fun in the snow

[Richard]

So are we going to get snowed in or what? I love driving in this stuff (and was secretly praying for one more big snow:), but not on crazy steep trails. Where would be a good place to go for some open fun in the snow? I'm looking forward to doing something with my tires off-road this weekend. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

and I think I put this in the wrong place haha sorry.

[ExplorerTom]

Phantom Creek is good in the snow:
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=210
its low enough that it doesn't get a ton of snow and tends to melt quick because there isn't much shade due to the forest fire.

no big rocks to break stuff as you're using massive wheel spin to blast through the snow either. But I still managed to use my MaxTrax and winch a couple times when I did it back in...... Feb? I don't remember.

[Jim]

Hi Richard - this thread is entirely on topic and the "right place" to put it. I see you're in Aurora - no clue if you're looking for something up north or down south.

Up Nort - Bunce School Road / Ironclads are a combo set of trails. Rock Creek is another and is just a few miles north of the north end of Bunce.

Down south - I'm not a great resource but China Wall could be on the list. Others should pipe up for good trails.

Something will firm up and when it does (trail / day / at least one other member saying they'd go) make a thread in "Planned" and an calendar entry for folks to RSVP to. Last minute details are hashed in "Planned" which ends up being a "clean" thread with important details. The Calendar / RSVP is good so you know who / how many care coming.

Have fun!!!

[Chris]

If we get the snow being predicted it will be hard to get to the trailhead!

i.e., To get to China Wall you have to get over Kenosha Pass which tends to become impassable rather quickly.

[96EXXLTinCO]

To get to China Wall you have to get over Kenosha Pass which tends to become impassable rather quickly.

You can also go down into the springs and back up Hwy 24 through Woodland Park, Divide, Florissant and get to China Wall from the South end. Personally I wouldn't do that trail with a bunch of snow on it. There's a couple hills that could get a little sporty for sure.

Rampart area would be good but they closed it April 1st for the spring run-off so the trails don't get all torn up, and I'm not sure what all trails are included in that, but I wouldn't be surprised if Phantom Creek is due to it being in that general area.

I know there's some trails I've seen other groups running up North around Ft. Collins area but I've not yet been on any trails up there except for one years ago as a passenger and I don't even have a clue what trail it was. Jim might know more about that area.

Bunce is so far the only one I've been on in snow (and not that much, just a couple weeks ago) that isn't too risky. I'm not sure what kind of rules and regs are out at Pawnee grasslands, but roads out there might be fun to run if they get a decent amount of snow. Personally I'm hoping we dont get squat. There's quite a few trails I've been itching to get on all winter and I know at least one of them is clear right now.

EDIT: The first time I went to China Wall last fall, we took rd 211 from Deckers down around Cheesman reservoir and ended up on Hwy 77/Tarryall rd just south of China Wall. Neat drive through all the fire devastation from years ago, I highly recommend it in the summer (there's a seasonal closing on one stretch of it) if you're ever heading down to that area. I'll have to dig around, I think I had a couple pics of the area.

[Chris]

Yeah, that's a looong drive in fresh snow though. I don't care for I25 after snow, too many lousy drivers.

[96EXXLTinCO]

I love the drive once you get to the Springs, getting TO the Springs, I'm with you all the way!!

[Patrolman]

Yeah, if we get the 4' of heavy wet stuff in the mountains like they are calling for, it could make for an interesting weekend!

[96EXXLTinCO]

Here's another write up for Phantom Creek as well. I didn't write this one up but know the guy that did. It was done recently.

http://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/416-phantom-creek

[Jackie]

Yeah, if we get the 4' of heavy wet stuff in the mountains like they are calling for, it could make for an interesting weekend!

Four feet :eek: ? Good thing I have tomorrow off. It's going take me all day just to try to clear the driveway. (That's IF I can clear the driveway)!

Today is a good day to hit the grocery store I guess and put my grocery getter back to work!

