TWIN CONE +SOMETHING ELSE Saturday July 2

[jdawg33]

We are going to be running Twin Cone plus another trail in the same area Saturday, June 2nd. There are a lot of other close by trails in the nearby vicinity, so we will make a group decision as to what other trail to run (or split up into separate groups) at the top of Twin Cone or when we take a break on that trail.

Meet Time: 9:00 AM

Meeting Date: Saturday July 2

Meet place: Conifer Safeway/Starbucks. Take Hwy 285 through Aspen Park past the ACE Hardware on the right. Take the very next right turn at the overpass (Conifer Town Center Parkway), then a left at the stop sign. Take the next right turn and you will see the Safeway on the hill above you to your left. There is a gas station and a Starbucks right at the Safeway.

CB channel: 4

http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=38

This trail is fine for stock to modified vehicles as are any of the other trails we are planning to run nearby. Expect to find snow towards the top and expect not to make it to the very top of Twin Cone due to the cornices ion the ridgetop that may or may not have melted off.

Almost all of the main obstacles are optional on Twin Cone, or at least have easier bypasses.

[Aaron]

Man, you know how to pick em. I'll be in Yellowstone already...or maybe Finland.

[jdawg33]

Have a good vacation... sad your not gonna be on the run

[RockyMtnHigh]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but: http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=184649

Post 4 from the above thread:

Just talked with the Forest Service. Tomorrow is not going to happen. They said "at least a couple more weeks". Way to much snow, as the pictures show, up near the top where MSV meets Coney. Bummer. I was planning on camping up there next weekend.

[Brody]

Thanks, Jock!

People better plan something else. That much snow snow lower down on the trail, means that there is way more at the top. MSV/Coney aren't going to open in another week. No way.

[jdawg33]

Sounds like this trail is going to be delayed for sure. But I'm still game for getting out on the second. Any suggestions on where we could go?

[Brody]

How about a double run:

China Wall and then hit Twin Cone on the way back into town.
Wheeler to see how far we can get, then hit Twin cone on the way back into town.
Twin Cone and then do a little exploring on the FS roads just east of Kenosha Pass on the way back.
Twin Cone and hit the FS roads on the west side of Kenosha Pass off to the west.

Reason for Twin Cone is that all but the top part is open, and the reason for the secondary trails is that Twin Cone is a short run.

Other options include:

Mill Creek/Elephant Hill/Bill Moore Lake.

Whereas not all of these trails are open all the way right now, there is enough open to make for a great day wheeling. There are also people from quite a few different groups going out and busting these trails open almost on a daily basis, so between them and the good weather, more of the trails are going to open by July.

I was purposefully mentioning only trails that can be done by stockish rigs.

[jdawg33]

All great ideas... I'm up for twin cone and whatever else we find, like wheeler

[Haku]

Sounds like Wheeler lake is still VERY snowy. I am sure you can get up a ways, but reports say that past a certain point there are continuous four foot snow drifts and that bowling ball hill is completely snowed in.

Twin Cone should definitely be good to go by then though. I am sure there is another trail you can run nearby that is not completly snowed in.

From the sounds of it, it could be a short window for running many of the more high altitude runs this year.

[Andrew]

I know there is another group going at this exact same time.

(Though MSV probably won't be happening.)

[Robert B]

hey down by woodland park the three gulches (hackett,longwater,metberry) have been open and free of snow for a while and there are a bunch of other roads in the area to buzz around on

[Haku]

Yeah.....MSV is a no go for sure....someone posted this picture on CO4x4....

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/powerwagon67/D0851.jpg

That looks like the trailhead to me, and supposedly the Coney Flats sections is VERY deep still. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes till August for it to be completely free from Snow.

[Brody]

How about we set up the meeting time and place for Conifer Safeway, leaving the meeting time the same, with Twin Cone being the main trail. Some feedback between now and then would be nice as to what trail we run in conjunction with TC so that we can figure out what trail to actually start on. Anything west of Kenosha, we would probably want to run first.

Just my two cents. I didn't start the posing for this run, but will be happy to change all the stuff on the thread as far as trail, time, place,etc, if Rob doesn't do it or you don't.

[jdawg33]

I'm good with meeting at the conifer Safeway, hitting twin cone ad coming up with another tail between now and then. If you want Brody, pease make changes. Or should we start a new one?

[Brody]

I'll just change this one and people can make changes to their RSVPs as needed. Thanks!

[jdawg33]

That works. Thanks

[jdawg33]

Sounds like start of a good day. I have been looking forward to twin cone! Might want to fix the date though. It says june 2 in the description.

[Brody]

Duh...I have been running a month behind in a lot of things...

