A
gent from the 4x4 group wanted to travel the Red Elephant, Mill Creek,
Bill Moore Lake trails. It's been a few years since I last ran then so
I said yes, I'll go. Weather was a concern and if the area received too
much snow from a day or two prior the event might get canceled. In the
end, weather was for clear sky and not much wind - it was a nice day
out!
We met on the side of the road near
the trailhead - a good spot to meet. I don't recall more than one or
two cars passing by - a low traffic location. Hugh was there when I
rolled up at 9:01am and Schmitty arrived a few minutes later. I recall
hitting the trail at 9:30a. A nice BLUE SKY day.
Three or four jeeps entered the trail ahead of us and we didn't see them
again, one side-by-side passed us early, before the difficult parts -
passing us later in the day to head out
The Red Elephant uphill was more difficult than I remembered. There were
two areas of interest and we looked at the routes - taking our time
(about 30 minutes for each of the difficult sections). We were up top,
at the campsite / vista point at 11:31am.
Mill Creek had some snow which led to a few side slips in shelf-ish
areas for some pucker factor (lots of downhill trees for protection).
The creek crossings had some ice.
The Empire Hilton (arrived at 1:04pm) looked somewhat / occasionally
occupied. It was sporting a solar charged LED motion detection flood
light above the door and some LED string lights across the main beam
inside. The bunk beds at the far end are gone. Some roofing work has
been tended (new screws visible in the roof inside).
A couple pickups were encountered at the second creek crossing but they
were not seen again. A couple vehicles were seen on an option route to
Bill Moore and they were seen as we aired up at the end of the day.
While traffic was light - we were held up by one vehicle.
We made the lake at 2:39pm. Schmitty and Hugh drove on the poser rock
and I took photos. We went to the lake (frozen), not much wind, for some
photos. One huge bonus - NO MOSQUITOES!!! Yea!
As we came back from the lake another jeep was in the lot. Three guys
out looking around. All of us headed out (3 + 1) at 3:00pm with our
group in the lead.
The long descent down to the lake…. it's on a north face and had packed
snow. One track (outside if I recall, more sun) looked reasonably clear
and I had the thinking as I was coming down - I'll toss on the lockers
to get the wheel with traction to get me up the slope. Schmitty went
first while Hugh and I hung back. All of us made it up the first pitch
with Hugh and I parking on the flat area after the first pitch. Schmitty
kept moving and made it up about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way up the second
pitch.
Rejected, the three of us backed down to the bottom - a good area to
recoup as it was wide enough for easy passing and parking. The solo jeep
waited at that base for us. We said to them - give it a try - and they
did - and were rejected at the first pitch (tires at street pressure).
Hugh thought he'd be able to make it - and he did - up to the top.
The three of us had radios and the solo jeep had a CB, which I also had.
The four of us could easily talk. I connected a tow strap (kinetic
rope) to Schmitty and thought we'd make it together - nope. About the
same spot he was rejected, we were too (yes lockers enabled - though I
need to check actuation for the front - I saw the LF tire not spinning
when it should have been). He and I backed down to the intermediate spot
where I'd toss on a set of chains (front axle, under the weight of the
motor). Hugh, parked up top, walked down to me installing chains.
About the time we went to drive up, we noticed a white toyota coming
down the trail. Hugh walked back up to tell them the deal. It appears
the white toyota was part of a four or five vehicle party that wanted
to get to the lake.
Knowing three vehicles were trying to get up, they started to winch the
white toyota up the trail and I said - it's going to be a while - I
might as well toss on the second set of chains. Yes, it was a while
before the white toyota was moved. With four chains on, connected to
Schmitty, we 4-lo crawled up the trail to near the white toyota - and we
waited another couple minutes. Getting moving again, on the upslope,
was no issue with good traction.
Up top I radio'd to the solo jeep that I was coming down forward and
would need to turn around. They were at the base and when I got there
(this hill event started an hour+ earlier) I said 'we'll be at the top
in three minutes - and we were. The chains were the ticket.
The solo jeep had aired down after their first attempt and after getting
to the top they thought they might have been able to make it solo -
perhaps. Up from the hill at 4:56pm and past the folks wishing to get to
the lake late in the day, we made quick work of getting down to Empire.
We were off the trail just before sunset.
The gent driving the solo jeep invited us for drinks so we met in Idaho
Springs and enjoyed some conversation for a bit (Thanks!). Overall, a
quite enjoyable day.
Talking about weather concerns, several days before this event, I had commented that "I'll toss in the tire chains - just to ensure they won't be needed."
Ha! |
