Trails to Ride

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Rande
    Ph.D in Jeep B.S.
    • Jun 26, 2000
    • 5489

    Trails to Ride

    Well, its looking better as far as work is concerned and that means greater confidence that I will make it this year I may be able to purchase a local '82 WT Cherokee but not sure if I will have the resources to have it ready. I'm most likely to drive the stock XJ.

    But either way, I am looking for trails to drive. I have been perusing the YouTube videos. Engineer Pass, Cinnamon Pass look like good drives. Imogene looks abit rougher but not too bad. I've been through Placer/Picayune, and Minnie or Maggie (not sure whih it was) and Last Dollar road. No interest in Black Bear with those switchbacks going down the cliff.

    I plan to arrive Sunday afternoon (leaving Saturday AM) so I will have a couple of days to cruise around before the invasion officially begins. Keeping in mind the stock XJ and my relative inexperience, what are some trails I might drive? Looking for easy drives.

    Meanwhile, I will keep looking around YouTube and the net on my own.
    Last edited by Rande; 02-09-2013, 09:28 AM.
    N4ZYV

    I ain't giving up. I've worked hard, it took me years to work my way to the bottom.


    1998 Cherokee Sport (not maroon! Have history with maroon XJs)
    1937 Chevy pickup (in progress)
    1966 Mustang
    1937 IH D2
  • Rande
    Ph.D in Jeep B.S.
    • Jun 26, 2000
    • 5489

    #2
    Been looking at this map of the Alpine Loop. Looks like a great drive.

    N4ZYV

    I ain't giving up. I've worked hard, it took me years to work my way to the bottom.


    1998 Cherokee Sport (not maroon! Have history with maroon XJs)
    1937 Chevy pickup (in progress)
    1966 Mustang
    1937 IH D2

    Comment

    • bigun
      • Feb 10, 2003
      • 20092

      #3
      We did Imogene in stock Liberty with 3 fat people in it and only drug it once. The last time I went over engineer we followed a Rav 4 for a while he had to pick his lines in a couple of places, but other wise he didn't seem to have any problems.
      charlie
      KB0HXA
      "Crom" 76/75 Cherokee/J20 Hybred,

      Originally posted by Gambler68
      congrats...that's the first post on here I have absolutely no effing clue how to comment on.
      How you behave toward cats here below determines your status in Heaven.
      Robert A. Heinlein
      The birth of CROM is recorded here
      http://www.alaska4x4network.com/showthread.php?t=7778

      Comment

      • fulsizjeep
        Señor Jackhead
        • Aug 21, 2002
        • 22496

        #4
        Good to hear Rande. I always point folks here for decent trail info. It is a little dated now as some trails are a bit rougher ride.


        The ride from 550 to Engineer is pretty bumpy on the initial climb compared to 10 years ago. Ophir is one of my favorite scenic drives with a little bit of shelf road. I did Brown Mtn for the first time last year and really enjoyed a different view of Red Mtn. Last Dollar is one of the lower roads and has lots of forested trail. Avoid this one if it has been raining.

        I would also suggest Sunnyside Mine.
        Flint
        Ran when parked.
        http://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac
        88 GW, 401/727/208, 5" lift, D44s/4.10s/locked up, 35s with a few Evil Twin & TT's Fabworks mods
        76 401 Wag, 77 401 Wag, 77 401 J20
        http://eviltwinfab.com http://www.ttsfabworks.com

        Comment

        • fulsizjeep
          Señor Jackhead
          • Aug 21, 2002
          • 22496

          #5
          Originally posted by Rande
          Been looking at this map of the Alpine Loop. Looks like a great drive.

          http://www.alpineloop.com/HTML/tourindex.html
          This is a beautiful drive and gets you over Engineer and Cinnamon Passes with a pit stop at Animas Forks.
          Flint
          Ran when parked.
          http://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac
          88 GW, 401/727/208, 5" lift, D44s/4.10s/locked up, 35s with a few Evil Twin & TT's Fabworks mods
          76 401 Wag, 77 401 Wag, 77 401 J20
          http://eviltwinfab.com http://www.ttsfabworks.com

          Comment

          • Tad
            • Nov 30, 2001
            • 17618

            #6
            Imogene is not that rough as long as you can run decent at that altitude.

            We have done it in the Wag in 2008.



            We have done it in an Infinity in 2012.



