2020-12-13 - Bunce School Road & Ironclads

[Jim]

A group of seven vehicles ended up for Bunce today. I had two guest vehicles. Trent had one guest vehicle. Shane had one vehicle at the trailhead ask if they could tag along - certainly! Eddie (sp?) in a silver vehicle.

The seven of us headed south on Bunce with a goal of the southern gate. From there, depending upon conditions, we'd look at Ironclads. I was in front to start and once we came to the Ironclads intersection there were no fresh tracks in the snow - first tracks since the last snowfall (last night). At least I could reasonably expect to not meet someone coming out. Snow on Bunce was perhaps about the same in Fort Collins - three inches??? All of us progressed to the southern gate in easy fashion.

Heading out from the gate, to Ironclads, we encountered two or three side-by-sides and one jeep. Everyone was at least a bit curious to see Ironclads so all of us headed to the first pull out / camp area to talk about it. Trent's guest decided to sit out while the the silver vehicle wished to see the ledge. We chose to drive clockwise, if we could. Five of us made it up the ledge - at the extreme easy end as there was no snow filling in the low side of it. The silver vehicle looked at it and chose to leave.

The five headed up. The ice chute area after the ledge was not icy and everyone made it up easily. It wasn't long before the 120 deg turn came to us - and it was another decision point. Trent and Mike turned back while I, guest, and Shane made it up. Once at the top (an easy trek) we started down the other side. It wasn't slippery and we didn't meet anyone coming up. Back to the beginning of Ironclads, who was left stopped for a quick chat before each heading out. I and one guest went out via the east trailhead.

With full sun and near zero for breeze, it was a nice day.

Highlight photos here with a full set at this link:
www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2020-12-13--trail--bunce-school-road--ironclads/


























The silver vehicle that joined in...

[Steve-O]

Looks like it was a good time! Bummed I had to miss out!

[Jaycifer]

Looks like a great time! I have to test out my new 32” duratracs sooner than later hopefully I can join in the next few

[open_circuit]

I have a couple videos of Shane and his LR4 from the ironclads.

Going up the ledge:


The snowy corner where I decided to give up. Before Shane made this heroic (wild?) charge up the hill, I watched Jim's friend in a late model Rubicon struggle for several minutes to get up this section. With my open diffs, I didn't even try due to the large tree and root on the left and the big rock on the right. I had visions of body damage floating through my mind as I considered making a run like Shane did.

[RockyMtRebel]

Looks fun! I would have joined had I been in town, just got back last night. Shane, I still have your hat, sitting her at my office with me

[speedkills]

I completely forgot I left my hat in your truck, which explains why I couldn't find it after searching all over the other day! Damn I'm forgetful.

[speedkills]

I've never run with another Rover before so when I saw Eddie at the trailhead airing down I invited him to join us. It was his first time doing real trails in his new Defender and it did great, especially considering it was on all-season tires that definitely weren't the best tool for the job. I know there are some serious reliability issues with the new Defenders but watching it work I think they will be a pretty great overland rig if they get those ironed out. The new Terrain Response traction control on those Defenders is definitely a step up from the version I have on my Rovers and it was really fun to watch the computer do it's thing to keep him going with those tires.

[Jim]

Silver Rover - what's the silver box above the right rear tire / covering the window?

[open_circuit]

Jim previously posted:

[speedkills]

Hopefully Eddie will join the site, but I know from looking at the new Defenders that it's an external storage box, to make it look more overlandy. They have a few different offroad packages with things like an external shower, onboard compressor, stuff like that.

[open_circuit]

speedkills previously posted:

[speedkills]

Only the Range Rover is much more expensive, but I think to most Range Rover is synonymous with Land Rover.