The Big Meander, Summer 2011
- Thread starter scarysharkface
- Start date
scarysharkface
Explorer
Thanks! Glad to be back!
scarysharkface
Explorer
So we popped into Silverton to walk around a bit..
A little something for everyone..
The End of the Line..
We found a place to grab some lunch. It was touristy and expensive and not all that good, but...
Again, a little something for everyone..
The drive back to Ouray gave us a chance to appreciate the engineering that went into building this stretch of road, hugging the sides of the mountains as it does..
That evening we drove back into town for the fireworks..
Pretty, but we probably won't be doing that again..
By the time the show was over we were completely ready to crawl into the bags and get some sleep..
John
A little something for everyone..
The End of the Line..
We found a place to grab some lunch. It was touristy and expensive and not all that good, but...
Again, a little something for everyone..
The drive back to Ouray gave us a chance to appreciate the engineering that went into building this stretch of road, hugging the sides of the mountains as it does..
That evening we drove back into town for the fireworks..
Pretty, but we probably won't be doing that again..
By the time the show was over we were completely ready to crawl into the bags and get some sleep..
John
Bubblegoose1
@PNWINFERNOPRO
Thank you for sharing this great trip and all of the photos. I am working on a plan to loop down through Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, then hit the Western States on the way back to WA. This is awesome inspiration. 
scarysharkface
Explorer
Thank you for sharing this great trip and all of the photos. I am working on a plan to loop down through Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, then hit the Western States on the way back to WA. This is awesome inspiration.
Thanks! I've been awful about finishing this, I know. Work and home have both been busy and I just haven't carved out the time to even surf ExPo. Gotta change that.
John
scarysharkface
Explorer
July 5th and we head out to drive some trails..
Colin with the makeshift inclinometer..
Beautiful views..
Some company out on the trail..
The colors are impressive..
More company..
John
Colin with the makeshift inclinometer..
Beautiful views..
Some company out on the trail..
The colors are impressive..
More company..
John
scarysharkface
Explorer
One of the folks we saw earlier is hung up on the trail. If memory serves, it's either a vapor-lock issue or the ignition..
We clear the trail and kick around a bit while they let the unit cool down..
They get it going again and head back down the mountain. We continue upward..
Keep in mind this is July 5th..
Quick stop at the pit toilet, then this..
Saltydog86 from advrider. We camped in the same campground but never met. Planning to meet him this August in Upper Wisconsin..
These switchbacks are tight, and I'd hate to have an equipment failure here..
Also, one sees a variety of hardware out here..
The views are absolutely stunning. Photography doesn't do it justice. At least MY photography doesn't. And the smell of fresh air...
Have I mentioned how much I love fuel injection?
It's still fairly early in the day, but the skies are starting to get all kinds of dark. The weather, as you folks are well aware, changes quickly up here..
I love this stuff. I absolutely love it..
The folks on these four wheelers looked cold and miserable. We're happy to be in the Jeep and not on the motorcycles today, although I'm thinking this is a perfect KLR road..
We wait out a storm. 30 minutes can seem like a long time on the side of a mountain with lightning all around..
But it passes..
This is a harsh environment to earn a living, but then I'm sure it's glorious when the sun is shining..
Scenes such as this remind me a great deal of Southcentral Alaska..
More company..
We continue our slog to the top..
John
We clear the trail and kick around a bit while they let the unit cool down..
They get it going again and head back down the mountain. We continue upward..
Keep in mind this is July 5th..
Quick stop at the pit toilet, then this..
Saltydog86 from advrider. We camped in the same campground but never met. Planning to meet him this August in Upper Wisconsin..
These switchbacks are tight, and I'd hate to have an equipment failure here..
Also, one sees a variety of hardware out here..
The views are absolutely stunning. Photography doesn't do it justice. At least MY photography doesn't. And the smell of fresh air...
Have I mentioned how much I love fuel injection?
It's still fairly early in the day, but the skies are starting to get all kinds of dark. The weather, as you folks are well aware, changes quickly up here..