            I'm sure an XJ would do fine.
            (it was actually way easier in the Infinity)
            2000 Infinity QX4, 3.3L, MPFI, 4 speed auto, 2 speed Nissan tcase, Unibody, IFS front, 4 link rear solid axle with 255-70/16s

            IFSJA WMS PROJECT
            EARLY WAG LIFT SEARCH

            ...Pay no attention to these heathen barbarians with their cutting torches and 8" lift kits!...
            Self Inflicted Flesh Wound

            Comment

            • Rande
              Ph.D in Jeep B.S.
              • Jun 26, 2000
              • 5489

              #7
              Thanks! Looks like Imogene is not a worry then. Last Dollar Road was in good shape when I did it. I really liked that drive. Placer/Picayune was a nice drive (I remember someone slashed a tire on a rock going down the other side) as was Minnie (I'm pretty sure it was Minnie).

              The XJ is injected and the one I had when I was there (poor thing, it died a cruel, meaningless death) did just fine as far as running, I did knock apart the exhaust the first day though.

              The WT Cherokee I've been looking at is in good condition but would need maintenance work and prep. I will likely be able to purchase it this spring if work holds out. I don't think I'll have funds available for prep for such a journey and also to pay for the trip itself. So, the XJ looks like the proper decision at this point. It'll be stock but the other one did just fine. I did put a complete new exhaust on this one. New AT tires and new shocks. Prep for the trip will be easy.

              But, back to the subject at hand. I just want to avoid clinging to a cliff by my sidewalls, or sliding over rocks with my driveshaft.
              Last edited by Rande; 02-09-2013, 11:41 AM.
              N4ZYV

              I ain't giving up. I've worked hard, it took me years to work my way to the bottom.


              1998 Cherokee Sport (not maroon! Have history with maroon XJs)
              1937 Chevy pickup (in progress)
              1966 Mustang
              1937 IH D2

              Comment

              • Tad
                • Nov 30, 2001
                • 17618

                #8
                I'm not big on shelf roads either.
                If you go up from the Ouray side and down into Telluride there is a shelf road.
                You are coming down so for the most part you are on the mountain side, folks coming up have the right of way but they are on the edge.
                There is an obstacle just prior to the top of Imogene but it has a bypass to the left.
                We did the obstacle both years. In '08 it was raining and sleeting, made for a little bit of tire spin and some pucker factor. In '12 it was pretty dry and the Infinity just walked over it, except for a hole I had to back out of and go around.
                The Infinity (Q as we call it) does not have squat for ground clearance (29" tires) and the only thing we touched was the rear hitch which hangs pretty low.
                If we take the wag or the Q we probably will not do Imogene since we have done it in both, a lot of what we take will depend on fuel prices.
                We would like to do the Alpine Loop, have never done that but have been to Animas forks. We are coming in on Monday, we'll be pretty beat from the trip.
                Alpine Loops sounds like a good start for Tuesday but we don't plan anything except for when we arrive and when we leave.
                2000 Infinity QX4, 3.3L, MPFI, 4 speed auto, 2 speed Nissan tcase, Unibody, IFS front, 4 link rear solid axle with 255-70/16s

                IFSJA WMS PROJECT
                EARLY WAG LIFT SEARCH

                ...Pay no attention to these heathen barbarians with their cutting torches and 8" lift kits!...
                Self Inflicted Flesh Wound

                Comment

                • will e
                  Always Broke
                  • Nov 16, 2001
                  • 9997

                  #9
                  I am showing up on Sunday too.

                  Most of the shelf trails are not too bad. There is one where the drop off is steep and it is narrow and you can't see if someone is coming the other way. I forget which trail it is on.

                  We did Ophir at night (not by choice..) and then two more times (it's the best way to get back from Telluride.
                  82 Cherokee WT ? SFwith Alcan/agr box/Borgeson shaft/ 401/performer/Holley TA/HEI/BeCool/727/ALTAS(2.0/2.72/5.44)/D60 Snofighter(Yukon Zip,hubs,stubs,4.56)/14 Bolt (FF,BF shave,Discs, ARB,Artec Truss)/MTR 37/Corbeau Moab Seats /Hella/tuffy console/sliders/custombumpers&roll bar/WARN 8000/steering brace/CO2 Tank/dual batts/custom TCskid plate





                  Comment

                  • fulsizjeep
                    Señor Jackhead
                    • Aug 21, 2002
                    • 22496

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Rande
                    (I remember someone slashed a tire on a rock going down the other side)
                    Ninja Marmots!
                    Flint
                    Ran when parked.
                    http://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac
                    88 GW, 401/727/208, 5" lift, D44s/4.10s/locked up, 35s with a few Evil Twin & TT's Fabworks mods
                    76 401 Wag, 77 401 Wag, 77 401 J20
                    http://eviltwinfab.com http://www.ttsfabworks.com

                    Comment

                    • Rande
                      Ph.D in Jeep B.S.
                      • Jun 26, 2000
                      • 5489

                      #11
                      I hate it when that happens!

