San Juan Mountains Epic Adventure 2012

[FishPOET]

About 1/2 way up the Mineral Creek trail we turned right onto Poughkeepsie Gulch

Until today most of the trails we have been on are of the fire road type. Very scenic but not much technical challenge. Mineral Creek has some tougher sections and Poughkeepsie Gulch has a genuine black diamond obstacle.

Waterfall near the start of Poughkeepsie Gulch

This could easily be a magazine cover

The Obstacle - the middle line

The Obstacle - line to the right

The Obstacle - line to the left. Mike made it look easy and never spun his tires once.

Lunch at Lake Como

More Poughkeepsie Gulch photos can be seen here

To be continued...

 

[28.]

gorgeous.....

 

[FishPOET]

Poughkeepsie Gulch ends at a 3 way intersection with Hurricane Pass and California Gulch. We took California Gulch

At California Pass 12,960'

View of Lake Como from California Pass

Trail from California Pass down into California Gulch

Frisco Mill in California Gulch

More California Gulch photos can be seen here

To be continued...

 

[bobDog]

Nice report....I grew up wheeling all over that area when Black Bear was 2 way and you took your chances. Wow thanks.



Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk 2

 

[FishPOET]

Heading down California Gulch we took the fork to the right which put us into Placer Gulch

Looking down Placer Gulch towards California Gulch

Sound Democrat Mill is the highlight of Placer Gulch

There are a couple of different tramways located in Placer Gulch

The climb out of Placer Gulch

More Placer Gulch photos can be seen here

To be continued...

 

[FishPOET]

We climbed up out of Placer Gulch and ran the ridge between Placer and Picayne Gulches. We went down Picayne Gulch.

Heading down

Bonnie Belle Cabin

Treasure Mountain Mining Company

More Picayne Gulch photos can be seen here

To be continued...

 

[OverlandZJ]

After Gold King Basin we made our way back down to CO145 and then North over to the western edge of Telluride. We took Airport Road almost to the airport to find our last trail of the day Last Dollar Road

The rain was coming down hard on the way out of town but let up after a few minutes.

Lunch stop. We could see rain all around us but we were in the eye of the storm. After 1/2 hour the lighting and thunder started and it turned out to be quite a show.

The quote of the day "We started the day on the Million Dollar Highway and ended on Last Dollar Road"

Last Dollar... brings back memories, particuarly the storms. Pic from 98...

Love the QOTD..

 

[FishPOET]

At the bottom of Picayne Gulch we turned left on CR2. We took CR2 to California Gulch. We took California Gulch to the 3 way intersection with Poughkeepsie Gulch and Hurricane Pass. We took Hurricane Pass

Lake Como from Hurricane Pass

Hurricane Pass 12,730'

Hurricane Pass trail

Old mine structure

More Hurricane Pass photos can be seen here

To be continued...

 

[FishPOET]

There is a spur off Hurricane Pass that leads to two overlooks. The first overlook has vistas of the top of Eureka Gulch. The second overlook climbs to over 13,200' and has spectacular views of California Gulch, Gray Copper Gulch, Corkscrew Gulch, Ross Basin, Hurricane Peak, Hanson Peak and more. We took the Hurricane Pass Overlook Trail.

13,200'

We climbed another 100' to a little peak for a group picture at over 13,300'

Looking at California Gulch

Looking at Ross Basin & Grey Copper Gulch

I highly recommend looking at the whole Hurricane Pass Overlook album

To be continued...

 

[Glenn C]

you sir are living my (winning the lottery explore the us by 4x4 ) dream i love your set up and hope you enjoy this trip even half as much as
I love reading it

 

[NothingClever]

Nice trip. Y'all did a bunch of the best!

 

[FishPOET]

After coming down Hurricane Pass we took the right fork to Corkscrew Gulch and quickly took the next right fork to Gray Copper Gulch

The trail in

The view West

The view East (my favorite photo of the trip)

More Gray Copper Gulch photos can be seen here

To be continued...

 

[FishPOET]

After visiting the lakes on Gray Copper Gulch we turned around and headed back to Corkscrew Gulch. We took Corkscrew Gulch West to Highway 550. It was the last trail of the day.

To be continued...

 

[Smksignals]

You know a trip is epic when it take multiple days to post the report. Thanks for the pix Doug. Looks like an amazing time.

 

[FishPOET]

On Saturday August 11 we were down to 5 rigs as many of our group had started to head for home. Our first trail of the day was Kendall Mountain

Molas Pass & Molas Lake from Kendall Mountain

Silverton & the Million Dollar Highway from 12,700' on Kendall Mountain

Meadow on Kendall Mountain

Just another boring lunch location. Nothing to see here

More Kendall Mountain photos can be seen here

To be continued...