Colorado Adventure 2009

[IntrepidXJ]

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...

 

[IntrepidXJ]

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

 

[IntrepidXJ]

You can see the Montezuma Basin trail in the distance

 

[IntrepidXJ]

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]

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]

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...

 

[RttH]

I am so impressed with your pics and writeup that I am heading that direction next weekend! My wife and I were looking at destinations for a 4 day weekend and your write up fit the bill! Thanks!

 

[IntrepidXJ]

I am so impressed with your pics and writeup that I am heading that direction next weekend! My wife and I were looking at destinations for a 4 day weekend and your write up fit the bill! Thanks!

glad I could help

 

[rockytopper]

Great pic's thanks for sharing. We did Medino and Hayden last year. Hayden was a bit much for our stock Z71 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27303. Luckly we only have one dent under the passenger door from the emense boulder fields. I would have had no problems in a lifted 4x4. How tuff is Pearl pass that is one we have never done.
Thanks
Rocky

 

[IntrepidXJ]

How tuff is Pearl pass that is one we have never done.
Thanks
Rocky

Much of Pearl Pass was easy....there were a few rocky sections and one rocky ledge that needed to be climbed. The final shelf road up to the pass was narrow, off-camber and a little wet with some snowmelt.

 

[Lichen]

You should consider putting all of your adventures together and publishing a western Colorado travel guide. I'd buy it.

 

[Vermejo]

Excellent Pics. Thanks for sharing a very detailed and well photographed trip. Your report has helped me make some adjustments for my upcoming exploration of the same area. Your photos were very persuasive. I had heard about the “bridge out” on the Aspen side of Pearl and was glad to see you photographed it repaired - no better proof than that. I called the Aspen Ranger this past Monday and he told me no repair was planned this season.

What would you say was your favorite run from everything you posted?

 

[IntrepidXJ]

You should consider putting all of your adventures together and publishing a western Colorado travel guide. I'd buy it.

The thought has crossed my mind, in order to help finance my future exploriations.....but I'm not really much of a writer, so I haven't really gone forward with the idea.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

What would you say was your favorite run from everything you posted?

Of the trails in the report so far (this is only 4 out of 9 days of the trip right now), I would say Pearl Pass was my favorite. Great scenery!

 

[Mr. Leary]

Great write up. I have been keeping a close eye on this thread.... keep it coming.... I am living vicariously through you :drool: