Range Rover Club of Australia, Victoria Branch Inc.

COLORADO - UTAH 4X4 TRIP
JULY 26TH - AUGUST 9TH, 1998

Trip Leaders: Donald McGann & Maggie Pinder in "Juanito" Jeep Wrangler
Participants:Jim and Pam Patterson in "Blue Heeler" Jeep Wrangler
                   Roger and Julie Smith in "Redback" Jeep Wrangler

Day 7 - Saturday 1st August. Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
This was an official free day. The Smiths and Pattersons decided to take the Bushduck's recommendation of a walk and 4wd trail in Arches National Park. The Bushducks, having previously visited Arches, spent the day in Canyonlands National Park.

The Arches contingent drove a few miles north of Moab and entered the park, which is spectacular desert scenery, populated with dark red sandstone bluffs, cliffs, valleys and of course naturally formed arches. They followed the sealed road up through the park, before turning off onto dirt. The Ducks suggested itinerary called for a two hour bushwalk out to Tower Arch, following a cliff line before climbing the sandunes to the huge 400 foot span arch. Looking at the map, they decided to follow the track further and have a shorter hike to the Arch as the day was very hot, being already over 30 degrees by mid morning. The track in was a lot rougher, and caused a bit of excitement for Red and Blue, but they made it in time for the walk and lunch under the arch. After lunch, they returned through the park, down the four wheel drive track that followed along in the wash (dry creek bed) for a lot of the way. They arrived back to camp by 4pm, suffering from what Jim aptly called "scenery overload".

Gemini Bridges TrailThe Bushducks took the Gemini Bridges Jeep trail into Canyonlands National Park, which included a short walk to Gemini Bridges - a large arch in a deep hole, so that it was possible to walk over the rock bridge with staggering drops into the canyon on either side. Then out of Canyonlands via Schafer Pass, the actual location in "Thelma and Louise" where they take their dramatic and final plunge off what you are supposed to think is the Grand Canyon. "Louise" was not allowed to drive at this point, just in case! Then they followed the White Rim Trail around the cliffs over looking the Colorado River as far as Musselman Arch. Although it was possible to drive out on the arch, memories of London Bridge kept Juanito on solider ground. A short detour to try out Juanito on the difficult rated "Poison Spider Mesa" Trail to see how his coils could stretch. (Very well thank you! Nearly as good as a Range Rover was the official verdict). They arrived back at 6pm quite sunburnt as Juanito had inexplicably shed his doors that morning and they had gone doorless.

Day 8 - Sunday 2nd August - Moab to Pine Ridge
Another hot day in the desert. We left down the dirt Kane Creek Road, a good road that wound through a towering canyon, with cliffs reaching up over 1,000 feet on either side. A brief stop to inspect the Moonflower Indian Petroglyphs and to watch the rock climbers swaying on the canyon walls above us and then we continued on over Hurrah Pass on a rough dirt road. The views from the pass encompassed the Potash settling ponds, the Colorado River and over into Canyonlands National Park. Incongruously, half way up the pass there was a construction team building what had to be a movie set - it was a New York Subway complete with signage set amongst the red rock and cactus.

We have since seen the advert they were filming on American TV - an ad for a SUV which goes bumping along through a subway on the rails, before roaring out of the above Subway station to go bouncing off down the track towards Moab!

We continued on down the Chicken Corners Trail, which was rough and bumpy and very hot. Red was the colour of the day, the rock, soil, track and even the river were a deep terracotta red. So were the vehicles before very long, especially whoever was travelling at the back. We turned off down a wash at the unmarked start of the climb out of the ravine to Lockhart Basin. A hot lunchspot at the start of the Lockhart Basin trail This was supposed to take us south for 40 miles before rejoining sealed road and the plan was to camp down at the southern end. The trail went clearly into the wash and then became vague, with vehicle tracks going in all directions. We split up and scouted the various dead-end canyons and gullies, following tracks that petered out at impossible rock faces. The GPS told us we were in the right place and pin pointed the canyon the track was supposed to take. Pam and Jim found the proper track, but it seemed impassible. Donald scouted on foot, whilst the rest of us stayed in various staging points communicating on the CB's. Jim and Pam's track was the correct one, but recent flooding had washed out the lower end of it to the point were a lot of road building would be required to get the Jeeps through. The worst section was only a couple of hundred yards long, above which it reverted to a well defined rocky track that climbed up and out of the ravine.

We decided the road building was beyond the capabilities of our tools and the result potentially damaging to the hire jeeps, so we decided to retrace. Lunch was taken at the entrance to the wash under a small-Cottonwood - that is once Blue Heeler arrived back with the lunch!

We have heard since that the start of the Lockhart Baisin Trail was washed out by a thunderstorm at the beginning of August, just before we arrived, and has since been made trafficable again with some hard work from the Red Rock 4-Wheelers from Moab.

We retraced our steps back to Moab - stopping for Donald to pickup a frying pan by the side of the road. Whilst we were stopped Jim and Pam found a camera bag complete with camera and zoom lenses obviously left by accident. Back in Moab, they tried to hand it in at the police station only to find that the cops keep office hours and unless it was between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday then no-one was home. They handed it in at the information centre (sorry Center) instead with the Bushducks address in the event that it wasn't claimed.

After a quick fuel up, we headed out south along the highway before turning off east back towards Colorado. Camp that night was up on the aptly named Pine Ridge, a lovely camp under a stand of pine trees with views off to the north and south. The Bushducks had a major crisis (but demonstrated the effectiveness of dry ice) when they found that not only was all the food in their esky frozen, but a bottle of wine and a bottle of gin were also nearly completely solid!

The night was clear and cool and as we were relaxing over dinner we heard our first eerie coyote chorus of the trip. These wild dogs howled from several points that echoed over the valley. Roger took some atmospheric video of the sunset over the valley with the mournful chorus on the soundtrack, with the unusual accompaniment of Jim shaking the pancake mix in the background.

Day 9 - Monday 3rd August Pine Ridge to San Juan National Forest
Redback became a Red Rooster when Roger leant on the horn at 6.45am. Must have been taking lessons from Bill Price! Back down in the tiny settlement of LaSal for a top up of fuel, then we took the Lisbon Valley Road down to the south east. This is a good gravel road, that passes by several would be copper mining claims (a hotly disputed mine at present) and came out at Summitt Point - a crossroads of desert scrub that could easily have been in the Mallee or outback NSW. We crossed back into Colorado on small dirt roads and continued down into the ex-Uranium mining town of Slick Rock. The road ran down the edge of the canyon and for part of the way we were following the grader driver who let us past and then nearly graded Redback into the track when we stopped for a photograph in front of her. She lumbered along at the back of the convoy for a while as we exited the canyon into the town.

Leaving Slick Rock we paused at a Uranium Tailings dump, well marked with barbed wire and warning signs, containing 10,000 tons of radioactive tailings according to the sign and only closed in 1996. Then on down the dusty, Disappointment Valley, covered with sagebrush before starting our climb back into the San Juan mountains. The track was slow and very rocky, but allowed us plenty of time to view the changing vegetation as we gained in altitude. The base of the valley at around 5,000 feet was dry sagebrush plains, with no trees. At around 6,000 feet we started to hit small juniper and pinion pines and a scrubby, stunted oak. The ground was still rocky, and covered with hardy desert type plants, including small cactus. At 8,000 feet the mountain vegetation started to creep in, with large ponderosa pines, aspens, and lush grassy meadows and the track was a lot smoother.

Lunch was taken near a corral surrounded by very inquisitive cows, and a visit from a very inquisitive forest ranger. We headed westwards through the forest, with Pam and Julie once again enjoying the prolific wildflowers and the colour green after so much red over the last couple of days. We detoured to go up to the fire tower at Benchmark Lookout. The friendly firewarden was happy to show us her photos of local wildlife, including a very large black bear (and the gouges on her rear bumper from the same bear). You could almost see Jim and Pam mentally reviewing where the mattock handle was to take to bed with them that night. She had a couple of humming bird feeders outside and the air around was buzzing with the iridescent birds. Only a couple of inches long, their wings move so fast as to be invisible when they are hovering at the feeder. We left the tower and proceeded to our campsite in Cottonwood Canyon, in a small valley with aspens lining one side and pine the other. It was a wonderfully clear night, but cool as we were back at 8,000 feet.

Day 10 - Tuesday 4th August, San Juan National Forest to Telluride
There was a lot of condensation on the tents in the morning, but the sun soon dried them out and we were on the road by 8.00am. Mornings are definitely the best time in Colorado - the arvo often sees the clouds building up and showers or thunderstorms.

