Holiday snow wheelin anyone?

[RockyMtRebel]

holiday snow wheelingI’ve got off from tomorrow until Jan 4th and would like to get out for some snow wheeling at some point.... not a lot of snow yet but enough to make it interesting. Anyone else have some time and want to get out during the holiday?

[open_circuit]

Maybe. No chains limits me a bit. Thoughts on where? I'd be looking at Sat through Weds as possibilties.

[Jim]

I'm around. I'm game.

Up north - the only areas that come to mind that are open:
Sevenmile Creek (and possibly the "christmas tree" trails north of there) though these may well be closed because of the fires
Rock Creek
Bunce / Ironclads
Rollins Pass East

What else is open?

[RockyMtRebel]

Yankee hill is always open and fun, but I would only wanna do it during the week because it sees a lot of traffic. I bet Gamble gulch and some of those roads might not be too bad and maybe goes all the way thru both sides, we haven’t gotten that much snow yet. Bunce and Ironclads during a weekday would be fun also. The far northern part of Switzerland trail with Cliffhanger 2.0 is open year round and probably still goes thru - we could try Cliffhanger, I did it a few weeks ago and it was totally snow covered but O made it all the way up..... wonder if this is still possible.
im sure Sevenmile is closed due to the Cameron peak fire still. Gordon gulch is always open but probably not enough snow to be fun yet.

[mtm]

I am interested for Saturday or maybe Sunday

[JandDGreens]

I know it is quite a trex down to the Woodland Park area but we are running Schubarth on New Years day , but I wouldn't take the Ram as the trail is very tight in some sections.

[RockyMtRebel]

Hey Dave! Yea that’s too far for me, but wish I could ;)
Mike maybe something one of those days, but I’d really prefer Friday or a weekday next week to avoid all the weekend traffic

[Jim]

The week between Christmas and New Year is, typically, quiet - good for play'n in the snow.

Yankee or those other trails down in the area are of more interest.

[Steve-O]

I'm "teleworking" Monday and Tuesday so I could probably sneak away :lmao:

[JandDGreens]

Hey Dave! Yea that’s too far for me, but wish I could ;)
Mike maybe something one of those days, but I’d really prefer Friday or a weekday next week to avoid all the weekend traffic

Yeah I get it. Who knows if you guys pick a day that fits, I might have to join you! We are planning to do a shakedown run on the 30th. (A few of us who have been working on our rigs the past couple weeks) Rainbow falls and of course the southern New Years day run. But I really wouldn't mind camping and running up somewhere else the next day on one of those days. Question is there still fire restrictions anywhere?

[mtm]

Turns out only Saturday 12/26 will work for me. I will be out of town Sun and Monday and working Tues Wednesday. I can also do Thursday 12/31. I am planning on Schubarth on Friday 1/1

[Jim]

My open dates are Saturday / Sunday / Wednesday / Thurs (though I wish to be home before late).

If someone wishes for a Sat / Sun event - let's stir the waters tonight!

[RockyMtRebel]

Let’s do Yankee Hill on Wednesday the 30th! Hopefully we will have some fresh snow then. I may get out a little on Sunday but probably just an hour or two around here.... Wednesday I’ll plan for most of the day depending on when everyone wants to start. I have one other buddy who has a truck almost identical to mine who wants to go on Wednesday also!

[Jim]

K.

I'll check with the two friends that were along for Pole Hill...

Yankee Hill - Wednesday it is.

[speedkills]

Just caught this thread, I'm free through the end of the year to wheel.

[RockyMtRebel]

Just posted Yankee Hill run, meetup 10am on Wednesday at the staging area. Hopefully we will have some fresh snow and we can explore Yankee hill and other trails in the area to our hearts content

[Jim]

Friends are work'n. It'll be just me for vehicles.

[RockyMtRebel]

Maybe Shane will join us..... it’s snowing tonight, some accumulation right now so that’s encouraging!

[Jim]

No precip in town. Winds were kicking up a few hours back - perhaps some front moving through.

[RockyMtRebel]

Another dusting is all we got..... it’s supposed to snow later today also. Yankee hill is over 11,000 feet so there will definitely be snow.... and ice. Ice usually makes the last few sections difficult. I’ll have chains with me although I won’t use them unless absolutely necessary. I have run Yankee in the light snow before and upon getting to the top it can be like blizzard conditions up there (wind, big snow drifts, etc). I’ve run it with no one else on the mountain (awesome) and with a million others on the mountain (not so awesome). On Wednesday we should have the hills mostly, if not completely to ourselves!!!

[RockyMtRebel]

Oh, and I bought a handheld CB radio!! I was sick of all the problems I had with the Cobra handheld all-in-one CB I was using previously. Sometimes it worked, most of the time it didn’t transmit well. Hopefully this handheld CB does the trick, no wires to mess with for power!

[RockyMtRebel]

We are getting some snow.... just a couple inches so far but it’s coming down pretty good right now so maybe we will get a good amount

[Jim]

Are you thinking maybe not? Or that there might be too much snow? If Yankee might be a bust or on the margin (a very short day), I might be more interested in a closer-to-home trail (Yankee is 2 hr drive).

I might have one other, new, jeep joining...

[jayson44]

I live in Black Hawk and we didn't get that much snow.

J.

[RockyMtRebel]

I’m thinking a full day tomorrow Jim! Let’s try Yankee hill and see how far we get, then we can explore some other roads to see what they look like - I’m definitely not suggesting a short day ;). I’ve been holding off all week so I can’t wait to get out! Here in Allenspark we got about 3-4 inches. Better than nothing!

Yankee is over an hour drive for me but I can’t think of any other area that could be as much fun - and I don’t think we will see too many others being a Wednesday! If we don’t get that far I think we could head north on Apex and see now far we can go up that way! Hopefully we can make it to the top of Yankee hill itself, perhaps the snow covering the iced up sections will help give us more traction..... Ive run up there many times in the middle of winter and sometimes the ice stops everyone well short, but sometimes you can get all the way even in the middle of winter. Can’t wait to find out what tomorrow looks like!
Jayson, would love to have you join us if you can ;)

[Jim]

K. I'll be there!

FoCo has 2 - 3"

[jayson44]

what time?

J.

[RockyMtRebel]

Meeting at 10 at the OHV lot

[speedkills]

Worst case I don't mind a little winching. Hoping not to have to put my chains on if I can avoid it though but I'll bring them just in case.

[speedkills]

Only slightly related but I did Bunce today with a friend who brought his Quigley 4x4 E250 van out. That thing was super impressive but it was quite slick today and a lot rougher and icier than last time I did Bunce. Wonder if Yankee hill will be the same?

[RockyMtRebel]

I’m bringing chains also but hope to not have to use them. Hoping the fresh snow up there will make it more “grippy”. See you tomorrow

[jayson44]

I have a work meeting from 10-10:30, so I might have to come catch up with you guys. but I'm pretty sure I'll make it out there for a few hours at least.

J.

[Jim]

moose PM'd me and is considering joining - but was asking if it would be good for him to join (vehicle type). I said yes, it's more of the attitude to try. If nothing else, he or anyone other one person could jump in with me.

I'll bring traction boards, kinetic recovery rope, and two sets of chains for 35's. We'll see what's needed...

[jayson44]

I'll have my traction boards and a tow strap as well. and a shovel. always a shovel! I haven't gotten my CB installed yet, so here's my cell if you guys need anything until I get up there: 720-266-8505.

J.