[jayson44]

Yankee Hill is always a go-to for snow. and yeah, we're schedule to get 2-4' by Sunday. I'm guessing CO 4x4 Recovery facebook will be full of folks stuck up at Yankee. it always happens...

Yankee is good because it's close, has some reception (AT&T) and is decently close to Central City if you end up having to walk. it's also wider and open for the most part, so there's not as much possibility for damage if you slide around.

J.

[Chris]

Hey Jackie,

I just got back from the grocery store to pick up some milk.

Good grief! You'd think a storm is coming!

[Jim]

Now go back and get some cookies... I need to set home a 4' snowfall here in town!

[Jackie]

Hey Jackie,

I just got back from the grocery store to pick up some milk.

Good grief! You'd think a storm is coming!

I picked up some spaghetti sauce and a couple other things, but could barely find a parking spot and it was 10 - people deep at every register! "OH NO! We're gonna die"!

Any good movies out on Net Flix???

[ExplorerTom]

It's all these Californians and Texans that have moved here.

[dieseldoc]

You could always go down to cedar mountian road, the main way in to mettberry/longwater/ and hackett gultches.
I would stay out of they as the steep sections will be diffacult to say the least.
Illinios gultch is good times in the snow, little moab is fun with snow on it but walk it firsf to know where the rock and holes are.

[Patrolman]

Today is a good day to hit the grocery store I guess and put my grocery getter back to work!

The stores were chaos this morning. Same with the gas station. I guess everyone else was like me and waited until the last minute to take care of both.

[dieseldoc]

newbies :eek:
its going to snow.....better go buy 5 month worth of stuff!

wonder whar these people would in the blizzard of '82.

[glacierpaul]

2003 I Had 12' In Three Days, Awesome Blizzard. My Little Brother Was Bitten On Christmas In TheBlizzard Of 82 Good Times! Pushing 2' Here AsOf Now.

[dieseldoc]

My Little Brother Was Bitten On Christmas In TheBlizzard Of 82 Good Times! Pushing 2' Here AsOf Now.[/QUOTE]


Bitten by what???

[glacierpaul]

Born On Christmas, Sorry For The Typo.

[jayson44]

haha! I was thinking the same thing.

J.

[96EXXLTinCO]

Yankee Hill is always a go-to for snow. and yeah, we're schedule to get 2-4' by Sunday. I'm guessing CO 4x4 Recovery facebook will be full of folks stuck up at Yankee. it always happens...

Yankee is good because it's close, has some reception (AT&T) and is decently close to Central City if you end up having to walk. it's also wider and open for the most part, so there's not as much possibility for damage if you slide around.
And if you get stuck, Jay is close by to come pull you out!!! LOL.

[jayson44]

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm251/jandkcarlson4/Jeepin%20pics/C3C21151-8F38-42A6-99B8-36503A191CAB_zpszdn24mdl.jpg (http://s298.photobucket.com/user/jandkcarlson4/media/Jeepin%20pics/C3C21151-8F38-42A6-99B8-36503A191CAB_zpszdn24mdl.jpg.html)

this is the north end of Missouri Gulch. it was 100% dry two days ago. :)

J.

[Jim]

But who gets called if Jay gets stuck????

:lmao:

[Patrolman]

Amazing the transformation in a couple days. Good thing it is snow and not rain in the mountains or flooding would be a risk with this much moisture.

[Chris]

You can be sure we'll here about flooding risk soon. The forecast is 80° next week so this stuff will melt fast.

That's assuming the forecast is somewhat accurate. :erm:

[dieseldoc]

Not near what we were forcast to get here in Lakewood.
Highlands ranch had good amount of snow.

[jayson44]

But who gets called if Jay gets stuck????

:lmao:

haha!

[ExplorerTom]

Not near what we were forcast to get here in Lakewood.
Highlands ranch had good amount of snow.

9.5" accumulated on the north side of my house in Highlands Ranch. Could have compacted some due to how heavy it is.

