Managed to get up to the hills with a friend this past Saturday for a most enjoyable hike to Pavilion Point. It’s a mild hike, following along the old grade of the Argentine Central Railroad.
Edward J Wilcox, A pasture turned miner turned railroad owner, built the Argentine Central Railroad to service the mines within the East Argentine Mining District (Argentine Pass). Remnants of the old grade can still be found. In the later years of the railroad, a dance hall and pavilion at the top of Leavenworth Mountain. After staying the night, one could continue on to McClellan Mountain with fine views of Grays and Torys Peaks.
For most of the day, we had the trail to ourselves. An added bonus seeing that it was the 4th of July holiday weekend.
Colorado Columbines. They seemed to be especially happy on this hillside.
One of many old mining structures along the old railroad grade.
Invited friends from the club for the annual sleepover at the property. With temps in the 100’s this past Friday, it was mighty enjoyable sneaking up to the Upper Meadows of the property to enjoy the cool temps and raise a pint or two to an almost Summer Solstice. Nine friends from the club were able to make the evening get together. After a drive to the wilderness boundary, we settled in for a most relaxing evening with good company around the propane fire (Clear Creek County put the fire ban back in place during the past week).
Saturday, we enjoyed a mellow start before heading back down to the heat of the city.
Went up to the cabin this past Friday for the night. Definitely starting to feel like Summer up there:). My favorite time of year! Managed to get up there mid afternoon after picking up the 4runner. Spent some time chopping wood a most enjoyable past time. I then headed off to the Upper Meadows. Didn’t make it to my favorite tree, but did manage a lot of time at what’s becoming my favorite spot. The pond, along with the rest of the property is looking a whole lot better since my last visit two weeks ago, thanks in part to the late Spring storm that brought over two feet of wet and much needed snow.
I spent quite a bit of time at the pond (the frogs seemed to be quite happy) in the Upper Meadows- a place that’s becoming my favorite spot. I even snuck back over for sunset. Up early the next morning, I headed out to a spot that provides a great overlook of the property for sunrise. A much needed visit.
Good to see snow on Evans ( now called Mt. Blue Sky)
An always enjoyable drive through the Upper Meadows.
Seems I got busy with Cruise Moab this Spring, as my last visit up to the cabin was in March. So I headed up this past Thursday after work. Sure felt great to get back up there! After a quick bite, took a drive to the Wilderness Boundary. First stopping by the pond in the Upper Meadows. The road through out the property is slowly being improved as the loggers make further progress. A quick stop at the Wilderness Boundary to Mt. Blue Sky (formerly known as Mt. Evans) before a stop at my favorite tree- first visit for the year:)! I then spent the rest of the evening soaking in the pond. Back at the cabin, I dozed off in a comfy chair.
The next morning I woke to overcast skies and a light dusting of snow.
Definitely needed:).
Always love these views of Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans).
Another Cruise Moab in the books! And man what a good time! This year was a special one as it was the 25th anniversary for the event. It was great to see so many old friends and lots of new folks, all super excited to be at the event- myself included!
As usual, a few of us headed out early to hang out and enjoy the desert. This year, we spent some time checking out the Dolores Triangle area (North of the Dolores River and East of the Colorado). Was fun checking out some new areas. Afterwards, we headed to a camp outside Cisco, UT for two nights while also checking out the Dome Plateau trail- another new area for me:). Back in Moab, I found myself pre running Poison Spider Mesa with my pals Jackson and Drew before diving fully into Cruise Moab. I rode along for the Arches and Wipe Out Hills runs. Thursday nights Vendor Night was a blast and super flattered to have sold out on this years Cruise Moab poster! The dinner and raffle was a blast as always. Then Saturday I took a personal day and checked out the April Action Car Show.
A wonderful week filled with great friends and good times. A great way to kick off the wheeling season:)! Here are some of my favorite pics from the week. Enjoy!
“It’s all about home. You know that. That’s where were all headed. Where we want to be. Where ever it may be. It’s all about having them places where you can feel it. You can feel something come through, something shining through. Something that takes you away from the world of problems, the world worry, the world of care. A place where you can leave all the bullshit behind. Just for a few minutes. When you find that place, you hold on to it.”
“I go there to get to reality and get away from all these problems I invent”
“So long as there’s places like Lochloosa, you got, you hold it and feel it every chance you get”
-JJ Gray.
Passing through Colorado National Monument to get to our first nights camp. For all the years that I’ve passed through Grand Junction, 2022 would be my first visit to the park. Some wonderful views.
Chasing that setting sun to camp. My pal Martin and I were enjoying this dirt road.
Pretty dang excited with how this years Cruise Moab poster turned out. Can’t thank my dad enough for for helping get this years poster finished. Excited to see the reaction at Cruise Moab this year!
We printed nine colors on silk screen to make this years poster. I’ll be framing two up for the raffle for Cruise Moab 2022.
This past weekend, I headed down to Durango, CO for this years Winter Photo Special on the Durango and Silverton Railroad. I hadn’t planned on going this year, but while registering for my 4×4 clubs Cruise Moab event, I randomly checked the website for the Durango and Silverton and found that they were running the Winter Photo Special for 2022. So on a whim, I signed up.
It was fun to get back down to Durango and ride the train. Last time was 2018 for the Winter Photo Special. One of these days I’ll actually ride the train all the way to Silverton:). Out of the 350+ pics I took on Sunday’s train ride (plus the night shoot at the Durango train yard), these are some of my favorite.
After the clubs “Snow and Pizza Run”, I headed over to the cabin for the night. When I got there, the sky was clear and pretty warm weather. Around 9pm, the wind picked up and the snow started falling. Ended up snowing well into the next morning, getting about an 1″ of fresh snow on top of the 10″ that we got from the last storm.
I’ll be honest, hanging out in the winter quarters, with the fire going and snow falling outside made for a most wonderful night. In the morning, I started to head to the Upper Meadows, but decided against it as the road wasn’t plowed since the last storm. So drove around the main property for a bit- all the while making fresh tracks. Probably one of the more peaceful visits I’ve had to the cabin:).
Always have to stop and take in my most favorite view in Colorado:).
Was a warm, clear night when I got to the cabin.
A few hours later, the snow started. Snowed all night and into the next morning. Got about a 1″ of snow, on top of the 10″ that we got from the last storm. Was quite peaceful in the winter quarters with the fire going in the pot belly stove.
This past Saturday, the club I belong to (Rising Sun 4×4 Club of Colorado) had it’s annual “Snow and Pizza Run”. It’s always a fun run. Yankee Hill, just above Central City is a great trail to go play in the snow. With no cliffs or major obstacles to worry about, Yankee Hill makes for a great place to go play in the snow. Some years were able to make it to Yankee Hill proper and some years we only get to the upper, or second parking lot.
This year’s run, we had about 30 vehicles. Breaking up into two groups, my pal Tim lead the second group- helping get some of the newer members of the club used to playing in the snow. I hoped in the front group, riding along so I could take pics. The week before the run, a big storm hit Colorado with parts of the Front Range getting around a foot of snow. Seemed we were breaking trail for most of the day. We didn’t get very far this year- only barely making it to the “playground” area (big drifts to play in), and a few getting just past that. But a blast as always and good fun with friends. Afterwards, we headed to Beau Jo’s for pizza in Idaho Springs. Being up in the mountains, I couldn’t pass up a night at the cabin, So I headed over after pizza:).
