (Rd 355). It became exciting right away, with a rather large rock blocking the trail. The Jeep decided to take the more difficult line, but the rest of us took the easier route around the rock. We crawled our way down the mountain, trying to say on the right trail.

View from Georgia Pass - Breckenridge, Colorado

We eventually made it down to Swan River just in time for the rain to begin. We headed back to our little campsite (well off the beaten path, GPS 39.5354, -105.9006), packed up, and headed for home.

Although we didn’t get to hit all the trails in the area, it was a wonderful trip!

If you’re interested in experiencing the Breckenridge area by 4×4, I’ve put together a Google Earth layer of the major off-road trails.

Outfitters

There’s only one Jeep Rental place in the Breckenridge area: Mountain High Jeep Rentals. If you’re visiting from elsewhere in Colorado, there are many other Jeep Rental services.

Where to Stay

Breckenridge & the surrounding area is a popular tourist area, so you’ll have no problems finding a place to stay. There are dozens of great hotels, condos, and house rentals available. Make your reservations as far in advance as possible to get the best rate and
the best room.

Food in Breckenridge

Off road - Breckenridge, Colorado

While we brought most of our food to the campsite with us on this trip, Breckenridge has plenty of great places to eat. There’s a little known pizza place on the north side of town, in the City Market plaza called Windy City Pizza. If you’re on the main drag, we’ve had really good luck with the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and Downstairs At Erics. Don’t forget the infamous Breckenridge Brewery if you’re a microbrew fan.

First annual FJ summit

Wow pretty much sums it up. The First Annual FJ Summit was held in Ouray, CO last July. It all started when several people from a FJ Cruiser Forums website started brainstorming about a meeting of FJ Cruiser owners nationwide. It wasn’t too long before everyone voted on the location for this first event, and Ouray was chosen.

Why Ouray? Well, if you haven’t been there you don’t know what you’re missing. The ‘Switzerland of America‘ is a beautiful small town in southwestern Colorado surrounded by the San Juan mountains. What makes Ouray so special to the off road community is the trails. Hundreds of miles of the most scenic, breathtaking, and awe inspiring off road trails in the country. This is not just a visitor guide bullet, the beauty can’t be described with just words.

Getting There

My wife, Angie & I met Kent & John (from London, Ontario, Canada), and our friend Stan & family (from Highlands Ranch, CO) for the drive up.
This is my Quick Info Box Content
Welcome!
We took the scenic route through the mountains from Colorado Springs. We first headed out US-24, over Wilkerson Pass and down to beautiful Buena Vista & the Collegiate Peaks area. From there, we proceeded over Monarch Pass, past Gunnison and the Blue Mesa reservoir (the largest body of water in Colorado). Finally, we headed south from near Cimmaron, and over Owl Creek Pass. Once we reached US-550, we turned south and headed into Ouray.

The Alpine Loop

First annual FJ summit

For the first day of the trip, we decided to do Alpine Loop, which is rated a 3-4 (out of 10) in difficulty, and is quite long. There were a total of 8 rigs in our group and we were the last group to leave that morning.

The Alpine Loop (which consists of Engineer & Cinnamon Passes) is truly amazing. The first few miles of the Engineer Pass trail are the most difficult and give this trail it’s rating of a 4, so this area can be challenging for those new to off roading. After cresting Engineer Pass, the trail is easier and the pace picked up some. Near the top of the pass there is a great pull off that’s an overlook of the entire range. At over 13,000 feet, this spot is one of the most amazing views you’ll find in the Rocky Mountains. Be careful though: the altitude can really start to have negative effects for those not used to it.

Cinnamon Pass is a much easier ride than Engineer; we saw quite a few passenger cars & mini-vans on this leg. The summit is over 12,000 feet and nearly as impressive as Engineer. Although the Alpine Loop is extremely long, it’s well worth the time you’ll spend.

Imogene Pass

On Saturday morning, we headed out at about 9am with a group of 8. Destination: Imogene Pass.

After the quick drive up toward Yankee Boy Basin, we made the left onto the Imogene Pass trail. We were immediately greeted with an optional water crossing. We plowed through 24″ of water without skipping a beat. The first half of Imogene was a BLAST! There were plenty of decent rocks, water crossings, and puddles to keep us entertained. The views were magnificent as well, this area of Colorado almost cannot be described.

Due to Kent’s unfortunate issues with altitude, I was asked to drive his truck down to Telluride so we could get him to medical attention. We moved down the mountain pretty quickly, so we didn’t get many photos of our descent. We arrived in Telluride a little after 3pm where Kent got treatment for his altitude problems. He was feeling much better by the next day.

Last Day In Ouray

At about 9am, we arrived at the parking lot where a group photo was planned. We ended up in the 3rd to last row, so our FJ didn’t stand out much in the crowd. Still it was a very cool experience. Almost 200 FJ Cruiser’s in one photo – very neat. The photo came out pretty good I think.

We invited Stan & Mike to run with us up to Yankee Boy Basin, since we didn’t make it up the day before. It turned out to be not that exciting, mostly because of the crowd of people all around. There were rental Jeeps, Subarus, and other all wheel drive vehicles everywhere. Everyone was busy snapping as many tourist photos as they could. That kind of crowd can make the scenery not so scenic.

First annual FJ summit

So, since we didn’t spend any time at Yankee Boy, we decided to hit the first half of Imogene again. With the water crossings, water falls, and fun rocks, we wanted to make sure Stan & Mike got the chance to check it out. We made it up to the cabin area of Imogene pretty quickly, got a group photo, and headed back down to Ouray.

It was lunch time, so we strolled down main street in Ouray & ended up at the Gold Belt Bar & Grill for a quick bite. We all ordered & decided to eat outside since it was such a wonderful day. The food was decent, and a reasonable price. Not fine dining, but a good quick lunch. After lunch we aired up & headed north out of town.

A Great Time

The First Annual FJ Summit was a HUGE success. Everyone had a great time and our outstanding Toyota FJ Cruisers got a good workout.

Ouray, Colorado is one of the most scenic and adventure-filled towns in the Western U.S. If you’ve been there: GO BACK, if you haven’t: MAKE PLANS. Keep in mind that the summer is a very busy time of year, so make your travel plans far in advance. Also remember that in addition to the FJ Summit, there are Jeep Jamborees and several other large events held in Ouray every year. You’ll want to know what’s happening in Ouray during your visit. Check the Ouray Event Calendar to find out more.

While our trip focused on off-roading, there are plenty of other activities including Hiking, Mountain Biking, and Mine Tours. In the winter months, you can observe or try out the world famous Ouray Ice Climbing Park, or head up into the mountains on cross-country skis or snowshoes.

Where to stay?

When we’re in Ouray, we always stay at the Box Canyon Lodge. They have fair rates, clean rooms, and excellent service. We also really enjoy their 2-4 person authentic wood barrel hot springs. If rooms are not available at the Box Canyon, there are plenty of other hotels available.

Outfitters

If you don’t own a 4wd vehicle, you can still experience the off road trails in the Ouray area. There are several Jeep Rental services. We recommend Switzerland of America Jeep Rentals. They have excellent service, very good vehicles, and reasonable rates. If you’re not inclined to drive a 4×4, consider taking an off-road tour.