[TxCowgirlInCo]

And if you get stuck, Jay is close by to come pull you out!!! LOL.


J - Dontcha just love how Chad volunteers you for Yankee Hill recovery lol. How are you and the wife?

[TxCowgirlInCo]

haha!

Shoot! None of us thought out a bigger plan there lol, all just assumed J's got this lol. Don't get stuck J! :D

[jayson44]

I'll try! is kept snowing and is still coming down. we have just about 4 feet now...

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm251/jandkcarlson4/09D2E12D-21A6-4354-9559-BEE5E0C7AB2A_zps5awxiw75.jpg (http://s298.photobucket.com/user/jandkcarlson4/media/09D2E12D-21A6-4354-9559-BEE5E0C7AB2A_zps5awxiw75.jpg.html)

J.

[Patrolman]

Wow! That is more than I thought you would get! Granted, we have at least a foot here in Morrison, so it only makes sense.

I know that when the temps get to 100 in a couple months I will be dreaming of days like this.

[TJS86TOY]

Jay, that's a great picture! Went up my self on Saturday to Wildcat reserve area in the Jeep and the conditions where pretty wild. The wind was blowing the snow so hard I could not see the trail!

[flashboiler]

Bunce was fun today. Deep snow, waist deep plus. snow was so fluffy it was over my hood at times and I could still make progress... That's awesome snow!

Made it to the iron clad loop but no one in my group caught up so I turned around. Even with waist deep snow the drive down the hill, my ruts were flowing fast water, this will melt quick.

pic below is where the main trail heads up to ironclads

[Richard]

Well I had some fun on Goose creek road. The snow drifts got pretty high but had an awesome time great views for what I could see haha. Snow started light ended very heavy around 8:00 pm when I got out of there. The road back to Denver was more dangerous, going up the section past Decker was exciting to say the least.

[ExplorerTom]

Bunce was fun today.

Yes it was! After you split off we continued up to where there is a split to the left that dead-ends and there's a hill to the right.

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu143/TJUrbanek/Explorer/Bunce%20Ironclads%20snow%20wheeling/2F72B46A-1424-4036-8C84-D9E54D52A0A1.jpg (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/TJUrbanek/media/Explorer/Bunce%20Ironclads%20snow%20wheeling/2F72B46A-1424-4036-8C84-D9E54D52A0A1.jpg.html)

i had snow coming over MY hood, but yes, it was so fluffy that you just plowed right through it.

[flashboiler]

Good to see you again Tom. The explorer did awesome today! Normally I would have joined you guys in that spur but I'm battling a cold for 2.5 weeks and figured I better head home early.

[ExplorerTom]

You as well. It's quite the sight to watch your Sami bust trail while sitting on the rev limiter.

these original KO's..... they are really not that good in the snow. They are approximately 4 years old and not that many miles (sits in the garage most of the time). And maybe that's just the nature of an AT in the snow. In the dirt and rocks they seem fine for me- but some of the snow we saw today they just couldn't grip.

[Chris]

Andy, your Sami just floats over the damn snow! :D

[flashboiler]

Lol, it has its moments

[glacierpaul]

My snow wheelin' for today, or plowheelin':D

[Jim]

Where did you put the snow? Push it to a pile at the end of the lot? Was it fluffy or wet? (here it was sloppy wet)

[jayson44]

at the most flat, open spot, I measured 39" in our yard. but that was yesterday afternoon and it had already started to settle and melt. scooping my driveway yesterday was a bear...

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm251/jandkcarlson4/Jeepin%20pics/DBE0EB62-8999-40D1-A1CD-E0BFC91F5427_zpst2jnqf92.jpg (http://s298.photobucket.com/user/jandkcarlson4/media/Jeepin%20pics/DBE0EB62-8999-40D1-A1CD-E0BFC91F5427_zpst2jnqf92.jpg.html)

J.