It’s always fun to get work published in “Toyota Trails”, A bi monthly magazine published by the “Toyota Land Cruiser Association” (or TLCA). Last time I wrote an article for Toyota Trails, was in the January/February 2013 issue, about our first trip up to the Upper Missouri River Breaks. The most current issue, November/December 2019, has my article about our return trip to Fable Valley, deep in the deserts of southwest Utah.
Had to go and get the emission done on the 4runner this past weekend. Nice to get through it all in under 10 minutes. Had to be one of the quicker etest trips i’ve done in a while.
Between Sublette, NM and Antonito, CO, you can find a great network of dirt roads, allowing one to get up close and chase the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Sublette, NM, an old track maintenance town for the Denver Rio Grand and Western Railroad, was responsible for taking car of ten miles of narrow gauge rail.
This year, we managed to work down the dirt roads to get to Whiplash Curve. So named for the section of track that has to loop back on to itself a few times to make the climb/decent more manageable for the Steam Locomotive. It’s always a blast, chasing the train, getting photos of the train, then rushing ahead of the train to the next photo opp. We always try to beat the train to Sublette.
With the colder nights from the recent storm, ended up having to break out the extra layer for the zero degree sleeping bag.
The train doesn’t depart Antonito, CO until 10am. This gives us time to make our way to the intended start of the chase. Along with a lazy morning in camp
Mike in his new to him FJ60 ( my friend Marco previously owned it).
Dan Silbaugh leading the group.
At the start of the chase. Waiting for the Antonito train.
Dan spotted some track from 1901.
#488.
#488 making it’s way up Whiplash Curve.
To get to this point, #488 had to make a big loop to help lighten the load of the climb.
The engineer kindly posed #488 for us by letting off some steam.
Dan and Nancy. The chase begins:)!
Mike and his FJ60 wait for the next photo opp.
A fun stretch to chase the train:).
#488 coming into Sublette, NM.
We opted to stage the trucks here so not to block views of the old town while passengers look on from the train.
When coming from Antonito, CO, the train stops at Sublette, NM to take on water for the next stage to Osier, NM, as well as a maintenance check.
Lunch time for the crew.
Group shot at Sublette, NM after #488 left. Brian rode along in Mikes Fj60.
64 miles of narrow gauge bliss- remnants from the days of the Denver Rio Grande and Western Railroad- lie between the towns of Chama, NM and Antonito, CO. Whatever town you ride the train from ( we always catch the bus to Chama, and ride the train back to Antonito), you’ll cross the CO/NM state line 11 times and pass through a variety of terrain. The aspens in the Chama valley are some of the best i’ve seen to date.
Though cold mornings ( it was ten degrees in Antonito the morning before I arrived), we had a perfect fall day for the train ride. The aspens would have been at there peak, had it not been for the hard freeze that the area received a few days before we arrived… An always enjoyable run with the Rising Sun 4×4 club.
Deadwood, SD. After wheeling all the previous day just to get to Spearfish, SD, it was a half hour drive on pavement to Deadwood. I planned for this night. But didn’t expect the wild night that ensued….
The gange parked on the north side of downtown Deadwood.
Chase and his compact car parking….
Kids in a candy store. That had six beers on tap…
They were closed.
We planned to camp the whole week..
Around Deadwood.
Matt is ready.
Feel this was the theme for the trip…
Recommend the mild.
At the original bar where Wild Bill got shot.
At the new #10 bar. Chase dragged us to a casino. We dragged Chase back to this Barr..
The crew for this year:).
Live music from a local Kansas band. There dad played with them:)
Don’t remember taking this pic. Seems we had the whole dance floor with us. The lady kept asking for a 20$ after dancing with use. Nope.
Deadwood at 2am.
Deadwood the next morning
Lead SD and the Homestake mine. Deepest open pit mine in the world.
Graves of Wild Bill and Calamity Jane.
Making our way south.
Mt. Rushmore.
Mind the highway below, but last sunset for the trip
After an enjoyable evening camping along Sand Creek, we made out way further into the Black Hills. Original thoughts had us heading to Deadwood, SD via dirt roads, but the 15″ of snow that Deadwood just received put a damper on things. Once off the mountain and on a more main artery, we headed for Spearfish, stopping at the local brewery for some beer and food.
We woke to blue skies at our camp along Sand Creek, south of Beulah, WY, a mile or so into what’s known as the “Grand Canyon of Sand Creek”.
Sand Creek. Spotted a river Otter swimming through the river.
The day started out so perfect:).
Making our way further south into the Grand Canyon of Sand Creek.
As we made our way south, the snow continued to get deeper. We also came onto a lot of fallen trees. Stopped to clear this one of the road, as people were already going around it.
