Old Flowers Rd on 09/16/09

[SubaCool]

Ok, a week late, but here's the report http://offroadsubarus.com/images/smilies/raspberry.gif

Last week's wednesday, we took a little road trip from Brighton to Ft Collins and back through the mountains. Here's the route as I've planned it from Ft Collins to Loveland (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=CO-14%2FPoudre+Canyon+Hwy+to:CO-14%2FPoudre+Canyon+Hwy+to:County+Rd-52e%2FOld+Flowers+Rd+to:40.616819,-105.521965+to:N+County+Rd-63+E+to:Buckhorn+Rd%2FCounty+Rd-44H+to:N+County+Rd-27%2FStove+Prairie+Rd+to:Buckhorn+Rd%2FN+County+Rd-27+to:Buckhorn+Rd%2FN+County+Rd-27%2FN+CR27&geocode=FfjkawIdQDy8-Q%3BFZAFbQIdUAu6-Q%3BFRLFbAIdZuO3-Q%3BFZjMawIdpmC4-Q%3B%3BFYgyawId5oO1-Q%3BFWsxawIdEqa3-Q%3BFW4gawIdyNS4-Q%3BFXDJaQIdZJy6-Q%3BFSC7aAIdXPS6-Q&gl=us&hl=en&mra=mi&mrcr=3,4&mrsp=4&sz=14&via=6&sll=40.617796,-105.512094&sspn=0.034856,0.07699&ie=UTF8&ll=40.533633,-105.338287&spn=0.558393,1.231842&z=10). Basically, we went up Poudre Canyon to Gateway Park (where we got married 6yrs ago), then turned onto Stove Prairie Rd to Old Flowers Rd, then back via Buckhorn Rd and down on to Loveland and then Brighton. What I thought was gonna take us max of 6hrs ended up taking us 12. We've left home at 9:30am and got back at 9:30pm! I have included Old Flowers Rd in the plan as I've thought it was gonna be an easy trail (according to C. Wells' book http://offroadsubarus.com/images/smilies/confused.gif ). Wrong! Just shows that no matter what, one always needs to do his/her homework. Traildamage rates it a 3, so a mild moderate trail. We've spent about 4hrs on the trail and then additional 1.5hrs to get back via Buckhorn rd to Stove Prairie rd. The trail itself wasn't all that bad - after all, by now we're veterans in this kind of stuff http://offroadsubarus.com/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif - but it was long and we've spent a ton of time gathering pictures and video. We didn't count on it being challenging, otherwise we would have gone through the day faster. But at the end, it was worth it!

We've had a great time, especially on the trail. Lisa got to try her hand in off-roading her Subie for the first time, and she did pretty good. We've got some great footage and had no damage (although, the hitch took a few hits, but that's normal now http://offroadsubarus.com/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif ). But, onto the videos:


Disclaimer: As always, these videos don't do justice to some of the hills. In real life, the hills are a lot steeper! http://offroadsubarus.com/images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif


Drive up Stove Prairie Rd - Roof mounted camera, 2x speed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb34cOc-r1Y


Getting artsy with a cattle guard crossing on Old Flowers Rd:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fteLJ23I7vM


Lisa driving along a wooden fence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8I0IT_o5NU


Lisa hitting a small puddle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5cY5sfL_v0


Lisa's first major obstacle, and me walking her through it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaKPq0NNQuY


Lisa going up a rough patch (first part sped up):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wktqn6p-Uo8


Driving through the forest (on the first part, check out what a rear sway bar delete does to wheel travel on an Outback!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7sgguVLrFw


Just another drive-by:

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


>>>

[SubaCool]

This hill was much steeper than it looks and at the top there was a nasty mogul that required some momentum. Lisa had decided to give it a try, even after nearly running over a biker that apparently didn't know about the uphill right of way (or was too shocked when he saw us). She had tried it total of four times while I was spotting for her, but each time she chickened out at the top and lifted off the throttle, slowing down. She couldn't see what was at the top and she didn't walk it, but she did great. She has tried it 4x and had to back down the hill 4x, but without damage or without freaking out. She had even tried it from a dead stop once:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iea0XdF7Ldo


Lisa had enough after the fourth time so I've taken over. I had no problems, but I credit that to spotting for her. I've had enough time to see what I was gonna be driving over. When cresting the mogul, the car just needed enough momentum to transfer the LF wheel over and lift the rear end up quickly before loosing traction. Notice the RR tire lifting up into the air. That's at least 2ft above the dip bellow it http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/rock.gif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPrGaTiEJr0


Gotta love the drivebys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rT8T98fRkI


Came up to a rutted muddy section, so I've ordered Lisa (the camera-woman) out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8KGCRLY7OA


Part 2 of muddy ruts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lYc865PDZk


Who says I've got no clearance? :D Dropping down into a stream:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9DpdeBBWFY


And who says it can't climb hills? :p Here's one with some moguls on it, even got briefly "stuck" at the top (sorry, Lisa had lost track of where I was for a moment, but I made it over the top without having to take a second run at it!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi-l06RzPEs

[SubaCool]

Few teasers:


Gateway Mountain Park entry in Poudre Canyon:
http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/44415/2931576230101960247S425x425Q85.jpg

A rock tunnel on Hwy 14:
http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/45240/2194893880101960247S425x425Q85.jpg

Up the trail on Old Flowers Rd:
http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/14510/2904407050101960247S425x425Q85.jpg

Into the stream on OFR:
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/3719/2368520090101960247S425x425Q85.jpg

Pano shot on Buckhorn Rd:
http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/26836/2438347130101960247S500x500Q85.jpg



Here's the slideshow: http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/574799368ZUNbbX

[Brody]

Thanks for all of the photos and videos! Sweet!

Hey ..I thought that Old Flowers Road got closed earlier this year. Or is there another in or near Colorado Springs that has the same name??

[1freaky1]

Cool vids, and KUDDOS to Lisa for trying out and doing a good job.

[Aaron]

Thanks for all of the photos and videos! Sweet!

Hey ..I thought that Old Flowers Road got closed earlier this year. Or is there another in or near Colorado Springs that has the same name??

Old Flowers Road is up near the Poudre Canyon. We were going to run it when we were camping up there but it was closed because it hadn't dried out enough yet.

[Brody]

Old Flowers Road is up near the Poudre Canyon. We were going to run it when we were camping up there but it was closed because it hadn't dried out enough yet.

So what is the road I was thinking of down by the Springs that got closed by the FS due to trash and related vandalism? It appeared in some posts awhile back, but I couldn't find the thread...Aaron knows....(Aaron Funrover, that is....)

[Funrover]

So what is the road I was thinking of down by the Springs that got closed by the FS due to trash and related vandalism? It appeared in some posts awhile back, but I couldn't find the thread...Aaron knows....(Aaron Funrover, that is....)

Emerald Valley.... Yeah it's a sore spot for us springs guys

[Funrover]

Cool vid, None of the pics showed up for me though

[SubaCool]

Sorry it took me so long. Pictures updated and done :thunb:

[Funrover]

All is well! I know many of the places you have taken pics.