[Coonburger]

thinking of camping is there camping near twin cone if so how is it

[jdawg33]

The wife and I have been thinking of camping up there too, maybe Friday night and Saturday if your looking for some company. But we have no idea where to go in the area close to the run. Suggestions?

[Coonburger]

talked to my brother bout it and over by webster he knows there is some camping up by there which would be only a few miles from the trail head itself ill look up some info and see how the camping is by twin cone. ill be bringing the most badass grill ever so dont worry bout that ;).

[jdawg33]

I have to see this grill then... I'm a fan of bad ass grills! I'll do some looking around too when I get home tonight too...

[Coonburger]

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Grills-Grill-Accessories-Propane-Grills/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbxah/R-202022849/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
there she is just got her bout 5 months ago.

[jdawg33]

Well done sir, we will eat well for sure. I was banking on fire pit cooking. It would take me a week to figure out how to get it in the jeep... Benefit of the truck I think. Now just to find a place to go up there, which I think we can!

[Coonburger]

yeah my whole family is coming up so ill be loading **** up in the tahoe and the jeep and maybe a lil in my truck but my id rather not. I just went through my tool box and iam loaded with tools , a gallon of oil, tranny fluid, radiator fluild, 9 things of silicone, extra dana 60 u joint , radiator hose *upper and lower for my truck but can be adapted to get people off a trail*, and some assorted bolts. I wanna get some screwdrivers in there ill buy a big cheap pack of em to throw in there soon.

[Brody]

thinking of camping is there camping near twin cone if so how is it

There is paid FS camping at the entrance to Twin Cone at the trail head, then remote camping off of that that you don't have to pay for. On the Jefferson side of Kenosha Pass, take the very first left hand turn, a dirt road, which is the entrance to the northwest side of the Lost Creek Wilderness Area. There is all sorts of camping off either side of this road. If you go to Jefferson and take a left turn onto Tarryall Road, there are FS roads that branch off from both sides of this , all with free camping. Farther down Tarryall Road is the entrance to China Wall, which offers a bunch of other camping spots, but it is about 25-30 east of Jefferson, too.

On the east (Grant/Bailey) side of Kenosha Pass, just before you start up the long climb to the top of the pass itself, and after Grant and the right turn that takes you into Red Cone and Handcart Gulch, there is a FS/County dirt road that goes to your right. Take this, and then take the first or second (either work) right turn and you will find yourself in a maze of FS roads all with camping spots. There is another hard to see 180 degree right turn just past the FS/County road that links up to all these other roads. The FS roads in this area are FS 810, FS 811 and a bunch of other ones with letter suffixes.

Hope this helps. Bottom line, yes, there is a mess of camping spots around there. A Kenosha Pass/Tarryall topo will give you a really good idea of all the options.

[Brody]

This from BHo from his run yesterday, June 25:

Yep, Made it to the top no problems last weekend.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2...0/IMG_1005.JPG

[Coonburger]

That is awesome iam excited bout this run have we put any thought into where to afterwards?

[Brody]

I figured that we would just figure out where to go after we run Twin Cone. Almost all of the roads that I mentioned have 4x trails of some sort off of them.

[jdawg33]

Thanks Brody. That should help a ton. Now to narrow it down and figure out where to go. But its good to know that we have lots of options to find a place to go. I maybe thinking of running part of Slaughterhouse and camping out that way too, but i know its still a few miles from Twin cone. Red Cone might be fun to camp out that way, especially if we decided to do that trail later in the day

[Coonburger]

yeah i just want a large camping spot as iam taking the whole family and incase more people wanna just camp up wth us. I know of one but its on the other side of fairplay kindof like ud be heading up to breakneck gotta cross water which makes it so most people dont hit it but that is also a lil drive from twin cone bout 10 miles or so. Ill call my co workers that live up in fairplay and see if they can give me a half ass snow report for the trails in the area.

[Southparkjk]

breakneck is open no problem and so is browns pass ran them this weekend. The water crossing that you have to do to go to 12 mile lake is only about 2' deep.

[Squshiee1]

There is red cone and beaver creek. i like beaver creek because there is a huge water crossing! about 4 feet deep!

[Coonburger]

break neck is the first trail i ever ran i like it its a pretty trail. The mud holes were dry when i went though though.

[Coonburger]

got two truck loads of hardwood so the wood situation is covered anyone got a wood spliter we could use for a couple hours lol.

[jdawg33]

I have some wood already split in the yard. Enough for a night, maybe too. But slight problem with transporting that much wood with the jeep.I'll bring what I can though.

[Coonburger]

ahhh dont worry bout it i wanna make sure not to use any pine because we plan on making chicken in the coals and maybe a homemade pizza over the fire.

