Front Range 4x4 Upcoming Trail Runs - Add a New Trail Run

Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Switzerland Trail January 3, 2021

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Member
    #2036
    Last Online
    September 8th, 2023
    Location
    Broomfield
    4x4
    2005 Wrangler Unlimited (LJ)
    Posts
    1,844
    User Name
    open_circuit
    Real Name
    Trent
    Thanks Given
    586
    Thanked 811 Times in 483 Posts

    Default Switzerland Trail January 3, 2021



    Mike and I met Shane at the southwestern trail head of Switzerland trail for a mostly clear, blustery day of wheeling. We found very little snow in the Nederland area on the way to the trail, so we were not surprised to find the trail also holding very little snow. I was surprised that the trail was not icy and the snow pack helped to smooth the bumps of the trail. We encountered a few other trail users while making quick progress through the southern half of the trail.

    We stopped for lunch at the Mt Alto picnic area. This proved to be a mistake due to the strong gusty winds here. We ate quickly before the wind began to blow items out of the bed of Mike's truck. We retreated to the vehicles to retrieve the items and secure our vehicles. As we loaded up, a wind gust took the passenger door from my wife's hand and caused the door retaining strap to fail. The door blew into the A-pillar. Fortunately the plastic mirror housing on the passenger door collided with the bracket for my doorless mirror, mangling the bracket. I'll need to beg some help to weld the mirror bracket back together, but I suppose the bracket saved my sheet metal from taking a big hit in this instance.

    Since the southern portion of the trail had little snow, we decided to try the northern portion. We found similar conditions here and had no trouble completing the northern part of the trail. As we passed the base of the cliffhanger spur, I noticed a new fence blocking the staging area at the base of the climb where we usually gather when we run this spur as a group. There is no obvious place for rigs to group up here any longer. I did not see any fences blocking access to the spur, but we did not attempt the climb today.

    We aired up at the northern trail head and then planned to head to the Caribou town site near Nederlend to see the building remains on our way home. A few hundred yards after leaving the trail head, we were flagged down by a couple who had stranded their car at the base of a snowy hill. Shane happily agreed to help pull them out. Shane gathered a tow strap and shackle while I explained to the couple where to find their factory tow point and the two hook/eyelet stored with their jack. Shane strapped them up and easily towed them up the hill. We continued on to the Caribou town site, then broke as each of us headed for home.








  2. The Following 4 Members Say Thanks to open_circuit For This Post:

    goSlo (January 4th, 2021),speedkills (January 4th, 2021),Tom (January 3rd, 2021),TyTheJeepGuy (January 4th, 2021)

  3. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Member
    #921
    Last Online
    2 Hours Ago
    Location
    Fort Collins
    4x4
    1990 Jeep Wrangler (YJ)
    Posts
    10,057
    User Name
    Jim
    Real Name
    Jim Williamson
    Thanks Given
    2,462
    Thanked 3,008 Times in 2,005 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland Trail January 3, 2021



    How was the new top? Rattles / nicely quiet?

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Member
    #2036
    Last Online
    September 8th, 2023
    Location
    Broomfield
    4x4
    2005 Wrangler Unlimited (LJ)
    Posts
    1,844
    User Name
    open_circuit
    Real Name
    Trent
    Thanks Given
    586
    Thanked 811 Times in 483 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland Trail January 3, 2021



    Jim previously posted:
    "How was the new top? Rattles / nicely quiet?"

    Yep, found a few things that needed adjusting. I'll be addressing those this week.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Member
    #1973
    Last Online
    3 Weeks Ago
    Location
    Allenspark / Peak-to-Peak Highway
    4x4
    2021 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon Xtreme Recon
    Posts
    2,294
    User Name
    RockyMtRebel
    Real Name
    Matt
    Thanks Given
    401
    Thanked 925 Times in 550 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland Trail January 3, 2021



    Nice! Yea I noticed at the base of Cliffhanger 2.0 they blocked off what used to be a "parking area" but the road to the top is open. I was seriously considering driving out there to meet you guys for the northern section but I was too lazy.....
    ___________
    2005 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon TJ
    2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Xtreme Recon edition
    2023 Ford F150 Raptor


  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Member
    #1028
    Last Online
    4 Hours Ago
    Location
    Longmont
    Age
    72
    4x4
    '12 Jeep Wrangler Sport 2.5" lift, 33s, winch
    Posts
    5,074
    User Name
    Tom
    Real Name
    Tom
    Thanks Given
    2,400
    Thanked 1,234 Times in 933 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland Trail January 3, 2021



    RockyMtRebel previously posted:
    "Nice! Yea I noticed at the base of Cliffhanger 2.0 they blocked off what used to be a "parking area" but the road to the top is open. I was seriously considering driving out there to meet you guys for the northern section but I was too lazy....."

    The FS was installing those the last time I ran it. Weds. Nov. 18th. Jackie was with me.
    ___________
    Tom
    -.- . ----- .-- - -.-.

Similar Threads

  1. Switzerland Trail. 11-18
    By Tom in forum 2) Planned Trail Runs
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: November 16th, 2020, 01:26 PM
  2. Switzerland Trail
    By Tom in forum General Topics
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: April 25th, 2020, 04:37 PM
  3. Replies: 28
    Last Post: December 8th, 2017, 08:33 AM
  4. Switzerland trail and Pennsylvania gulch trail.
    By jtygartjr in forum 1) Trail Run Planning
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: April 28th, 2014, 05:16 PM
  5. Switzerland Trail 5-26-12
    By RonnieD in forum 3) Trail Run Reports
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: May 28th, 2012, 05:27 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
BACK TO TOP