My Ouray-venture(LOTS of pix)

[bigun]

I know what you're getting at...LOL! That was Andrew(?) with the XJ. We were gonna have a BBQ right there on the trail but them critters were just too fast :p

That is why they use dogs to herd them

[ColeTrickle]

The fun part is that Eli had just about no brakes on 550!

Been there done that passenger seat in Crom still has the pucker marks[/quote]

Yup it was a little freakish getting Crom up that hill... (Red Mountain) I can't imagine what it would've been like coming down.

[bigun]

The fun part is that Eli had just about no brakes on 550!

Been there done that passenger seat in Crom still has the pucker marks

Yup it was a little freakish getting Crom up that hill... (Red Mountain) I can't imagine what it would've been like coming down. [/quote]
I never have figured out why it was so hard on your rig getting us up there unless it was the weight of the propane? Stripped down as Crom is you would figure the weight would be less.
Well let us just say there may or may not have been someone screaming like a little girl, it was quite unnerving since Craig was driving!:shock:
I remember yelling at Craig that we had to make the left turn after the tunnel, after that it was a blur till the touron pulled out in front of us at the entrance to Engineers!

[HOOT]

Great pics Sean

[Grand_Wag_85]

Friday

The plan was to leave out first thing and run with the Texas guys by doing Black Bear then come up Imogene. The Texas dudes left bright and early so scratch that. SV042 was swapping a fan clutch so by the time he got done we only rolled out at 11:00 or 12:00. I tried hard to convince Bryan to run Black Bear but he wanted to dial the Jeep in first, don't blame him.

While Bryan was turning wrenches I walked around and snapped photos of other folks' expedition trailer set ups.



Met up with this guy as I was on my way out on Sunday. He was at the BIG invasion in '02 and was there with one of the original concept TJ Rubicons. He owns a J10 and I invited him to come to the darkside.


For sale $6500


WW2-Korean War era US M100

[Grand_Wag_85]

My favorite photo of the Black Bear run, courtesy of SteveD


Working on getting the rest of the Black Bear stuff up...

[Grand_Wag_85]

When we finally got underway I followed Rick because I had no clue where we were going






Found the MONSTER M715. Not sure what he was working on but it was simple. Inscription on the tailgate reads "CUTE FJ"










More sheep










Did not get a photo but there was a really sweet Scrambler up here coming down. Had to have been one of the old tour Jeeps


The cameraman(SteveD) posed for a photo














Nice flex




















That horizontal line IS the trail...HA!


Marmot




















Runway in sight!












Eli spotting for Rick










Monster flex








Eli about to go off the deep end






The spotter gang




Rick's turn




Feeling confident








The steps










Sun in my eyes








These enduro bike guys were like annoying mosquitos throughout the ENTIRE trip. Weaving in and out of the group etc.




No problems here


Eli approves


TIGHT




My power steering was acting up and I actually hooked my front bumper on the mountain before that switchback. My RR was about to drop off the mtn so I didn't have much wiggle room


More mega flex


Awesome pic but washed out


WE'RE DOWN!


We just came down...THAT!?


Rick peeled off for Ouray and we headed into town to find pizza so we could fuel up for the next leg of the trip...Imogene


Eli's rig 'Apollo'






Telluride, home of Jerry Seinfeld and other famous yuppies


Found a big enough parking spot for all the rigs but we had to hike to find pizza

[bigun]

I told BlackBart before we try Black Bear in Crom the transfercase shifters will be split and the turning brakes will work!





Sean does your DVD player blink 12:00 all the time?

You said Steve was the photographer, does he have a thing for sheep?

[Grand_Wag_85]

I told BlackBart before we try Black Bear in Crom the transfercase shifters will be split and the turning brakes will work!

Sean does your DVD player blink 12:00 all the time?

You said Steve was the photographer, does he have a thing for sheep?

Brakes and steering? Them are some high dollar options there!

Don't own a TV let alone a DVD player. Calender on my wall says 1985 and the car in my driveway confirms it.

I can't recall who took the sheep photos. Not everyday you see a couple thousand at once.

[jsinajeep]

damn it Sean. I want to head back up there. I missed a lot the two last years I was up there.
But go ahead and keep the pictures coming.

[HOOT]

great shots.. been following the pics and using google map satellite view to see the whole trail.. been fun trying to pinpoint some of the shots..you should post your pics to google and when someone pulls up that part of the trail a link of you and the jeep pic will show..

anyone ever drive down to ingram lake?

[ColeTrickle]

Great pics Sean. Pics don't do Black Bear justice, eh? Those switchbacks are heck on a j - truck owner

[Grand_Wag_85]

Great pics Sean. Pics don't do Black Bear justice, eh? Those switchbacks are heck on a j - truck owner

YES, yes they are dude. I was beginning to question my sanity towards the end. Wore out my belts on the first switch back so the power steering was screaming pretty violently thru there.

[will e]

Great pics but makes me sad I missed it this year. I will see you all next year for sure.

[Grand_Wag_85]

Great pics but makes me sad I missed it this year. I will see you all next year for sure.

I did miss not seeing the horderve(SP?) chef in camp :p

[Grand_Wag_85]

The Imogene run

After gorging on pizza we drove around lost trying to find Imogene and drove thru some alleyways and driveways before finding the trailhead


"I think it's over here"


This says Imogene so it must be over here


We came down...THAT!?!?!


Random joggers


More bikers


Black Bear Pass
















Approaching the mine






Could have stayed here all day photographing but we had a schedule to keep








































America's Highest Mailbox?
















Heading back down




Sunset. If I put the Jeep in reverse I get to see it again


Eli and the gang. The leaking can is a water can








From this point out it was getting too dark to shoot photos


I let Eli and the gang take the lead. They had much better lights than me and the Marchals on my rollbar kept popping fuses. Had the same lights on my pushbar but in amber but they gave me no issues. Go figure.

I'm convinced that Eli's lights were stolen from a crashed UFO(he is from NM afterall :p ) and the lights are the ones used to abduct unsuspecting cattle and folks from Arkansas.

On the way down I was really feeling the altitude and just wanted to get off the mountain ASAP. At the triple water crossing I found a huge hole with either my axle or the bumper and it was all rock so there was no give. I forget if I took the bridge or the milder crossing but I do know that I did not go back and try the big hole.

We rolled into the KOA pretty late with our lights blazing brightly. Got a stern talking to from the den mother about being out so late but that's a different story.

[Grand_Wag_85]

Steve took a couple of really good shots while up top


'Photobomb'

[jsinajeep]

I am riding with you next year

[fulsizjeep]

That's a fact Jerry. Great pix Sean!

[Grand_Wag_85]

I am riding with you next year

That's a fact Jerry. Great pix Sean!

Gonna have to get me a Wagoneer to fit all y'all up inside of :p And thanks! Much more to come still