We headed up the Willow Divide Track, a long switchback climb in low second up to 10,000 feet. Thelma and Louise were once again travelling in Redback as Roger wanted to film. He got plenty of film alright - the jeeps travelling along with an assortment of legs and feet waving out the windows as Pam and Jim proved to Donald that you didn't need to take the doors off to enjoy the sun on your legs. After a few miles of switchbacks, we stopped for morning tea at a clearing in the aspens that dropped off abruptly on the southern edge giving us fantastic views over the San Juan mountains. A nameless somebody suggested that it was the perfect setting for a re-enactment of the Sound of Music for Roger's video. Which is exactly what he got. Well, not exactly. What he wanted was the entire company skipping up the hill, holding hands and singing tunefully, "the hills are alive, with the sound of music". What he got was the motley crew puffing and stumbling up the hill, we were over 3km in altitude at this point remember, trying manfully to skip and sing at the same time, waving fronds of greenery and bawling discordantly, "the hills, (puff, puff) are alive (wheeze, puff) with the sound (cough, pant, heavy breathing) of music." Julie Andrews has nothing to worry about from the Range Rover Club that's for sure!

We continued on along the top of Willow Divide, before rejoining the sealed road over Lizard Head Pass to arrive in Telluride just after lunch. The Ducks were hoping to be able to book into the Town Park campground, a council run park in the middle of town, but as they don't take advance bookings were unsure as to whether we would get in. We were in luck, and settled into 3 adjoining sites in the busy, but pleasant campground. A reconnaissance of the showers quickly proved that you needed 6 quarter s for each 3 minute shower, so everyone started scouring under the floor mats in the jeeps to partake.

The Range Rover Club of Australia (Telluride Branch, Inc.) After setting up camp, we walked into town for a look at the quaint Victorian main street. One version of the origin of the name, "Telluride", is that when the early miners told others where they were going, they got the response, "To hell you ride!", a reference to the difficulty of access and primitive conditions of the early settlement. Another theory is that it is named after the mineral Tellurium, which ironically is one of the few minerals not found here! The town, after many years of prosperity, nearly died out by the 1960's, before someone had the bright idea of turning it into a ski town. Nowadays, it is a vibrant, arty and cosmopolitan town, that attracts many rich and famous people, as well as a thriving alternative community of hippies and rastas. There are many festivals held here, and luckily our visit was sandwiched between the Bluegrass festival and the Chamber Music Festival. Luckily, as accommodation is next to impossible at festival time.

The chairlift to the ski village was free all summer, so we all piled into one of the cabins for the 10 minute, 3000 foot ride up the mountain. We shared our cabin with a lady who was organizing the summer residency of the Joffrey Ballet from Chicago, and she was very helpful in passing on local information, including, once she found out that we were Aussies, the general location of Tom & Nicole Kidman-Cruise's luxury winter residence!

That evening, sitting around camp by the river, the gathering clouds opened up to bucket down on us. For the second time of the trip, we dragged out the awning and erected it, swaying precariously over the picnic table. Because of the uneveness of the ground, stronger tent pegs and longer ropes were needed. First Juanito, then Blue were pressed into service to hold down a corner of the awning, then finally Red was driven halfway down the river bank to stabilize a third corner. As by then, we had run out of Jeeps, we had to make do with a tree for the fourth corner. We sat in the relative dryness under the awning, and as tonight was the night of t he AGM back in Malvern, we called to order the AGM of the Range Rover Club of Australia (Telluride Branch Inc.). Although all six members were present and correct, order could not be maintained, especially when a treasured bottle of Aussie Port was produced. Unfortunately, the Americans haven't invented Chocolate Teddy Bears yet, but the Port sufficed and a very rowdy evening was had by all. Luckily the incessant rain and the river drowned out the noise we were making - or so we hoped.
Bushducks

Day 11, Wednesday 5th August, Telluride to Telluride
The wonderful and comprehensive trip book Maggie and Donald had prepared read, "Free day. Food and Fuel. Optional day trip over 2 great passes around Telluride - easy but spectacular Ophir Pass and return on legendary and super-scary Black Bear Pass ...... very, very scary with switchback turns that a Wrangler needs to do 5 point turn on and a thousand foot drop if your foot slips. Or, mooch around Telluride ..." Optional!!!??? - It would be a very brave person who'd suggest to the rest of the group "Let's just mooch around Telluride".

