Hike in the Wasatch Mountains and Willard Peak

August 2, 2011, Golden Spike RV Park, Brigham City, Utah.
Today we decided to take a ride and hike up to Willard Peak.
Willard Peak is the highest peak in Weber County, and generally considered the northernmost peak in the Wasatch Mountains.
The start of the climb to Willard peak via 4x4 vehicle is via the town of Mantua. We drove to the small town just a few miles west of Brigham City and got on Willard Peak Road which became a dirt ATV 4x4 road at the base of the mountains. We took the rough washed out forest road up the mountains and stopped at about 7K feet.

We did about a 2 mile hike checking out the surrounding mountains and deciding if we wanted to press on further up the mountains on the rough road.

Across the valley we could see the peak that we thought was Willard Peak.

We could see part of the road that would take us there.

Jeep/ATV  Road

Perry Reservoir

Even though we weren't at the summit of the highest peak, the views were spectacular but hazy.

Pineview Reservoir in the distance.

We decided to press on up the road over the sharp rocks and ruts in the washed out narrow ATV/Jeep road.

The Jeep road we traveled in the distance.

We made to Willard Basin and thought we could hike to the peak from there.

We took off on another 2 mile hike up one of three ATV roads...

 Destination was the peak in the distance.

Gorgeous wild flowers.

As we grew closer, I stopped to talk to these two ATV riders who informed me that what I thought was Willard Peak actually was something else. We had been hiking in the wrong direction! Willard Peak was across another valley in the opposite direction.

We hiked back to Willard Basin and then decided to try and drive up the 4x4 road to the summit.

We made to about a mile from the summit when we came across this log in the road which prevented us from going any further due to the steep drop-off at the edge of road. So I was forced to do a multipoint turn with Joyce spotting me to get turned around.  

We should have hiked from this point but there was no where to park the Jeep and it was getting late. We were a bit tired from our two previous hikes so we turned around and headed back down the mountains.

The ride down was as rough as the ride up. We passed a few ATVs and motorcycles going up the mountains as we were coming down. We had a good time and gave the Jeep a workout. It needs a bath now but it looks good dirty!

Doing some off-road Jeeping and Big Horn Sheep

July 13, 2011 Buena Vista, Co.
This morning we made some preparations to move on to Gunnison, Co. tomorrow. One of those preparations involved lowering the fifth wheel hitch in the truck. Lately, I've noticed that the rear tires on the trailer are wearing slightly faster than the front. They are wearing evenly so I don't suspect an alignment issue. However, I've been reading of similar problems in the forums related to fifth wheels that are towed while not level, specifically with the front too high. I've noticed that my front is also high although, I never thought it was too high. Anyway, I lowered my hitch today 2 inches. I wish it had an inch increment but it doesn't. I haven't hitched it up to check it out so, I'll have to wait till tomorrow to see if it's going to work in terms of truck bed clearance and leveling. If it's not a good fit, I'll have to reset the hitch tomorrow (moving day) which may take an hour.
Our neighbors hear at the park are avid Jeepers and ATV riders. They convinced me that I should take Joyce out for a ride that they did yesterday in their Jeep. We generally don't do much of anything the day before moving but we decided to try the recommended Jeep trail just outside of Buena Vista known as the Four Mile Trail System. The name is misleading as it's much longer than four miles.

Our 2010 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Now to be clear, we are not experienced 4-wheelers and we are really not into doing anything that would potentially damage our Jeep.  That being said we do like to ride off-road but we carefully select routes whenever possible. I think we would enjoy it more if we had the opportunity to caravan with other Jeeps.

A River Runs Through It as we are entering the area.

Sign at the start of the Trail.

Looking Up the Road 

Beautiful Views as we climbed.

The road was narrow and banked in many areas probably from ATV use.

Easy going on the high plain.

Aspens

Climbing to over 9400 ft.

We thought the Jeep road was pretty gnarly in many spots and steep or rocky in others. I used 4-Low in several places because of the steep ascents and descents. Of course we didn't get good pictures of the rougher spots as we were both busy hanging on!
We came around a curve and found these three Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep on the side of the road eating leaves and grazing!

We stopped to take pictures and watched all of them cross the road in front of us. All three were rams (males) and didn't seem to be concerned with us.

Rocky Mountain Bighorns inhabit the mountains from Canada south to New Mexico. They are relatives of goats, and have balance-aiding split hooves and rough hoof bottoms for natural grip. These attributes, along with keen vision, help them move easily about rocky, rugged mountain terrain.

Wild sheep live in social groups, but rams and ewes typically meet only to mate. Rams live in bachelor groups and females live in herds with other females and their young rams. When fall mating arrives, rams gather in larger groups and ram fighting escalates. Usually only stronger, older rams (with bigger horns) are able to mate.

In winter, bighorn herds move to lower-elevation mountain pastures. In all seasons, these animals eat available grass, seeds, and plants. They regurgitate their food to chew it as cud before swallowing it for final digestion.

It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed venturing off-road again. Seeing the Rocky Mountain Big Horns was priceless!

End of the Jeep Road.

St. Elmo, A Mining Ghost Town REDUX and Hanging with Friends

July 12, 2011 Valley Mobile RV Park.
Saturday the 9th, a young friend, Nicki D. whom we had met as an intern at the Bill William's River National Wildlife Refuge came over to visit with us for the weekend. She has been working nearby in the Gunnison, Co. area doing hydrology work. We had all bonded instantly when we met at the NWR and we all stayed in touch through this blog and FaceBook.We were thrilled to see her and have her stay with us over the weekend. 
Saturday afternoon, we took a trip in the Jeep up Mt. Princeton to the old mining town of St. Elmo. On the way up we stopped for a picnic lunch and to remove the Jeep tops.

