Crawling Lower Cactus

Okay, this is way cool (sorry to dip into my 60's jargon, but today was "way cool"). We rode our ATV's out into treacherous terrain so we could watch some off-road enthusiasts (or to some they might be nut cases) take multi-tens-of-thousand dollar toys and punish them by driving them in the rocks (really big rocks).

These guys drive jeep like vehicles over extreme ground. Some started out as jeeps others are custom built and referred to as crawlers, buggies, or other names I didn't catch.

All these pictures were taken in a stretch of Lower Cactus that was less than 100 yards long. It was the only spot where we could get our ATV's close enough to their trail so that we could hike in to watch. Remember, I got an ATV so I could ride to remote places, NOT hike.

Enjoy the pictures and thanks to these guys for taking their expensive toys and leaving scrappings off them on the trail, all for us to marvel at.

























Well, to me this was an amazing day. The stretch of trail on which we observed was no where near the toughest they did. I tried to follow them up to the entry into Upper Cactus and decided to turn back before I either flipped my ATV or scrapped the bottom off it.

Black Bear to Telluride

Well, today we took a little trip over Black Bear pass. The trip started just South of the crest of Red Mountain Pass on Colorado Highway 550 (approximately half way between Ouray and Silverton). We unloaded our ATV's off the side of the highway and proceeded up and over Black Bear pass towards the town of Telluride. We went up well over 13,000 feet (that's why you see some snow in some of the pictures). I am going to give you all a break this time and let the pictures do the talking.










This last picture looks down upon Telluride, Colorado. We could not go all the way down into town because they have an ordinance against unlicensed vehicles (aimed specifically at ATV's and off-road motorcycles). So, rode to this vantage point and then turned around and went back over Black Bear.

For a few in our group this trip had less than the best of memories. This same run last summer had included a serious injury to one of the riders. An ATV had flipped over backwards on a rock climb, leaving one of the group with an ankle full of pins and plates.

Regardless of any dangers, this is a great way to see magnificent scenery. Many of these views are available only to hardcore hikers, and of course, the slightly less ambitious off-roaders like myself.

South Fork, Colorado

It is not a very big place. Winter population was estimated to be between 300 and 400. However, the summer draws in a lot of outdoor enthusiasts, bringing the town's population up to as much as 6,000. Many of those summer residents own a summer place, come in their RV's, or rent a place. There are many very expensive homes, often lived in for a only a few weeks a year. This is a summer Mecca still in the discovery stage.

During an ATV ride we found ourselves above the valley where South Fork lies. That really is the majority of the town down there.








An 18 hole championship golf course is available at the Rio Grande Club. There are many upscale homes along its fairways as the course winds up and then back down its own private valley.



I am afraid I didn't get a lot of pictures of town, so this is the view out of the back of the camper from where we were parked for a week.







And here is a South Fork flower.













If you like to see more about the town, then Google "South Fork, Colorado". You'll get a load of links. The Chamber of Commerce site may be the best.


Okay, this isn't from South Fork. One of my riding buddies just emailed this picture of me from earlier this summer. I think it was taken in late June or early July on the Imogene Trail. We had been turned back because the trail was snow blocked. At the point where we had been turned back the snow still towered 20 feet above the trail.

Riding the Middle Alder Trail

We start here at the entry to Middle Alder Trail, good old trail number 797.










It is hard to see, but there is a chainsaw mounted on the drivers right hand side at the rear. We had been warned that this trail may have trees down across it.





Are you sure we are in the right place?Come on, how could we be lost? We didn't know where we were going to begin with.







Doggone it, I didn't have any trouble getting up on this rock, but now I can't get off. The trail was thick with rocks of all sizes, including those big enough to get high-centered on. That is where you climb up and over the rock and then a frame part on the underbelly comes down on it. This leaves you teetering and unable to get enough traction to go either forward or backward.

Ooops, I swear this looked wide enough to get through. Well, cut me out boys! Our fearless leader charged right through a narrow spot only to find himself wedged so tightly between the trees that he was unable to move in any direction.

We did a lot of off camber riding on this trail. That is where the trail tilts sideways providing a potential for tipping your ride over on its side. There was a lot of this type riding on good old Middle Alder.

Still chug, chug, chugging along. Sharon really has taken to this rough trail riding. Her quad has a slightly lower center of gravity and she has been riding like a champ. But, shortly after this picture she got wedged in the rocks and it took three of us to get her out.

Here we are all stopped and catching our breath after having completed a real puckery off camber stretch. I didn't see anyone sneak off into the woods to clean out their drawers, but they may have.


If you wonder why I don't have any pictures of real hairy spots, well I was either too busy trying to keep my ATV on its wheels or helping someone else do the same. The camera only came out when I made it to a safe spot and no one else was in jeopardy!!!!

You may have noticed that the headlights are usually on. That is so the person ahead of you can easily see you in their rear view mirrors. Each rider is responsible for keeping track of the rider behind them. If you loose sight of them, then you wait, if they don't show up you go back and help them.

Up, Down, and Ooops

A small group of ATVers (Sharon and I included) recently spent a week in South Fork, Colorado. We were hosted by a great couple, Jim O and his wife Pat, who put us all up at their home. That's Jim O leaning over his ATV in the lower right of the picture. We are all gathered getting ready to head out.

We rode through a lot of varied terrain. Here it looks as though we are going trough a tobacco field. I'm not at all sure, but I think this may be Colorado Monument plant. I have no idea if you can smoke 'em.


We rode up hills. Hey, look at that. Its Sharon leading and I think that her right rear tire is off the ground. What a speed freak!!!








At the top I take pictures of the scenic views. Look carefully, you can nearly make out that I am the one in the mirror. Now you might believe that I am actually there on these trips. Then I have to run off and get ahead of the group so I can get pictures of them coming down the hill.

Ooops, I guess maybe I hurried a little too hard...........












Well, no more pictures on this run. I got thrown off and after a short flight through the air, I landed on my butt. Would've been better to land on my head, at least it had a helmet on it. So, for the rest of the ride my sore butt made it difficult to climb on and off the quad. So, I deferred picture taking to the others in the group.

Did I learn anyting from this? Yep, I learned that ATV's are vicious people crunching machines. If you get careless, inattentive, or as in my case, stupid, even for a split second, they can eat you alive. And my blooper occurred on an intermediate trail. Before our week was over we had rolled three, high centered three, and got one stuck between two trees........so I've got plenty more to tell you in future blogs.