I love this stuff. I absolutely love it..
The folks on these four wheelers looked cold and miserable. We're happy to be in the Jeep and not on the motorcycles today, although I'm thinking this is a perfect KLR road..
We wait out a storm. 30 minutes can seem like a long time on the side of a mountain with lightning all around..
But it passes..
This is a harsh environment to earn a living, but then I'm sure it's glorious when the sun is shining..
Scenes such as this remind me a great deal of Southcentral Alaska..
More company..
We continue our slog to the top..
John
scarysharkface
Explorer
Awesome.
And we're there...
Lots of people out today..
These couple of pictures are way out of sequence I think, looking back on Animas Forks. I guess I need to work on my sorting..
Whatever. Here's another beauty shot..
John
And we're there...
Lots of people out today..
These couple of pictures are way out of sequence I think, looking back on Animas Forks. I guess I need to work on my sorting..
Whatever. Here's another beauty shot..
John
Bubblegoose1
@PNWINFERNOPRO
Thanks again for sharing. Amazing
scarysharkface
Explorer
Thanks greatly! Glad you're enjoying!
scarysharkface
Explorer
Beautiful country..
Cinnamon Pass..
We hit these switchbacks and I'm amazed how slippery they are. I have to be very careful getting the front end around each tight corner. It feels like it just wants to go straight. I go very slow and it's okay. Doesn't look like it should be slick though, so I wonder what's up with that?
We motor along slowly, taking it all in..
Okay, something's DEFINITELY WRONG.
I pull to the side of the road at a wide spot, chock the rear wheels with a couple of good-sized rocks and have a look-see..
Aw, pooo! The front trackbar mount has liberated itself from the front axle housing. I guess there is little choice but to remove as much as I can and figure out how to nurse this thing down the mountain.
The locals just watch while enjoying some snacks..
It sure looks as though this has been mostly-broken forever. That's sure not good. Happily it failed at a very low speed instead of out on the highway somewhere in the mountains. Unhappily it failed pretty far from civilization. C'est la vie..
Colin and Tracy are anticipating some big fun now. It's all over their faces..
I nurse the poor beast down the mountain at a crawl. A little bit of planning and a lot of patience and the only things frayed are my nerves. A couple had passed while I was working on it and had notified the sheriff that we were having problems on the mountain. An hour or more later and we were able to meet him at wide pullout. A wrecker was enroute, and we all had visions of losing the house to pay for this.
We enjoyed the time, taking pictures and just generally acting like the flatlanders we are, having a time in the mountains..
More to come..
John
Cinnamon Pass..
We hit these switchbacks and I'm amazed how slippery they are. I have to be very careful getting the front end around each tight corner. It feels like it just wants to go straight. I go very slow and it's okay. Doesn't look like it should be slick though, so I wonder what's up with that?
We motor along slowly, taking it all in..
Okay, something's DEFINITELY WRONG.
I pull to the side of the road at a wide spot, chock the rear wheels with a couple of good-sized rocks and have a look-see..
Aw, pooo! The front trackbar mount has liberated itself from the front axle housing. I guess there is little choice but to remove as much as I can and figure out how to nurse this thing down the mountain.
The locals just watch while enjoying some snacks..
It sure looks as though this has been mostly-broken forever. That's sure not good. Happily it failed at a very low speed instead of out on the highway somewhere in the mountains. Unhappily it failed pretty far from civilization. C'est la vie..
Colin and Tracy are anticipating some big fun now. It's all over their faces..
I nurse the poor beast down the mountain at a crawl. A little bit of planning and a lot of patience and the only things frayed are my nerves. A couple had passed while I was working on it and had notified the sheriff that we were having problems on the mountain. An hour or more later and we were able to meet him at wide pullout. A wrecker was enroute, and we all had visions of losing the house to pay for this.
We enjoyed the time, taking pictures and just generally acting like the flatlanders we are, having a time in the mountains..
More to come..
John