Nicki D. and Joyce

Nicki D. and Me

The weather was cooperating but threatening to rain as we reached the old mining town of St. Elmo. Joyce and I had visited last year but were pleased to take Nicki to St. Elmo.

St. Elmo

Joyce and Nicki D. outside a St. Elmo Home

St. Elmo is a ghost town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1880, St. Elmo lies in the heart of the Sawatch Range, 20 miles southwest of Buena Vista. Nearly 2,000 people settled in this town when mining for gold and silver became evident. The mining industry started to decline in the early 1920s, and in 1922 the train discontinued service. The community is listed on the National Register of Historic Places asSt. Elmo Historic District. It is one of Colorado's most preserved ghost towns.


After leaving St. Elmo we decided to take a side trip to the Iron City Cemetery. It's an interesting cemetery in that it is the final resting place for many of the folks who once lived in St. Elmo and the Iron City an old smelter and mining town. A sign at the entrance lists the names of the deceased and the cause of death for some of the folks.

We left the cemetery as the clouds continued to gather above us and continued down the road which we were told was the old stagecoach route and suitable for 4wd high clearance vehicles. We didn't get far before we pulled off at an abandoned old building and put the tops back on the Jeep as it was raining pretty hard. While putting on the tops we saw a pick-up followed by a sedan go down the road ahead of us. We got back on the old stagecoach road and continued down the now very wet and rocky road.  We were surprised to see that the car was able to negotiate precariously down the road over large rocks and wet conditions. I'm sure he was scrapping the bottom of his car and wishing he hadn't followed his friend. I say they were friends because both vehicles had Florida tags. However, they were already committed as there wasn't any place to turn around. I'm just glad they didn't get stuck in front of us!
After only a few miles we made it back to the main road and continued down the mountain and back home.
Later we all went to EddyLine for Pizza in Buena Vista and met up with one of Nicki's college girlfriends, Lizzy who happened to be living in BV and working as a rafting guide. Lizzy gave us a walking tour of downtown after dinner before saying goodnight.
When we got back home to the RV we all watched a movie before calling it a night. We've never had a guest sleep over. We blew up the air mattress that fits on the couch and made the bed. Nicki got set up in the bed but it wasn't long before Rico jumped into the bed with her. Rico had quickly become very fond of Nicki!
The next morning we awoke slightly chilled. We discovered Nicki on the air mattress under two blankets wearing her jacket and hoodie! We didn't realize we had all gone to bed with most of the windows open and the temps were in the 50's by morning! We felt bad for Nicki who insisted she was fine and that Rico helped keep her warm. 
That morning we went for a hike on the Barbara Whipple Trail in BV and again met up with Lizzy on the trail. Unfortunately I forgot to take the camera. We had a great hike enjoying the vistas and gorgeous weather. Afterwards we again said good-byes to Lizzy and the three of us went for brunch at the Evergreen in BV.
After getting back home to the RV it wasn't long before Nicki had to say good-bye and head home over Cottonwood Pass. Before Nicki departed we learned that some "on the road friends" of ours asked us to stop by for a visit in Gunnison when we leave BV. So with no real hard plans we decided to move to Gunnison Co. when we depart here Thursday. So, we will probably see Nicki again soon.
Monday, Joyce and I took a trip to Salida, Co. and walked downtown and along the Arkansas River before doing some shopping at Walmart.
Today, our former neighbors in Florida, Dean and Billie Techlenberg met us at our campsite. We had visited with them last year at their home in Hartsel, Co. Together we went to lunch in town and spent the afternoon catching up. It was an enjoyable visit.
It's been fun meeting up with friends here in beautiful Buena Vista. It's has rained every afternoon since we arrived on Thursday. But the sight of the clouds rolling in over the mountains is gorgeous and the rain keeps it cool. Gotta love the Rockies!

Owl Creek Pass

July 25, 2010.
Another beautiful day in the Montrose Valley. After a late start (around noon) we decided to take an off-road trail up and over Owl Creek Pass. Some locals had told us about it. They claimed it has some of the best views of any of the Jeep trails.

The Owl Creek Pass trail is 41 miles long. I had only plannned on doing a few miles and then turning back.

We saw this Red Tail Hawk in the road. He then flew off into this tree.

After about 12 miles into it, we decided to complete the whole loop of 41 off-road miles.

We had climbed to about 9K feet where the top and bottom picture were taken.

The locals tell us that some of the scenes for True Grit were filmed in this pasture as well as several Marlboro Man commercials. This pasture is just northeast of Ridgeway, Co. were there was additional filming in town.

At the summit, a mere 10K plus feet!

Still at the summit, we were chased off by swarms of flies shortly after taking this picture.

This young buck crossed our path. Notice the velvety horns.

We drove through many beautiful Aspen Forests like the one below.

When we finally got back to a paved road we were 21 miles east of Montrose. We drove into town washed the Jeep and filled it up in preparation for moving on in a couple of days. We are discovering that we are getting 18-22 mpg from the Jeep. The mileage is around 18 when off-road and low 20's on the highway around 60 mph.

The Jeep is great for off-road and around town. It's a bit underpowered at highway speeds over 60 mph, but I'm very satisfied with it.