Yankee Hill Sun April 23

[Java]

Fun day with beautiful weather and a really nice group of people. It was nice to see everyone, nice to meet some too! Thank you, everyone who came. Yankee Hill was pretty dry for the first 1/3, but when we got to snow there was plenty of it. Eventually we had to turn back, there was a driving skills demonstration going on on a hill that we didn't want to wait out. I could see Yankee Hill from where we were, but just the top of it. It should be clear by next weekend if the weather stays warm, and I bet if you started from the Alice side you could make it today. We had no problems or breakage, just a lot of fun. Can't wait to get out again!!

The fences by the cemeteries are no joke, you can't even go to the cemeteries anymore. The Sheriff came around while we were parked at the pond by the water department and was really nice, he said it was no problem for us to meet up for 15-30 minutes to air down and such at the parking lot we were in and also the one for the reservoir on Upper Apex rd. In both places he said no trailers, and 15-30 minutes was reasonable for meet up / air down, but the lots are for people that were using the respective facilities so try to be respectful of that. Seems like a lot to ask.

So trailers have moved to the meadow on the road to the Columbine Campground. One of the pics shows the camping restriction sign with a camper behind it. This should end well.

[xaza]

We had a great time getting out, thanks for organizing this Paul. As usual the wife did a great job getting pictures, will need to make another post to fit the rest in. So will post up our trail report in the next segment.

[xaza]

When the rest of the group turned around Wylie and I headed up to see things. We passed the GC, Dakota and Commander heading back down, they said it was a winch fest. Wylie squeezed through a tight fit to a tree on an off camber snow bank, I decided to shovel some snow to level it out and it was much easier both ways. Just beyond this tree was a right hand drive diesel Land Rover that was stuck. They got him pulled out and he managed to get about 30 feet further which was where there was a winch line ready. Land Rover was pulling Jeep to him at first until they anchored it with another truck and they pulled him through. Next up was a Forerunner also with open diffs that made it to about the same spot and he was quickly winched out of the way. We got some funny looks when we asked them to move the winch line out of the way. We both made it all the way to the top without chains or winch. Decided to turn back and head back down after crossing the big snow drift. Trail is open all the way both directions for vehicles with good tires and lockers.

[Chris]

Thanks for the pics guys! Wish I could have made it but life gets in the way sometimes.

Who has the white 4Runner? It looks very familiar!

[Brad]

Very cool! Wish I could have made it. Good news is my rear diff no longer makes noise.

[Swank1975]

Wish we could have gone. The rover's not reliable enough to take it up that far from home. We did go on a drive in our bone stock 4runner and while headed up the central city parkway we passed that Green FJ40 on a trailer headed home. We ended up driving to Nederland and down to Boulder then home. Just had to get out and see the mountains before my lumbar fusion surgery in less than 2 weeks.

[Chris]

The 40 you saw on the trailer was Louis's BJ40, cool truck!

[vector07]

Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for today! It was an awesome pleasure to meet all of ya'll. Looking forward to another trip!
"Black Betty" Chris and Angie~

[Jim]

I'll jump in to say two things...

1) It's good to hear the day was well enjoyed! Thanks for the pix!

2) A bit of how the admin duties are handled. A fundamental of the group is to get out, shake the hands of others, and wheel. I have the task of matching the web forum to the real world. My updates task is really helped if everyone who was out on a run makes at least one post in the run report. If no picture is posted, just something simple of "I had a nice day". I check to see if the "Wheeler badge" for the web account is current. If not, I update it (Wheeler 2017). Once your account has a current wheeler badge, you don't really need to make posts in future run reports for the season but all of us appreciate photos and hearing how the day went. I've updated a few badges (Paul, Xaza) and will continue to do so where I see updates are needed. Thanks for helping me on this task.

edit: Chris / vector07 I saw your post in the planning thread and moved it to the Run Report thread and updated your account.

edit2: Max, did you get out today? We're really curious what vehicle that 10,000lbs winch is attached to!

[JandDGreens]

I had a very good time yesterday. Paul the drive up to the trail head was very nice. So many times diving the raceway to the trail is to tense. I have never been through the area, Thanks. Angie and Sophia You Rock! Thanks to everyone looking forward to next time.

[cornpone99]

Looks like a great time, thanks for all the the great pics and trail report.

[TJS86TOY]

Although I could not make this one, I was very curious as to conditions up there. Thank you all for posting!

[Max]

I had a nice day 😁

[78bj40]

What a great day, I decided to go at the last minute and I have no regrets!! it was great to see old faces and meet new ones. I wish we would have gone up to the top, unfortunately not knowing of how many vehicles were up there snow-bashing, we decided to turn back. It is a pain to have to park the trailer far away, I ended up parking it on CC Pkwy right before descending to town. Going down all went great but coming back on the hill where all 65 Hp was struggling but made it up in second gear!!!

[Brian]

Looked like a good time.

[RockyMtRebel]

Looks like a good time was had, sorry I couldn't make it but looking forward to the next one!

[Heather]

Bummed I couldn't make it - looks/reads like it was a blast!!

[jayson44]

you guys must have taken the "hard" route. I was up there Saturday afternoon (3pm or so) and went all the way through to Fall River Road no problems. there was snow, but it was rutted out and and passable as long as your tires weren't bald...

J.

[jayson44]

this was what the snowy parts looked like. I followed a slightly different track than the last time I went, but I just kept following the ruts and it lead me back to the main 175.1 trail.



J.

[jayson44]

also, a note about the fences: the city had those built so people would stop trespassing on the land. they will be making an official "parking spot" with proper signage in that field where everyone is parking now. not sure why they cared about that first larger parking area...most of what they were upset about was the area around the big rock pile there at the entrance and some of the other mining roads behind the north-east cemetery...

J.