admin – Page 14 – Wanderin' the West

Argentine Pass, CO

admin March 18, 2020

2 minute read

I first started getting the 4×4 club up to Argentine Pass ( outside Georgetown, CO) way back in 2004 when I was the Event Coordinator for the club. Working with the Clear Creek Ranger District, we adopted the club for clean up and trail maintenance- our original adopted trail, Hubbard Cave outside Gleenwood Springs, I felt, was just too far for us to continually make an impact. Since then, we as a club have been going up twice a year with the Clear Creek Ranger District. At times, they would give us there tools so they could be on other trails with a “You know what to do response”.

Ever since I started exploring Argentine Pass and the East Argentine Mining district, i’ve fallen in love with the are and the history. For some time now (maybe since 2010?), i’ve had the idea to document as much of the valley as I can. What i’ve dubbed the “Argentine Project”. So i’ve decided this year is the year to make headway on it.

This warmer warmer weather has me excited for it.

Such a great view of the Argentine Valley. To the left, Mt. Wilcox. Directly ahead, the road up to Argentine Pass. The road i’m standing on, the old line of the Argentine Central Railroad.

Views of the East Argentine Mining District from an old mine above the grade for the Argentine Central Railroad. To the North (left) would be Georgetown and Silverplume.

Views from the old town site of Waldorf. Once claiming to have the highest post office in the US at 11,666ft.

The @honeybadger heading back down Argentine Pass towards Waldorf.

So much great areas to explore in the valley.

A fine morning at the cabin

admin March 7, 2020

1 minute read

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I headed up this morning for a quick visit to the cabin with Dad. Been a long time since i’ve seen that much snow at the cabin (last time was probably ’03?). Went to go for a walk and it was knee deep in most places (even the hay fields). This is after a week of warm weather and some good melting. Gonna be a good spring/summer at the cabin!

Still one of my favorite views in CO.

The road to the cabin is snowed in still.

Dad shoveling some snow off the roof.

Knee deep snow.

Didn’t get very far for my walk this morning. Deep snow, the warm sun and these Aspens kept me from going very far.

On our way out of the property, we came across the flock of Wild Turkey. Had to be around 30 of them.

A slow winter

admin February 27, 2020 | February 28, 2020

1 minute read

Seems that this winter has been a bit quite for me. Haven’t gotten out as much as i’d like to, even with the three days off for work. The cold weather we’ve been having for February hasn’t helped anything. Pushing hard to upgrade the camera in time for the clubs annual “Cruise Moab” event in mid April- I told the committee i’d photograph the event this year.

Got word from my Dad this week that Grandma passed away. At 98, she was the last of the grandparents for me. Times like this that make me push harder for the things i’m most passionate about ( Photograph, 4×4 adventure and travel)

One of my favorite photos of Grandpa (Dads side). Went up to Cascade, MT to help him pack for the move to Salt Lake back in 2013. Right before he took this shot, he told his friends: “And here my kids think my grandson and I are packing right now”

Ghost Town Run

admin February 13, 2020 | February 13, 2020

3 minute read

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Seems that it’s around this time of year that I start getting that itch for the warmer months. I love winter, but don’t really partake in any of the big activities- haven’t snowboarded since 2003. I love getting up to the cabin in the winter but that’s about it.

Lately i’ve been looking at maps for this years Ghost Town Run, a trip my pal Nathaniel Miller (owner of Big Choice Brewery in Brighton) started way back in 2005. Kinda fun to know that we’ve been leading this run for some 11 years now- there was a stretch from ’09-’15 that we didn’t lead the run. I took over in 2015 as Nathaniel has become quite busy with the brewery. My friend Travis (@thehoneybadger) took over leading it last year as I was still in recover mode from the Heart Surgery. Thought it would be fun to post a little photo compilation from the 10 years i’ve been apart of it.

Ghost Town Run 2005: The Alpine Tunnel district (I just phrased that).

Ghost Town Run 2006: Camp Hale.

Ghost Town Run 2007: Argentine Pass, Georgetown Loop, Wild Irishman and St’s John.

