2019 Anniversary Run - Little Moab
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The
4x4 group started in March many years ago. Each March there's an
"Anniversary Run". A few days earlier was a large snowstorm / blizzard.
We were uncertain as to snow conditions. It was a great day - a good
group of folks with great weather. Stats 6:50 am - Leave Fort Collins 9:38 am - Arrive trailhad 10:28 am - Start trail 4:27 pm - End trail 5:02 pm - Leave trailhead 8:08 pm - Arrive Fort Collins 242 Miles Total 6.4 Miles Trail 80 minutes - Time to get up the hill |
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The
"Steep Hill" (I have no photos of it) was something we went down as we
had a plan to do a counter-clickwise loop and head "out" on Missouri
Gulch Trail. Sadly, snow was too deep and we turned back - which forced
us to make it up t he steep hill. The hill was perhaps 80 to 100 yards
long with a dogleg left about 1/2 way. We were able to get a run at it,
which helped, but with late day snow packing to a slick surface, the
first in the group would lose momentum, stop - and then slide backwards
- all wheels stopped. The group asked me to work forward (I was about six vehicles back on a single track trail) in hopes that 1) my chains would cut up the slick surface and allow me to get to the top - where I could then attach a strap to the next vehicle - at the highist point it could attain - and pull them the rest of the way up. Some vehicles made it up unassisted but many needed a strap pull. With good attitudes this was simply an event to complete. |
| Heading southwest from Sedalia CO |
| Down along the South Platte River heading towards Deckers. |
| On the trail - the snow's not too deep here - five to eight inches perhaps. |
| Little
Moab in untracked snow. There are a series of large (for vehicles to
navigate) boulders and steps - and holes. Both of the vehicles heading
down are stuck - the right is sitting on the frame and the left is
spinning in snow. The white jeep, between them, will pull the right
Toyota from where it's stuck. |
| This
is my first visit to this trail and I held off navigating the diffucult
lines as I don't have any reference to what's under the snow. |
| Ahhh - untracked trail. Chains on the front, front and rear differentials locked giving all four wheels equal turning capability - in the flats it was easy going but on the uphills, with drifts, it would take some backing up and pushing forth. |
| Heading back to the group at the Little Moab obstacle. |
| Both
vehicles are not stuck and have made it down. One of the vehicles
wished to try getting up it - far right - they were successful but it
took a few tries with a good spotter. |
| Pike's Peak to our south. |
| Looking west / northwest. |
| Where
I turned around. In the center of the track you can make out a divot /
trench from the bottom of the rear differential - snow up to the axles.
It was SLOW going - one foot at a time - back and forth. After pushing
this distance, thinking it will be difficult for the group to process -
decision to turn around. We hoped to take this trail back to the
trailhead - making a loop instead of an out-and-back. |
| Pike's Peak again. Weather was GREAT - t-shirt to light coat temps with the warm sun (scant little breeze). |
| Heading out - warm temps has the packed snow melting quickly. |
| Old ?Mercury? on the road! |