[Brody]

LaDawn and I have a brother in law of a client of hers staying with us from Minnesota. He has started a new job and is looking for a rental place. He is also an avid ATV wheeler. He wants to get out this weekend and either bring his ATV or do a ride a long, so I am just fishing here to see if anyone is going to have an empty seat. He is a nice guy and pretty fun to be around....

[jdawg33]

If you bring him up Brody, I have room in the back seat of the Jeep.... As long as he does not mind the back seat of a TJ. The top is off, so it should not be too bad.

[Brody]

Oh, that is almost funny. He isn't a small guy and my rig is set up for two people. If we ever got him into the back of my heap, he might end up a permanent fixture, there is so little room back there!

He might drive his street rig to the trailhead/ Kenosha Pass parking though. He is still trying to make up his mind about the ATV vs a ridealong, so we will see when the time gets closer.

Thanks for the offer! I'll let him know!

[jdawg33]

He may not be all to happy in the back of my TJ either, but at least it's a seat.... It might be fun to stuff him back there any way. But it's open if he wants it....

[Coonburger]

well see if iam taking the son with me if not my truck seats three.

[Pathrat]

I will be driving solo, front seat empty.

[Brody]

Here is a video that Stephanie and Hugh took on a FR run there in May, 2008.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRomlPm4Hds&NR=1

I was you tubing videos of Twin cone for our guest, Jeff, and opened this one. Someone walked across the screen and I said, "Wait! That's Stephanie!" Made it even cooler as Stephanie just offered a ride to Jeff if he doesn't take the ATV....

Or as LaDawn said-she would ride with Stephanie and Jeff and I could ride together...I didn't even want to go there, so simply shut my mouth....

[Brody]

Jefferson Colorado weather forecast:

Sat

Isolated Thunderstorms

77°F
47°F

Which essentially means to expect rain, so bring some rain gear and don't be expecting to spend a lot of time at the very top. It is basically a lightening magnet, complete with multiple lightening rods.

This was the weather forecast for Jefferson, about 4,000 feet lower than the summit of Twin cone and not above tree line.

[Heather]

Here is a video that Stephanie and Hugh took on a FR run there in May, 2008.

Got a little pucker watching this...the trail is rated 5-6...the last one I went on last weekend as a passenger was rated 3-5 and I thought there's no way I could do it in my stock vehicle - can stock vehicles REALLY go on this one? Or at least get around the pucker parts? I'm thinking snow suit and passenger seat, to spare my DD...?

(Edit: Fix run info I'm mis-remembering)

[Brody]

If I am not mistaken, Stephanie's FJC and the dark colored Land Rover were almost bone stock at the time of this run. If nothing else, Heather, take Cracker up to the rock garden thing that everyone pretty much has to go through-short, but with some good spotting, you should be fine-and if you don't feel like doing it, then ride along the rest of the way with someone else and pick the Jeep back up on the way down.

BTW, 4x trail ratings are pretty relative, much more so than climbing ratings. Most bone stock rigs can do Twin Cone sans damage, especially by taking the easy line. Someone may even spot you through the hard sections:D

[Coonburger]

Hell yeah we would spot her through the hard sections.

[Brad]

There is a fee campground and a dispersed campground right at the trailhead. Never camped there but that is what the funtreks book says.

And please. For the sake of all humanity, let Pete and Ladawn make it out 4 wheeling! :D

[Heather]

Todd! Glad to see you're on this one man!
x2!


And please. For the sake of all humanity, let Pete and Ladawn make it out 4 wheeling!
x2!

[jdawg33]

Its little and cute, we can always pick it up can carry it over the harder spots right? I think we some good spotting we should be able to get you over the hard spots. If my stock Xterra can make it throug hte rock garden at Coney, I think youu'll be ok here :)... If not, it'll at least be lots of fun

[Brody]

HAHA, Brad. I didn't realize that my mental instability and general anger management issues were starting to show all that much!

We are going to be leaving our house at 8:15 if anyone up this way wants to caravan up.

[Brad]

Actually I was thinking, I have known you for almost a year and never been able to go on a trail with you and see the beast in action! :thumb:

[Brody]

Oh...well it is doggy on the road, barely does over 40, has to avoid all rocks over 6" tall, doesn't like bumps or harsh, off road environments. On top of that, it is a real ***** to polish to get that 'look into glass' finish that I am so accustomed to seeing on my heap....

First time for the K2s off road. I am willing to bet that they may actually perform like an oversized off road tire that has relatively open treads.....

[Brad]

First time for the K2s off road. I am willing to bet that they may actually perform like an oversized off road tire that has relatively open treads.....

I swear by them. Will probably never use another tire as they have gone up everything I have pointed them at.