Juanito on Ophir PassLeft camp at 9.00 and headed for Ophir Pass via Ophir Loop Track and the town of Old Ophir. It was an easy climb to the summit and yet more spectacular views - Mount Wilson, Wilson Peak and El Diente - all over 14,000 feet. We descended the east side for a short run along the Million Dollar Highway and turned off at Red Mountain Pass to Black Bear Pass.

Black Bear Pass heading back down to Telluride is one way, and we passed many signs advising of this and that we should turn back before it's too late. Although it was warm in the sun, the wind was like ice so we parked the cars to create a windbreak and within minutes "Thelma's cafe" was set up and a delicious lunch of a variety of delicacies together with some "not too bad" wine and beer was enjoyed at 12,433 feet . We reached the point of no return and continued to the summit of Black Bear Pass - 12,840 ft. The descent was absolutely breathtaking. We drove for miles past alternating scree, snow, waist high wildflowers, and all the time perched high above Telluride. Although steep in parts with some sharp turns, we were beginning to think Super Scary Juanito on Black Bear Pass Black Bear had been called that by a bit of a wuus. However just as we started to relax the road deteriorated dramatically and we arrived at a steep off camber "s" bend of loose rock, dropping off steeply with nothing but Telluride way down in the distance. We crossed Ingram Creek, which became Ingram Falls as it crossed the track, and on to the first of the really tight switchbacks - only 13 more of these to go. "Spielberg" was in heaven. All negotiated safely, we stopped briefly at Bridal Veil Falls and returned to Telluride.

In the early 1890's the mines of Telluride were in danger of grinding to a halt in spite of the enormous wealth being generated. The problem was fuel for the mines, wood for fires was exhausted and coal being brought in by mule was bringing $40 - $50 per ton. Water in the south fork of the San Miguel river which fell 500 ft in less that one mile below Ophir was used to produce alternating current electrical power for the first time anywhere in the world turning a scientific theory of the day into practice and possibly saving Telluride from ghost town status.

After freshening up we had dinner at .a small outdoor restaurant which was a pleasant end to a full and exciting day. On looking back, if it's at all possible to single out one particular day, this day was arguably the highlight of the trip. (A pretty big statement!!!)

Day 12, Thursday 6th August, Telluride to Alpine Loop Track
Exited Telluride via Tomboy Road - wonderful views of where we had been the previous day and over Imogene Pass 13114, the highest pass of our trip. Red and Blue on Ophir Pass We stopped on the way to explore the ruins of Tomboy Mine. The Tomboy Mine was established in 1880 in the Savage Basin 3,000 ft. above Telluride, it prospered from the beginning becoming one of the richest mines in North America. Originally a gold mine it also produced silver, copper, lead and zinc. The Tomboy Mine was involved in the worst industrial accident in North America of the time when a wagon load of hay caught fire near the tunnel entrance. Smoke from the fire asphyxiated miners working in the mine as well as would be rescuers. Claims that the mine management were negligent in not having safety doors at the tunnel entrance sparked industrial unrest that was to have far reaching implications for the future. Later in the same year the boarding house at Tomboy was wiped out by an avalanche with many more lives lost.

Juanito, Red and Blue posed for a photo on top of Imogene Pass with a magnificent backdrop of the San Juan Mountains and parked by the remains of Fort Peabody, the highest military fort in the United States, which was erected to keep Union sympathisers from sneaking over from Ouray and Silverton to aid the miners in the strikes of the early 1900's. On via Canyon Creek to Ouray (elevation 7760 ft., population 700). Ouray was founded in 1876 and named after Chief Ouray of the Ute Indians who considered it to be a sacred spot. Ouray is called by many "the Switzerland of America" because of it's very steep mountains, rising to 14,000 ft. These mountains, which almost surround Ouray, are the newest, and therefore the steepest in Colorado. We only had time to stop briefly for fuel and admire the beautiful old timber buildings and the enormous carved posts supporting their verandahs. We travelled for a few miles on the Million Dollar Highway, a very busy highway carved into the solid rock mountain, with a sheer drop on one side and near vertical wall on the other, turning off onto the Alpine Loop Road to camp amongst the conifers on the banks of Mineral Creek. This was a bear camp so we took due precautions, Roger and Julie and Donald and Maggie with pepper sprays and Jim and Pam with the mattock handle. We must have slept very well as we were very surprised next morning to find a group of bikies sleeping in hammocks close by.