Still making progress.
We turned onto Surprise Gulch with the thought of getting around Tinton, SD for camp. But the snow just kept getting deeper..
About the point where we started making fresh tracks.
Progress started to slow at this point.
Shawn C.
Matt Ralston.
Matt Farr.
Daniel Linn.
Stuck again. My friend Shawn was stuck just below me. With the group focused on getting him out, I set to get myself out. Tracks definitely came in handy!
Back to making slow progress.
Started to get some views as we climbed in elevation.
Finally made it to the top of the long hill climb.
Land Cruisers in there natural habitat:). From this point, we were only a mile or sow from a major artery, but it seemed to take us forever to get out of this spot.
The snow starting to set in, along with the evening.
Matt Farr winching himself out again.
Finally back on a more traveled road and making progress towards Spearfish, SD.
It seemed like everything cleared up once we were off that Surprise Gulch road. The skies, roads and weather turned as we headed towards Spearfish, SD. I couldn’t pass up this view.
Knowing the history of the Outlaw Days, as well as the mining days in the Black Hills, i’ve been wanting to get back for some time. I’ve had a loose route figured out for when we did get that way, but the 5-8″ of snow in Sundance, WY and 15″of snow in Deadwood, SD, put a damper on things. We made the most of the trip and camped when we could, with other nights in a hotel. Feel this trip just gave us a glimpse in what the Black Hills has to offer:)
Way back when, my friend James got me a MVUM map of the Black Hills. Been wanting to get out this way for some time:).
Making our way north through Wyoming. Was a windy drive!
First night to camp for the trip. At Devils Tower. Got a new Pixel 3XL phone. Trying out the new night time feature.
Woke up to our first view of Devils Tower.
Devils Tower camp.
Devils Tower.
Part of the gang.
We took a walk to see the tower up close. Pretty dang awesome. Even with the weather setting in.
Shawn all excited since he never takes a selfie of himself.
The snow starting to set in.
We ended up walking around the tower on one of the trail. Was nice to get out of the vehicles for a bit.
Loved the forests around the tower.
We left Devils Tower and headed for Sundance, WY via back roads through the Bear Lodge Mountains.
The snow setting in as we climb higher in elevation.
Wasnt expecting this weather for the trip. They were calling for 5-8″ in Sundance WY.
The group.
We stopped at Warrens Peak Lookout, though didn’t explore much due to the weather.
Sundance, Wyoming. Located next to the city and county building for the town, you’ll find this statue of the Sundance Kid. Harry Longbabaugh, would spend his first night in jail in Sundance after steeling a gun, horse and saddle from one of the nearby ranches, being sentenced in 1867.
A cool old bank in Sundance. With the snow blowing sideways, we went to a local bar for lunch to figure out the next plan.
An image of the Sundance kid in the men’s bathroom at the Longhorn Saloon.
At the Turf bar, across the street from the hotel. We ended up closing the bar down. A pool table, jukebox and local feel seem to be our favorite:)
The morning after the storm around the hotel.
Sundance dresses up the town for Halloween.
Matt R getting frisky with the locals.
Before leaving Sundance, we stopped at the Crook County Museum. Lots of great stuff to see regarding the early days. This display they had setup was when Harry Longbabaugh was tried at the local court house. The furnishings are original.
Before leaving Sundance, we stopped at the Crook County Museum. Lots of great stuff to see regarding the early days. This display they had setup was when Harry Longbabaugh was tried at the local court house. The furnishings are original.
Making our way north to Colony, WY via back roads.
Unfortunately got turned around due to private land. So it was back into SD, then back to WY.
Some great country though:)!
Colony, WY. This was once the bunkhouse of the 3B ranch. The Sundance Kid spent some time while working for the outfit. It’s now the community center of Colony, WY.
Bella Fourche, SD. This was a planned stop knowing the foiled bank robbery by Kid Curry, Walt Putney, Tom O’Day and possibly the Sundance Kid. There is a plaque talking about the robbery in Bella Fourche, but we couldn’t seem to find it, though felt we were close here Bella Fourche is also the Geographical center of the US.
View from out camp in the Grand Canyon of Sand Creek, WY.
Campfire goodness. Early in the evening.
You tell your friends to sit still for a pic and this is what you get…
Doesn’t get much better than grilled Fig Newtons:).
During this years Outlaws Run to the Black Hills, our first stop was to Devils Tower in Wyoming. A place i’ve been wanting to go for some time. Of course the winter weather set in the morning we set out to explore the park. Definitely need to get back:)
A snowy Devils Tower
Enjoying a walk thorough the forests around Devils Tower