[Brody]

I stopped really caring what of brand tire I had a long, long time ago...like about 78 or so. I have had so many different makes of big tires with different tread patterns on them, all big, almost all radials on all the different rigs I have had. This probably equates to 70-80 sets of big off road tires since 68 or 69.

I found out a couple of things:

When aired down, they all go up the same junk
Open tread designs get shitty tire wear
Open tread designs are noisy

I just happened to get the best deal on these when I had to replace the Nitto Mud Grapplers that were no longer available in the 15" rim size. I really could care what tire I ended up with as long as it was within the budget.

That's kinda why I said that they are probably going to perform just like any other big, off road, open tread design tire.

[Brad]

I should qualify my answer with, as long as my rig is close to stock I will keep with this tire. If I had a heavily modified rig like yours Pete I am sure the tire does not make as big a difference. I have seen plenty of all terrains get stuck spinning without a properly modified rig to make them work. So far these have worked amazing. Ask anyone who I have wheeled with. :thumb:

[Coonburger]

me and jdawg are gonna be camping up there someone wanna give me or jdawg a holler on the celli sat morning when uall get to conifer so we know when to head out to the trail and also what trail are we hitting first? oh yeah just pm me for my cell number.

[jdawg33]

well there is the one time you got stuck on Bill Moore lake Brad... this must have been before the tires?

[Haku]

I should qualify my answer with, as long as my rig is close to stock I will keep with this tire. If I had a heavily modified rig like yours Pete I am sure the tire does not make as big a difference. I have seen plenty of all terrains get stuck spinning without a properly modified rig to make them work. So far these have worked amazing. Ask anyone who I have wheeled with. :thumb:

I would agree with that too. The only real difference between a lot of the tires in performance is sidewall strength. For the most part, any MT tire with large tread blocks and voids should work just fine. There are differences of course, but I don't think it REALLY matters.

Tire compound makes a big difference, as the sticky tires that a lot of the comp buggies and such use can be make or break for getting up stuff. Not something you want to use on a Street driven rig unless you have money to throw away. I doubt that the soft compound tires would make last 5000 miles and could go considerably less. I don't think there is a huge difference between compounds between your average everyday offroad tire, so its a moot point really.

That said, I do think the performance difference between a KM and a KM2 is noticeable, and it seems to be a great, grippy but long lasting tire.

Decided to go up to Grand Mesa with Red Rhino and his family over the weekend, otherwise I would totally be down for this trip. Sounds like its gonna be a lot of fun and I'm kinda bummed to miss it. Definitely a big group and a bunch of people I haven't met (and plenty I have). Have a good time ya'll.

[Brad]

well there is the one time you got stuck on Bill Moore lake Brad... this must have been before the tires?

And before I knew how to engage CDL. :D

The tires I had on there were old winter tires I got for next to nothing. I think I paid $40 for all 4 tires with 25% tread left on them. They were trashed after that day.

[jdawg33]

pratice makes perfect then! It was all a learning experiance and you are so much better prepared for the trails now :)

[Pathrat]

Heather: I was pretty much bone stock; the only mod was 33 inch tires. I had a lot of spotting and watched what everyone else did. You can follow someone with a similar rig or build level and foot print, as a kind of trail guide. I noted on Traildamage that Twin Cone is rated a five or six, but I don't recall it being that hard. I do remember Jimmy hauling the winch out at the top of the hill most of us declined. Other than that, I recall it being bumpy and just driving by feel and instinct over some of the long rocky stretches.

[Pathrat]

I was you tubing videos of Twin cone for our guest, Jeff, and opened this one. Someone walked across the screen and I said, "Wait! That's Stephanie!" Made it even cooler as Stephanie just offered a ride to Jeff if he doesn't take the ATV....


that is kind of funny. I forgot we had footage of this!

[Jackie]

For those of you camping - mind that thare is a fire ban almost everywhere in CO. Hopefully the rain we saw tonight will help a bit, but please keep your eyes open for the reckless this weekend. I read my daughter the riot-act today because she and a group of friends are going camping. I stongly recommended "No camp fire or pay the fine and possible jail time" and sent her packing with my propane stove...

have fun. Wish I could go...

[Coonburger]

yeah saw the fire ban after i go and get a bunch of wood lol.

[Brad]

I thought the ban was only for open camping. If it is a state or federal campground with a designated firepit you could have a fire. Unless that has been changed.

[Rob]

We are going to be leaving our house at 8:15 if anyone up this way wants to caravan up.

I might stop by and ride behind you. If so, I'll be there by 8:05.

[Haku]

I decided not to brave the heat of the Grand Junction desert with Red Rhino and his family without A/C, so I'll be going on this trip. I'll see ya'll at the Safeway.

Josh

[jdawg33]

oopps... moved pictures to right place