Day 13, Friday 7th August, Alpine Loop Road to Seepage Lake
This morning we visited Animas Forks, a most impressive ghost town. Life in Animas Forks, like other mining communities was not easy. Here the winter snow depth often exceeded 20 feet, and snowslides were a frequent occurrence. Despite this, people lived here year round. The residents of Animas Forks regarded it as a community of lasting substance and permanence. Evidence of this is found in the architectural style of the dwellings - no mere miners cabin, these buildings are complete with shingle roofs, gables, and bay windows. We inspected buildings at a nearby mine and were impressed with the huge dimensions of the timbers used in their construction. We had been warned of the danger in entering old buildings and the existence of Hanta virus, which exists in the dust in the buildings and is carried about by deer mice and can be fatal to humans. Best to stay out if in doubt.

We then crossed Cinnamon pass (12,640) and travelled beside the Gunnison River where we saw some great examples of Beaver Lodges. On the way we saw a shepherd tending a large flock of sheep and travelled past an area of fragile alpine tundra, which if damaged can take a century to recover.

We continued on past Lake San Cristobel to Lake City, stopping to stretch our legs for awhile and look at the interesting curio shops. We arranged to meet at a small Tavern for drinks where a young boy, Zane, challenged Roger to a game of Shuffle Board (a local bar game involving sliding pucks down a long slippery board). Coins had to be fed into the machine to enable the game to start. Roger supplied the quarters and it seems that for each one that went into the machine one went into Zane's pocket. At great expense Roger was victorious. Julie had the biggest cappuccino we had ever seen while some of us tried the famous tomato beer - tomato juice, beer and Tabasco - a strange combination, others didn't spoil their beer with tomato juice and Tabasco.

We departed Lake City via the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, making a brief stop to view the Slumgullion Earthflow, a moving mass of earth over four miles in length and covering about 1000 acres. Movement on the flow ranges from 3 - 20 feet per year and can be studied by viewing coloured control stakes that are placed across the flow in line with reference points.

We continued over the continental divide at Spring Creek Pass, 10,898 feet and in to our camp site for the night at Seepage Lake, another Bear camp. It was a cold, windy night, but we woke to sunshine and the lovely sight of humming birds feeding on the nectar of wildflowers outside our tent.

Day 14, Saturday 8th August, Seepage Lake to the Great Sanddunes National Monument
We left this beautiful campsite a bit disappointed as this was thought to be our best chance of seeing Bighorn Sheep which have been reintroduced into this area and are Colorado's state animal. We travelled into Creede for a second breakfast at the Muckers Bucket Diner via Miners Creek Road and Windy Gulch past the fabulous Commodore Mine. The Commodore is based on the Amethyst vein, the most productive silver vein in the area. The mine has five levels and almost 200 miles of tunnels. Ore production spanned from 1891 to 1976. Creede came to life like Telluride, Ouray, Silverton etc. because of rich silver deposits. It is a picturesque town of wonderful old timber buildings and surrounded by sheer rock cliffs. We arrived on Huck Finn Day. Streets were closed off and there were food and craft stalls with a country fair atmosphere. The Jeeps at the old mines above CreedeWe had a brief look around and continued on to Monte Vista and Del Norte where we stopped for fuel and supplies, and the Great Sanddunes National Monument. The camping ground at this very popular spot was full so we stayed at a private camping ground nearby. This was large and well equipped with sweeping views over the Great Sanddunes and the added bonus of all the ice-cream you could eat for $1. This brought a big smile to Roger's face as ice-cream and fruitcake are just about his favourite foods and the latter was nowhere to be found in America.

Julie and Roger and Maggie and Donald drove to the Great Sanddunes for a look around while Jim and Pam stayed in camp to do some domestic chores, showers and phone calls to home, battling once again with the American phone system (fearful that this could be our fate if/when Telstra is privatised). After dinner and ice-cream Julie and Roger drove down to the amenities block for showers while the rest of us tried our best to lighten the load for the Jeeps by turning bottles of wine into recyclable glass. I can't recall, funny about that, who's idea it was, but combination padlocks managed to get attached to the zippers of the Smith tent before their return. Everybody else had apparently gone to bed, actually watching from hiding, while Julie held a torch for Roger to attempt to pick the locks. When we couldn't contain our mirth any longer we allowed the Smiths to retire.

Day 15, Sunday 9th August, Great sand dunes National Monument to Denver
This morning we regrouped outside the Great Sand Dunes National Monument Visitors Centre (a National Monument is one declared by the President, whereas a National Park is declared by Congress), Jim and Pam having left camp early to have a look at the centre. The Great Sand Dunes were created by winds blowing toward the north east across the San Luis Valley. Sands carried by the winds were deposited at the foot of the high Sangre De Cristo Mountains. The dunes have been built to a height of nearly 750 feet and cover approx. 39 square miles.

