Well, this thread of the EC4RJ is gettin me all stirred up for the next CO4RJ.

So, has anybody *cough* JefftheMarmot *cough* put any thoughts into this yet?

Buena Vista the first year, Ouray the second - what's next?

I know it's months and months away, but it's fun to think about as the snow rolls into town!

Mojo

<small>[ November 22, 2002, 11:11 PM: Message edited by: Mojo_Risin ]</small>

Come down to Arizona in March 2003. Maybe you can bring a big old AZ Dent back as well.

Remember we have desert up on desert full of dead yukka stalks.

Let's have it in Kansas. <img src="http://www.yotatech.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif" alt=" - " />

OK maybe not. I think Camp Hale would make a good base camp with access to Mosquito, Weston, Haggerman passes. Options include Red Cone OMG Road, Georgia Pass Swan Creek and the whole Montezuma area. Then there is Holy Cross and Ptarmigan and the stuff over by Copper Mountain and Vail. Its the core of Colorado wheeling. There's decent cheap motels in Leadville for those who don't camp, there's plenty of room to spread out at Hale for those who do.

We are all getting better rigs all the time, better tires, front lockers, sliders, winches, lifts, etc. We all will be more capable than we were at last years thing. We all have had a year to improve our driving skills also so there is not much reason to stick to the easy roads and bunny trails.

Mid August is a great time to have it like last year, no trails blocked by snow.

Just my 2 cents, i'll be there whenever for whatever happens.

Leadville, eh? Just wrote a little paper about the residents there and the blood bank to remove red cells.

I would cast my humble vote for some place closer to the center of the state. Mostly so I don't have to drive so darn far <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />

I haven't put much thought into it yet. We need people to contribute their ideas.

I was sort of thinking about something toward the center of the state anyway. Assume that we have enough vehicles interested with a wide enough range of mods that we'll definitely split up the group everyday into one for easier trails and one for harder trails. When we were in Buena Vista the first time, the whole group stuck to easy to moderate trails. So there's tougher trails that we could do like Chinaman's Gulch and Iron Chest (both right there near Buena Vista) or Holy Cross.

Near Buena Vista there's a good variety of easier trails, but not too many really hard ones.

If we'd stay in Leadville, Holy Cross is quite a bit closer.

Ideas, ideas... we need to hear more people's ideas....

Also about the length of the gathering -- I assume 3 days again like this last CO4RJ??? Thurs-Sat was really nice since we all had quite a driving distance to Ouray. At future gatherings we might include Sunday for trails if our home base is pretty close to Denver, though. What do you think? Or should we keep Sunday open again since that probably helped the out-of-state folks to make it. The attendance of the out-of-staters helped make it the success that it was.

About AZ - I think we should still have a CO4RJ. If there's also something in AZ, great. It's just more opportunities to meet people and wheel in different locations.

Another question I have is whether we should have an event in Moab, Utah. You don't need a permit as long as you very strickly stay under 49 vehicles. (More than 49 vehicles at a Moab event without a permit means very hefty fines per vehicle per day). Due to Moab's hot climate, if we go there we'd need to do that in either Spring or Fall (avoid the summer, just like AZ).

Another question I have is whether we should have an event in Moab, Utah. You don't need a permit as long as you very strickly stay under 49 vehicles. (More than 49 vehicles at a Moab event without a permit means very hefty fines per vehicle per day). Due to Moab's hot climate, if we go there we'd need to do that in either Spring or Fall (avoid the summer, just like AZ).

Some time around March 15th say, that would be great if people have a hankering to go and I can scrape some cash together! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

I'm getting restless so I want to see if we can spark some more discussion. I suggested Camp Hale earlier but that would mean either highway driving at trail pressure or airing up and down several times over 3 days.

So after some more thought I want to suggest the Montezuma neighborhood for a base camp. Just a thought. Brainstorm people, we want your input.

Here's an even better idea... Base camp at Taylor Reservoir or the woods just north of there. Easy access to all of areas 2 and 3 in the Charles A. Wells guide book.

Taylor pass
Italian creek
Schofield/ Crystal river
Lead King Basin
Pearl Pass
Slate + Gothic roads
Tincup pass
Tomichi pass
Antero
Iron Chest

...and so on.

Drawbacks would be no motels or fuel in the immediate area. Buena Vista would be the closest.

Now I'm lovin' that area and those trails! Would make for some long days if it were located around Taylor Reservoir. I don't mind at all about that, just thinking of others. Fuel shouldn't be a problem. I forget, but Tincup would be the closest "town," but I can't remember if it has a station. I'm guessing it does. You are right about the motel situation though.

Might have to do some more reading up on Iron Chest though. Those who have done it, how is it? Yeah, I have Wells book, but I find his descriptions conservative. And I can't go to 4x4 Trails.net because it's down for awhile. Guess I could do the Google thing.

I would suggest August again.

Just my random thoughts for the moment.

For some of those trails, I think we'd end up looking at Buena Vista area again, but that's just my opinion due to availability of motels, gas, and stores. That's certainly a possibility and nothing wrong with that. I'm interested in hearing more people's opinions. But I'd also love to do Pearl Pass and some of the trails closer to Taylor Resevoir. I haven't done those before. Hancock/Tomichi might be a good trail for the stock group.

I agree it's time to pick a date and location. Roughly I think we should aim for late July/early August time frame. When does school start for anyone that's considering attending? What dates to avoid? etc...

Iron Chest rocks! I had an absolute blast on it during the Isuzu's 'Colorado 'Zu last summer. But I'd highly recommend sliders and skidplates that you don't mind adding some dents to. If other people agree and if our base location permits it, I'd love to do that trail for the mod'ed group, since we'll be spliting up into 2 groups this year at CO4RJ. Here's one link to a pic: http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/hottoy/bathke/IronChestMine1.jpg It's like a really long rock garden with wonderfully sized rocks for lifted/locked rigs.
There's tons more pics by Keith and Tia at: http://www.trailseeker.com/4x4/coloradozu/IV/IronChest-KE/index.htm
Oh yeah - here's a very wierd occurance that shows you how many huge rocks you'll be constantly driving through on Iron Chest - one got caught above someone's leaf spring. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> Pic here.

<small>[ January 26, 2003, 03:07 AM: Message edited by: Jeff the marmot ]</small>