The BN Guy
Expedition Leader
I do miss those wide open spaces.
IntrepidXpedition 2007
- Thread starter IntrepidXJ
- Start date
OKRCON
New member
Hey man. Cool pics and nice rig. I actually crossed paths with you on Tincup pass. You were headed to St Elmo and we were headed to Tincup. We were in the khaki Rubicon that passed by near the top of the actual pass. I saw your Expedition Portal Sticker and decided to come here and look you up. BTW, thanks for expending the energy to lift a few fingers to wave on the trail. That seemed to be a rarity up there. Wish I were still up there running the trails. A week wasn't long enough.
IntrepidXJ
Explorer
OKRCON said:
ah...cool....i do believe i remember passing you up there....very nice trail
IntrepidXJ
Explorer
Day 8
Day 8
Again, I had a meeting that lasted most of the day, but was still able to squeeze in a little bit of wheeling afterwards.
Today I ended up heading out to Bangs Canyon (which is right by Billings Canyon....which I ran last year in my other XJ). After that, I quickly ran out to 21 Road and ran the easier section Wally and I skipped last year. Here's some pics:
Looking back towards Junction
Heading down into Bangs canyon
Posing rock at the top of the other side of the canyon
Looking back at the ridge that took me down into the canyon
Storm rolling in
21 Road into the Book Cliffs
A little crawling on 21 Road
Tomorrow I head back into Silverton.
Day 8
Again, I had a meeting that lasted most of the day, but was still able to squeeze in a little bit of wheeling afterwards.
Today I ended up heading out to Bangs Canyon (which is right by Billings Canyon....which I ran last year in my other XJ). After that, I quickly ran out to 21 Road and ran the easier section Wally and I skipped last year. Here's some pics:
Looking back towards Junction
Heading down into Bangs canyon
Posing rock at the top of the other side of the canyon
Looking back at the ridge that took me down into the canyon
Storm rolling in
21 Road into the Book Cliffs
A little crawling on 21 Road
Tomorrow I head back into Silverton.
I just missed those storms and was able to hit Ophir, Black Bear and some others. It would rain heavily every night. Looks like Mother Nature finally won and closed some trails down. The San Juans are absolutely incredibly.
Good luck on your trip and keep positing the great pics.
Good luck on your trip and keep positing the great pics.
IntrepidXJ
Explorer
Day 9 (1 day late)
Started out the day with a little drive through the CO National Monument to get to Rattlesnake Canyon
Looking down into Rattlesnake Canyon
Then I headed over to Cimarron and took Owl Creek pass back towards Ouray
Chimney Rock
Black Bear was still closed and the fact that it rained all night didn't help either. So I guess I will have to run it another time.
Started out the day with a little drive through the CO National Monument to get to Rattlesnake Canyon
Looking down into Rattlesnake Canyon
Then I headed over to Cimarron and took Owl Creek pass back towards Ouray
Chimney Rock
Black Bear was still closed and the fact that it rained all night didn't help either. So I guess I will have to run it another time.
IntrepidXJ
Explorer
Day 10 (yesterday)
Well, I had been in Colorado for over a week, so it was time to head out. Yesterday I left Silverton and headed over Ophir pass (and was able to get all the way across this time).
The side of Ophir I missed the first time
After making it across, I headed for Gateway, CO where I entered John Brown Canyon
From there I took the Castleton-Gateway Road towards Castleton......back side of the La Sals (If you consider the front side from Moab)
View from the top of Polar Mesa (much better in person)
Then I took Thompson Canyon to Onion Creek
Took the short side trip to Fisher Towers
Gassede up in Moab and hit La Sal Pass. It was pretty tight until you got over the pass. There was also this talus slope
Mt Peale at the pass
Looped around and took Geyser Pass back....view from the top
Well, I had been in Colorado for over a week, so it was time to head out. Yesterday I left Silverton and headed over Ophir pass (and was able to get all the way across this time).