We stopped briefly along the sandy track a bit to climb a particularly high steep part of the dunes on foot while Spielberg played cinematographer and director once again. Little Blue performed extremely well on the sand tracks, a combination of wide road tyres, sorry tires, light weight and adequate power made it a lot of fun in spite of an ominous sign declaring the point of no return.

We continued on for a couple of hours on a very pleasant track through changing vegetation, many creek crossings, and past fellow 4WD campers into the Sangre De Cristo Mountains heading for Medano Pass. Not long after lunch Donald and Maggie heard a noise coming from the front axle of Juanito, it sounded like a failed bearing in the diff. Donald decided to drive in reverse for awhile as this had worked once before. With Red in front, er, behind Juanito, well leading the way anyway, and Blue as T.E.C. we drove the next four or five miles until Donald tried the more conventional method of driving once again, his neck must have been getting very strained I think, and would you believe it, no more noise. I bet I couldn't get away with that on the Rangie.

We travelled along past Wolf Springs Ranch with its amazing sign warning would be trespassers that they should have a lot of money, a good lawyer, or both if caught, and onto sealed roads and into Colorado Springs, the second largest city in Colorado , to have a quick look see and refuel before heading toward Denver. It started raining very heavily as we left Colorado Springs. These conditions are when the soft top is at a disadvantage, visibility, except for the windscreen, is just about zero and unzipping side curtains takes two hands at the best of times. It makes driving in freeway conditions in pouring rain quite a strain. We turned off the highway during a break in the rain and stopped at the Crazy Creek Bar for drinks and to decide whether to bush camp tonight or head back to Denver and crash on the floor at Casa de Bushducks. Due to further threatened precipitation the latter option was chosen.

Day 16 Monday 17 August
Amazing to wake up in a place where the walls and roof don't flap in the breeze for the first time in a couple of weeks. After breakfast and showers all except Maggie clean up the hired Jeeps. Maggie has arranged to take Juanito to the Jeep dealer to have his suspect front diff seen to. A hire
car is provided by the dealer and what a stroke of luck, it's a Dodge Ram 1500 Clubcab which seats six. This means we can all go to Buena Vista to return Blue and Red, which we do.

After a hamburger lunch in Buena Vista we turned off the highway for an alternate route to Denver through the very trendy ski village of Breckenridge. We all had a look at the shops, made a few purchases and before leaving happened to drive past the Police Station, surprise, surprise, the cops here drive Discoveries, about 13 or 14 of them being on hand, quite a coup for Land Rover in the land of American iron. The police probably find that parts and accessories for the Land Rover are not as common as parts for Jeeps in this area.

Back to Denver on more of the scenic route and out to a Mexican restaurant for dinner.

Day 17 Tuesday 18 August.

In the morning we say our goodbyes, it's been an unforgettable 16 days, with the best of companions touring the most spectacular countryside imaginable. The Jeeps went well, I think we missed our Range Rovers a bit, but the agile little Jeeps proved very adaptable. Roger and Julie are flying to Idaho later today to meet with eldest daughter Amanda who will show them Yellowstone National Park, they are undecided on accepting youngest daughter Sally's invitation to fly to Lima, Peru and accompany her to Lake Titicaca. Donald and Maggie have plans for next weekend in Wyoming. We fly to San Francisco, spending five days there before hiring a car to travel down highway 1 on the coast to Los Angeles, camping along the way, more beautiful scenery and places to see. We have thoroughly enjoyed America and the people have been most hospitable. We would love to come back some day.

Jim and Pam Patterson

©Days 1-5, Roger and Julie Smith 1998
©Days 6-10, Bushducks 1998
©Days 11-17, Jim and Pam Patterson 1998 Photos - © Roger and Julie Smith, Bushducks 1998

Back to Part 1

On to Part 2

4WD Adventures: Colorado
This book lists 70 backcountry trails to help you explore the Colorado backcountry.

Read more about the book

 

View other recommended Colorado books

Home  Back Country Planning  Adventure Guides  High Country Pass Status  Adventure Reports  Bushducks Land Rover  Webbed Links 

Be informed when this site is updated:

Join the mailing list
Enter your name and email address:
Name:
Email:  
Subscribe      Unsubscribe