Apex/Nederland/Caribou 4x4

[Smash]

Well it'd been over a month since we'd been in the mountains, we were all going completely nuts! I know now to take it much easier on the Forester than I have been, so unfortunately there will not be many "hard core" (for a Forester) photos anymore. http://thesabrehood.org/forum/images/smilies/icon_frown.gif

We left the house at 10am (late start, we slept in) and returned at 10pm. Great day. Hit a bunch of new trails, most of them were empty or close to it!


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2608.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2609.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2610.jpg

Not a trail for those that valued their paint...

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2611.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2613.jpg

[Smash]

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2614.jpg

Did get to scope out a spot I want to camp at over Labor Day weekend. We just hope we can get there before anyone else does!


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2616.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2617.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2621.jpg


I took way too many pictures of the dogs, but what can I say, they're too good looking!!

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2622.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2623.jpg

[Smash]

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2626.jpg


Yes, he does cross his legs like that all the time, even taught the lab to do it.


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2629.jpg


Karla really could make this into an olympic sport:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2630.jpg


With Luke coming in a close second


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2631.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2632.jpg

[Smash]

Dash wanted to nap about as much as I did... http://thesabrehood.org/forum/images/smilies/biglaugh.gif


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2634.jpg


Later we re-learned a lesson in momentum:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu8c4kntpCs



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VivrNUfkd6U

[Smash]

We drove past these

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2643.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2678.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2644.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2646.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2649.jpg

[Smash]

Karla: "I broke my house" http://thesabrehood.org/forum/images/smilies/pound.gif

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2648.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2650.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2651.jpg


Stuck the camera thru the grate and took a photo with the flash on... http://thesabrehood.org/forum/images/smilies/bigeyes.gif


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2652.jpg

[Smash]

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2653.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2654.jpg


Now I see why the sign said "high clearance 4x4 only."
These were too deep and slick for the Foz to handle safely (especially alone at 6pm ish)

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2657.jpg


These lifted Rubicons from South Dakota had no issues. And man I loved watching. (sorry, blurry!)

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2655.jpg


We decided the Forest Service probably thought about removing this,
then decided it would be part of the scenery after realizing how huge it was...

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2659.jpg



http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2660.jpg

[Smash]

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2664.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2662.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2663.jpg


Again stuck my camera in through a whole in the side. HOLY COW!! http://thesabrehood.org/forum/images/smilies/yikes.gif


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2665.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2667.jpg

[Andrew]

Nice. That looks like a great camping spot.

[Smash]

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2668.jpg





http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2669.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2670.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2671.jpg


The farther up you got, the steeper, looser and rougher it got. So, I did the smart thing and declined.
I know. Me. Smart. Who'd thought. http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/crazy.gif


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2672.jpg

[Smash]

Karla: "Why don't they just say, 'stay on the trail'?" http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/lol.gif

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2674.jpg

Headed home:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2676.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2680-1.jpg

Almost forgot, I have two other videos...
Oops, out of order from photos, sorry guys!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAN5sAHSZMI


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlB6Jh6cok4

[Smash]

Nice. That looks like a great camping spot.


Yeah, it's got a heck of a view. I'm hoping Karla can finagle her work schedule so we can grab it. :D

[Andrew]

Mind letting me know where it is? I am always looking for good spots to camp. I'm also looking for some spots down south for labor day. I'm taking that Thursday off too though in order to secure a spot.

[Smash]

Uh. I know by sight, but not sure I could tell you how to get there. Um, it's off mammoth gulch. here. Ish. I think. LOL.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.870265,-105.62763&sll=39.863968,-105.569992&sspn=0.274338,0.512238&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=39.869663,-105.625176&spn=0.016436,0.032616&z=15&iwloc=A

[white collar redneck dad]

Nice shots..been up in that area many times.

[cfr]

D'oh! Damn those Subarus! Did you run the Eldora side?

I tried the Caribou trail starting in Eldora on Sunday afternoon and was denied on the first set of rocks about 1/2 mile in. In this 10-foot section of the trail there are some off camber rocks in a narrow section with a dropoff on one side.

Tried to get up this on the best line I could, but the right rear control-arm mount dragged on the rocks and I was at an uncomfortable angle given the steep drop-off on the side. If I'd have had a spotter I don't think we would have had a problem at all. I started to stack some rocks, but had second thoughts considering the drop-off and the fact that I had my boys (6 and 9) with me.

Right about the time I gave up and decided to back down the 1/8-1/4 mile back to the next turn-around spot a JK Sahara came down the trail. Now we were on either side of the obstacle on a trail too narrow to pass on. I got out and introduced myself as we'd be spending some time together. One of us had to back up a considerable distance so Jerry and one of his pals guided me back to the turn-around. Probably would have taken me 4x as long without them.

Thank god for the "Magic Tree House" "book on CD" we got at Chik-fil-a as it kept the boys busy.

I thanked Jerry and gave him a pointer to Frontrange4x4. Maybe he'll show up here.

Lessons learned (again) 1. never wheel alone 2. use your head and know when to quit (did good on this one, as usual) 3. really need the 3-in lift and 35s.

Damn those Subarus.

[Funrover]

Great pic/vids! Good to see you are still out having fun!

[Smash]

Lol not to worry CFR, we didn't get very far. We started from the Nederland end. On the Eldora side this steep hill stopped us. If I had an automatic, we would've been able to do it.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/deesmotorhead/wheeling%20august%2015/IMG_2672.jpg

So, you really were not at all shown up by a Subaru, I think that'd be near impossible (atleast with the newer AWD Subies)!

[Andrew]

That ain't steep! :p

[Smash]

For you, I know it's not. For my 5 speed Subaru, that'll burn the clutch up fast.

[Andrew]

Yeah do you just have AWD in that thing? No real low-range gearing?

[Smash]

Just AWD. No low range. 5 speed manual.

[Andrew]

Yeah...that hurts. I read you were planning to get something else? What are you looking to get?

[Smash]

Depends on what I can find. I have always had a soft spot for k5s. I really want EFI. Looking to spend around 2-3k. Want something that already has a mild lift and some good tires. Still saving. I'm about 1/2 way there. So probably gonna be another month or two before I'm ready to seriously start looking.

[KnuckleHead]

Looks like you had a great time... the pics look really good... about how far is that from Denver? Looking for somewere close to Denver to give the Isuzu a break in run... nothing to big or hard...

[Pathrat]

I have been around that area and on Caribou a few times- very pretty. Looks like every trail now has dense, paint-chipping vegetation.
CFR, sounds like the dirt around the rocks has receded.