The side of Ophir I missed the first time
After making it across, I headed for Gateway, CO where I entered John Brown Canyon
From there I took the Castleton-Gateway Road towards Castleton......back side of the La Sals (If you consider the front side from Moab)
View from the top of Polar Mesa (much better in person)
Then I took Thompson Canyon to Onion Creek
Took the short side trip to Fisher Towers
Gassede up in Moab and hit La Sal Pass. It was pretty tight until you got over the pass. There was also this talus slope
Mt Peale at the pass
Looped around and took Geyser Pass back....view from the top
IntrepidXJ
Explorer
Day 10 (continued)
Finally, I went up and down the first section of Moab Rim
Finally, I went up and down the first section of Moab Rim
IntrepidXJ
Explorer
Day 11
Shorter day today for me. Have a few things I need to take care of on the Jeep once it cools down.
Anyways, I started the day heading over Hurrah Pass
Then went out to Chicken Corners
From there I headed over to Lockhart Basin, which is very difficult to find the start of. Once I found it, I headed up a few miles into the canyon, but decided to turn around as I decided I really didn;t want to run a trail that long today.
So instead, I headed over to Shafer trail. Overlooking the Colorado
Looking back at the trail (and switchbacks)
Shorter day today for me. Have a few things I need to take care of on the Jeep once it cools down.
Anyways, I started the day heading over Hurrah Pass
Then went out to Chicken Corners
From there I headed over to Lockhart Basin, which is very difficult to find the start of. Once I found it, I headed up a few miles into the canyon, but decided to turn around as I decided I really didn;t want to run a trail that long today.
So instead, I headed over to Shafer trail. Overlooking the Colorado
Looking back at the trail (and switchbacks)
Last edited:
whitetaco66
New member
Very beautiflu! Thanks for the pics!:safari-rig:
The BN Guy
Expedition Leader
Torture! More! More!
Grim Reaper
Expedition Leader
WOW! what a great trip!
I hope to make a trip like that next year and the route you took may well be the one I try to take.
I hope to make a trip like that next year and the route you took may well be the one I try to take.
IntrepidXJ
Explorer
Day 12
Well, today I started out by finding out that the water pump that I installed last Friday has gone bad already.......was leaking from the weep hole pretty badly. So I got a later start today becuase I had to take care of that.
Started out on Spring Canyon Bottom....nice overhang on the shelf road here
Then I headed down Hey Joe Canyon......but it was taking me too long and I needed to get to Green River, so I did not finish it this time.
A little overgrown
Where are those limb risers when you need them
After heading back out, I went to check out the Dellenbaugh Tunnel......unfortunately, I could not find it (The tunnel that is, I went to the end of the trail)....and I was in a hurry......so I'll have to look again next time.
Tombstone Rock
On my way back from the tunnel, I managed to find a nice rock that wanted to dent my wheel pretty badly....
Well, today I started out by finding out that the water pump that I installed last Friday has gone bad already.......was leaking from the weep hole pretty badly. So I got a later start today becuase I had to take care of that.
Started out on Spring Canyon Bottom....nice overhang on the shelf road here
Then I headed down Hey Joe Canyon......but it was taking me too long and I needed to get to Green River, so I did not finish it this time.
A little overgrown
Where are those limb risers when you need them
After heading back out, I went to check out the Dellenbaugh Tunnel......unfortunately, I could not find it (The tunnel that is, I went to the end of the trail)....and I was in a hurry......so I'll have to look again next time.
Tombstone Rock
On my way back from the tunnel, I managed to find a nice rock that wanted to dent my wheel pretty badly....
IntrepidXJ
Explorer
Day 12 (continued)
Nothing like changing a tire in the middle of the desert with no shade
I did manage to pound out the dent and fill the tire with air...and it seems to be holding. It should work OK as a spare for now, until I can replace the wheel when I get home
After that setback, I headed up Rainbow Terrace
Finally, I was originally planning on taking the Crystal Geyser trail into Green River, but because of my delays and because I was worried about my fuel level, I decided to head out on Ruby Ranch Road and hit up I-70 to take to Green River.....which looked a lot like this
Nothing like changing a tire in the middle of the desert with no shade
I did manage to pound out the dent and fill the tire with air...and it seems to be holding. It should work OK as a spare for now, until I can replace the wheel when I get home
After that setback, I headed up Rainbow Terrace
Finally, I was originally planning on taking the Crystal Geyser trail into Green River, but because of my delays and because I was worried about my fuel level, I decided to head out on Ruby Ranch Road and hit up I-70 to take to Green River.....which looked a lot like this