5 Passes in Three Days

[Tom]

So I am making plans for the first week of Aug when my company shuts down. Still tentative and changeable based upon responses.


Leave Longmont early on Sat. Aug 1. Drive to St Elmo by Buena Vista and run Tincup Pass followed by Napoleon Pass. From there into Pitkin and down to Gunnison for the night.
Sunday Aug 2 drive to Lake City and run Engineer Pass followed by Cinnamon Pass. Drive back and spend the night in Gunnison.
Monday Aug 2 Drive 30 min to Crested Butte and run Schofield pass to Marble, then down to Glenwood Springs and home.


Anyone want to join in. Will be making motel reservations in Gunnison soon.
Only one of these I've run anytime recently is Tincup.

Tincup
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=120


Napolean
http://www.4x4explore.com/rds/n_rds/napoleon_ps.html


Engineer
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=300


Cinnamon
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=298


Schofield
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=45

[Java]

Looks like a great trip! If you're not familiar already you might want to check out rockymountianoverland.com, it sounds like the type of trip they do. A few people from here are members there too.

[ExplorerTom]

I was interested until I read "motel". And I have next to zero vacation.

[Java]

I've stayed at this place http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Colorado.html a couple of times and would recommend it. Nothing fancy, but it's been very clean and the coffee was good.

[Jim]

This is right up my alley. A rather firm yes.

I visited Moab (first time in the jeep) last season and I want to visit southwest CO this season and this cracks that door.

[Tom]

Jim previously posted:

[Tom]

So Jim is very interested in this and had some ideas.

Sat Aug 1. same as I originally posted. Leave home to St Elmo, run Tincup Pass and Napoleon Passes. Spend the night in Gunnison.
Sun Aug 2. Drive to Lake City and run Engineer pass. Spend the night near Ouray/Telluride
Mon Aug 3 Black Bear Pass and Imogene Pass or Ophir Pass Night near Montrose
Tues Aug 4 Run some of the Uncompahgre Plateau before heading home or heading to the Holy Cross run.

If you are at all interested please add your thoughts to the discussion. We want to make any reservations by the weekend.

[cfr]

Schofield Pass is recommended to be run in the other direction (Marble to Crested Butte). Won't matter much except for the part of the shelf road that's off-camber on a turn where the road is just wide enough for one vehicle. Uphill has the right of way and you'd be going downhill there. Send someone on foot out front to manage that so you don't have to back up.

If you're doing Schofield Pass, combine it with Lead King Basin and the detour to Crystal Mill. LKB is a stunningly beautiful trail.

[Tom]

Did some checking there are currently rooms available in Ouray.

So I am thinking based upon our trails.
8-1 stay at Gunnison
8-2 stay at Ouray. (Ouray prices are much higher than the other two towns)
8-3 stay at Montrose

[Jim]

Tom previously posted:

[Tom]

65 and up Gunnison and Montrose. 125 Ouray.

Gunnison 8-1
Seasons Inn.
970.641.0700

ABC motel
970.641.2400

Ouray. 8-2
Ouray chalet
970.325.4331

Timber Ridge Lodge
970.387.3790

8-3 Montrose
Black Canyon Motel
800.348.3495

No I haven't made reservations yet. These are just what I am thinking.

[Daubut]

I will be in Buena on the weekend of Aug 1st I will run Tin Cup with you guys.

[Jim]

Daubut previously posted:

[Tom]

Agree with Jim on the drop ins. Jim. How does one night in Ouray sound to you? I know its a bit pricey.

Thinking Yankee Boy Basin for Sunday PM.
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=81

Wild flowers there are said to be spectacular.

[Tom]

Daubut previously posted:

[Tom]

Planned run thread title "4 Days of fun wheeling SW Colorado (Aug 1 - 4)
On the calendar one entry for each day.