Ghost Town Run 2008: The Alpine Tunnel District.

Ghost Town Run 2009: The Alpine Tunnel district with some excitement on Tomichi Pass.

The Alpine Tunnel District: Going through pics for this post, realized that we have spent a good amount of time at the Alpine Tunnel and surrounding country (St. Elmo, Pitkin and TinCup). For good reason, the country around the Alpine Tunnel is wonderful and full of history. Plus a great network of roads makes for a fun weekend of exploring.

With excavation of the tunnel starting in the winter of 1880, the two sides (West and East) finally meet in the center, only being a few feet off from each other in the summer of 1882. The first narrow gauge locamotive came through the 1,772 ft long tunnel in July of 1882. 400,000 board feet of California Redwood Timber was used to support the interior of the tunnel. During the winter months, when done with there shifts, workers were required to leave in pairs as to not get lost in the deep snow. At the time of completion, the Alpine Tunnel was the highest railroad tunnel in the world, 500 ft below the Continental Divide and Altman (Alpine) Pass. Unfortunately, the road to the Alpine Tunnel on the west side is currently closed. A winter avalanche took out the Palisades- the Western approach to the Alpine Tunnel. The Palisades were a stretch of track clinging to a big cliff face. Workers hand cut interlocking stones to fill the 450ft gap and keeping the grade for the steam locomotive level. The Alpine Tunnel was abandoned in 1910.

Ghost Town Run 2015: The Alpine Tunnel District.

Ghost Town Run 2016: The Alpine Tunnel District with a fun run over Napoleon Pass.

Ghost Town Run 2017: Hayden Pass, the Cochetopa Hills, Bonanza and Otto Mears toll road.

Ghost Town Run 2018: A solo midnight run over Hancock Pass ( with a full moon lighting up the valley on my way to camp) and The Alpine Tunnel district, minus the Alpine Tunnel (A winter avalanche took out the Palisades).

Snow Pizza Run 2020

admin January 31, 2020 | January 31, 2020

1 minute read

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Was fun to ride along for this years Snow Pizza Run with the 4×4 club. Spent the day playing in the snow then pizza afterwards at Beau Jo’s in Idaho Springs.

Here are my favorite pics from the run.

Go here for the full set of images:)

Stock Show 2020

admin January 24, 2020 | January 24, 2020

1 minute read

Headed over to the Stock Show this morning (1/24/2020) to watch the Draft Horses for a bit, then got distracted watching the trains as I walked back to the apartment.

Some images from the Draft Horses this morning.

Got distracted with the trains moving around during the walk home, 38th and Brighton area.

Third in a row

admin January 16, 2020

1 minute read

Came home Tuesday evening after work to find the latest issue (Jan/Feb) of Toyota Trails in my mail box. To my surprise, an image of mine from last years Outlaws Run to the Black Hills was on the last page.

A nice way to end the day:).

Stock Show 2020. Kick-off parade.

admin January 10, 2020

1 minute read

I always seemed to be working during the kick-off parade for the Stock Show. Was fun to walk a block or so from the apartment to check it out in person finally. Think next year i’ll get there earlier with the hopes of getting a good spot for photos.

Fun way to enjoy a day off from work:).

Pics:

Winter 2020 goals

admin January 2, 2020

1 minute read

Cruise Moab, my 4×4 clubs annual spring event in Moab, UT will be here before I know it. Goals for this winter are to upgrade the camera/lens ( been shooting with it for 10 years now) and get a winch for the 4runner.

For the camera, i’m looking at upgrading to the Canon 6D MK2 with a 74-105 F4 L lens.

For the winch, planning on getting a ComeUp winch from my pals at Slee Off Road (along with having them do the install).

A Swell birthday. Act 2: Black Dragon Canyon.

admin December 14, 2019

1 minute read

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After a nice morning in camp, we headed out of the Swell via Black Dragon Canyon. An always fun and dramatic route. Fun to come across the wild burros as well. Of course after getting out of Black Dragon, we headed to Ray’s Tavern in Green River for an always delicious burger.

Morning light around camp.