                      That's right, it was Krista who had the flat.

                      BTW, I've seen no videos of the invasion. I plan (but then, I plan a LOT of things) to bring a video cam.
                      N4ZYV

                      I ain't giving up. I've worked hard, it took me years to work my way to the bottom.


                      1998 Cherokee Sport (not maroon! Have history with maroon XJs)
                      1937 Chevy pickup (in progress)
                      1966 Mustang
                      1937 IH D2

                      Comment

                      • grand_wag_85
                        Murphy's Law Poster Child
                        • Dec 03, 2003
                        • 10719

                        #12
                        Engineer and Imogene should be no problem for a stock XJ. Corkscrew over to Hurricane then over to Animas Forks would be another good one just don't forget to turn off the trail before you get to Poughkeepsie.

                        Originally posted by Tad
                        There is an obstacle just prior to the top of Imogene but it has a bypass to the left.
                        That obstacle got me pretty good in '09 with the IH. They had the bypass to the left closed off and you had to take the 'normal' part of the trail which is a good bit steeper. That spot wasn't too challenging but the altitude and the steepness is what really got to my truck, you're probably at 12,800 at that point. I think if I had FI or at least a better torque converter(whole 'nother story) it would have been no problem.
                        Last edited by grand_wag_85; 02-10-2013, 10:30 AM.
                        You know it's bad when your car's on the EPA's 10 most wanted list!

                        '82 J10
                        '88 GW
                        '77 J10 Golden Eagle 401


                        Comment

                        • will e
                          Always Broke
                          • Nov 16, 2001
                          • 9997

                          #13
                          I have done Imogene with a holley TA (jets at 64 if I remember correctly). No issues.




                          Imogene got Ralph last year. His truck had some issues near the top. First time in I don't know how many years i saw where Ralphy had to be strapped. I have a video of it somewhere, it's like history.
                          82 Cherokee WT ? SFwith Alcan/agr box/Borgeson shaft/ 401/performer/Holley TA/HEI/BeCool/727/ALTAS(2.0/2.72/5.44)/D60 Snofighter(Yukon Zip,hubs,stubs,4.56)/14 Bolt (FF,BF shave,Discs, ARB,Artec Truss)/MTR 37/Corbeau Moab Seats /Hella/tuffy console/sliders/custombumpers&roll bar/WARN 8000/steering brace/CO2 Tank/dual batts/custom TCskid plate





                          Comment

                          • MtnYJ
                            232 I6
                            • Jun 12, 2006
                            • 170

                            #14
                            Originally posted by will e
                            We did Ophir at night (not by choice..) and then two more times (it's the best way to get back from Telluride.
                            Hey, I resemble that remark!

                            It's killing us reading about all you guys planning and talking about what trails you're going to run knowing we aren't gonna make it this year...
                            Tim & Sarah

                            '84 CJ-7, AMC 401
                            '76 J20, T-18, Dana 20, no floors
                            '91 GW, AMC 360, AX-15, NP 208, 178K Mi
                            Rear bumper w/swing-out tire carrier
                            '93 YJ, 4.0L, 5-SP, flipped Dana 300, Dana 44s
                            '14 Ram 3500 4x4 CTD
                            Carolina Full Size Jeep Club President http://www.cfsjc.com

                            Comment

                            • Rande
                              Ph.D in Jeep B.S.
                              • Jun 26, 2000
                              • 5489

                              #15
                              Well, unless I hit the lottery, I'm pretty sure I'll be in the XJ. When I was out there before, that XJ did just fine at altitude.

                              Deal with the '82 Cherokee is the work its going to need to be dependable for such a trip. I do plan to sell the old Mustang as its getting more and more difficult to get in and out due to bad knees and that money could finance the '82. But there's no guarantee that will happen in time to complete work on the '82 IF I even manage get it.

                              After many nights watching videos of the trails I've been able to find, most trails look doable in the XJ. When I get out there, I'll just need to pay attention to the trail ratings.

                              Ok, now how about maps? Any suggestions?
                              N4ZYV

                              I ain't giving up. I've worked hard, it took me years to work my way to the bottom.


                              1998 Cherokee Sport (not maroon! Have history with maroon XJs)
                              1937 Chevy pickup (in progress)
                              1966 Mustang
                              1937 IH D2

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X