Member III
COLORADO FRONT RANGERS: Any interest in a trip to Hermit, Hayden and Medano Passes (Great Sand Dunes)?
- Thread starter Neal A. Tew
- Start date
Advocate III
I can find out my drill schedule by tomorrow or Sunday for sure. If I'm flying or not can be random because pilots here tend to get "sick" quite often when they're on call. I may encounter a serious case of overlanditis that weekend too
Clearance wont be as big an issue. Im on 35s and 6” lift in the truck. If I can get my jeep out of the garage, dialed in and see how it tows the trailer with its deep gears, I may have that as option. If not, I’ll trade vehicles with the wife and take her jeep.
Advocate III
So we're definitely in for the July 26-28 dates. The lady and I both work Friday, so were we all planning to convoy out of Denver Friday evening, assuming we all live in the area? Or rallying at the first camp site?
Member III
Enthusiast I
Neal, just wanted to say thank you for putting these events together. This is more activity for this region in the last couple of months than I've seen in the several years I've been an OB member combined! Unfortunately I am out of town for June Jam and have family in town for this event. They've never been to CO and wanted to do a little off-roading so we've planned Lake City and the Alpine Loop. Normally, I wouldn't be worried but not sure what it will look like this year with all the snow. My backup... a loop from the house through Medano and Hayden passes.
For anyone wondering, Medano, Hayden, and Hermit are all doable in about anything with 4wd and a bit of clearance. In other words, a Carrera 4S would be a no but a Forester would probably be a yes. The most difficult thing about Medano would be some water crossings that probably (this year is a bit exceptional) won't be above the hubs and some soft sand near the dunes (there is an air compressor at the park if you need to air down but it would be helpful to have someone equipped in case it is inop or you're going west to east). Hayden... more difficult going west to east simply for a long, rocky climb from Villa Grove. A locker makes it pretty straightforward but it can certainly be done with open diffs. A few tight switchbacks for the bigger guys but certainly doable. Hermit is just as Neal says... annoyingly rough. Nothing very technical about it, just bumpy. Airing down helps. Some beautiful scenery on all these routes.
Neal, again, thank you. If there is anything I can do to help out, let me know. Happy to help in any way I can.
Member III
That is very kind of you to say. I appreciate it very much.
Sorry to hear you're out of town!
What dates are you planning the loop?
A few of us from the Pueblo West Amateur Radio Club will be over there the 2nd weekend of July. We'd love to have you along!
Thanks for the offer! I will take you up on that very soon......as in right now!
Let's find some dates that work for you and get something planned. Are there any places you'd like to make a trip to?
Enthusiast I
Very kind of you to offer, Neal. Right now it looks like we’ll be out there 3rd week in July.
Thanks for the offer! I will take you up on that very soon......as in right now!
LOL... well, how is that for service?! Tell you what... let me talk to the cruise director (wife) and I’ll get back to you. I have a habit of double booking our activities. Thanks again, Neal!
Tried Medano twice last month, with water making it over the hood of the GX both times... made it 7 crossings before road closure, thus camping, then 4 crossings and turn around and went back home... Should be perfectly fine last weekend in July for my birthday weekend!
Unfortunately, I'll be traveling to TX that weekend :(
Unfortunately, I'll be traveling to TX that weekend :(
Member III
Here's a good source to check before you go:
Advocate III
Well fellas, we gave the Alpine Loop the ole’ college try and failed lol. We entered from the Ouray side and made it a whopping 0.72 miles before we hit an about 3-4’ deep avy pile across the trail. Tried again from Silverton and made it about 10 miles before encountering the same, this time about 8’ deep and a good 150yds wide. Guy at the mine museum said the passes will be closed until the end of July. Bummer. Either way we had a good time. Here’s a few pics.
We’ll be heading to Moab tomorrow where the trails are a little more feasible [emoji108]
We’ll be heading to Moab tomorrow where the trails are a little more feasible [emoji108]
Here's a good source to check before you go:
Neal,
Yep, that is a great source of info... We like making the drive down to the dunes since it's only a few hours away from the house.
Lots of nice sights and places to let the pups run around on the way.
Advocate III
After this weekend, my confidence offroading is getting better and better. I'd like to do this trip. I'll be leaving the Denver/Highlands Ranch area Friday after work as well (5:00), so @Hanotheflyinhawaiian we could caravan too. I'll need to confirm with my wife to make sure that weekend is still open, but I'm really interested.
Member III
Great!
This is contingent on all of these trails opening up. I'll try to go ahead and create the Rally Point this week.
Advocate III
Sounds groovy. PM me when it gets a little closer to the trip and I'll shoot you my number so we can coordinate.
Member III
Member III
I don't have much confidence that Medano Pass to the Sand Dunes is going to open in time for this trip.
I did see that Hayden Pass is open.
I haven't heard anything about Hermit, but since it's just up and back it won't be a big deal if we can't summit. (This was optional planned for Friday.)
In my experience, the Dunes park will be crowded on the weekend.
If indeed Medano doesn't open, do we still want to try to make something work in this area? We still have Hermit and Hayden, but I think the primary interest was the dunes. Or should we look at other areas? I know some of the better trails around Buena Vista are being opened up as we speak.
What say each of you? Are you only interested in the Dunes or would you be interested in an alternative?
I did see that Hayden Pass is open.
I haven't heard anything about Hermit, but since it's just up and back it won't be a big deal if we can't summit. (This was optional planned for Friday.)
In my experience, the Dunes park will be crowded on the weekend.
If indeed Medano doesn't open, do we still want to try to make something work in this area? We still have Hermit and Hayden, but I think the primary interest was the dunes. Or should we look at other areas? I know some of the better trails around Buena Vista are being opened up as we speak.
What say each of you? Are you only interested in the Dunes or would you be interested in an alternative?
Advocate III
I'm sorry guys, we wont be able to make this trip after all. I'll keep an eye out for the next one!
Member III
MEDANO IS FINALLY OPEN! ANYONE??
Medano Pass Primitive Road - Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)
Medano Pass Primitive Road - Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)
