</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Jeff the marmot:
<strong>Harder trails: Holy Cross, Chinaman's Gulch, maybe Iron Chest. Rear locker required.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">I've done Holy Cross and Chinaman's with just the Active TRAC computer, so I would consider that an adequate substitution for a locker.

My humble opinion: I rode along as a passenger with Jeff the Marmot on Iron Chest last summer. Based on that experience, I have no desire to drive my vehicle on that trail. For those of you who haven't been to Iron Chest, it's big boulders almost the entire trail, and even Jeff's rig, with its good clearance, took an almost constant beating underneath. Jeff has armor under his truck like few of us have. My impression is that Chinaman's is much easier.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans"><strong>Other minimum suggestions will vary depending on the trail. These might include requirements such as 2"+ of lift, larger tires, rock sliders.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">I agree with this. I've done these trails safely without sliders, so it can be done, but I've also seen people dent their running boards on them (like JadeRunner on Chinaman's).

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans"><strong>Other trail possibilities: Wheeler Lake sort of falls between easy and hard - I'm not sure how to fit it in.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">I would say hard. Clearance and a locker (or computer) are farily important if you want to make it to the end of the trail. Sliders are also important if you don't want to risk dents.

I would be game for having an alternate group go to Wheeler on the day of the Iron Chest run. (I'd even be willing to lead it if you need a volunteer.)

I think Buena Vista is a great location for this. It's close to a number of trails, plus it's close enough to Denver and Co. Springs that residents could join us for day trips if they desired.

<small>[ April 11, 2003, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: Aurora Sandman ]</small>