San Juan Mountains Epic Adventure 2012

[FishPOET]

I left La Habra at 8am on Friday August 3, 2012.

Our dispersed camp the first night was in the Coconino National Forest on route 552 Locket Meadow approx 9 miles north of Flagstaff AZ on US 89.

Coconino National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map







Entrance on US 89 at N35° 22.328 W111° 34.567

Lat/Lon format is hddd° mm.mmm WGS84 datum

I have dispersed camped here twice on the way to Colorado. It is close to the highway and there are plenty of spots to spend a quiet evening.

On Saturday August 4, 2012 we stopped at Four Corners Monument


To be continued...

[FishPOET]

Camp for 8 nights was Golden Horn designated camp on South Mineral Creek approx 5 miles from Silverton Colorado. N37° 48.746 W107° 44.605 We had 23 people and 11 rigs all together for the week.

San Juan Public Lands Map


San Juan National Forest Columbine District Motor Vehicle Use Map








To be continued.....

[FishPOET]

Sunday August 5 we still had folks arriving at camp so we had a short run close to camp that left after lunch. We ran the Clear Lake Trail.

I had a Strait Edge II inflatable kayak on the top of my Jeep but we ended up not using it as the weather turned real nasty shortly after arriving at Clear Lake. We stuck it out for a half hour or so in the rain and hail before heading back to camp.

There are 2 waterfalls on the way to Clear Lake. This one we drove to.


And this one we hiked to.


The road up to Clear Lake


Clear Lake


The valley below Clear Lake


More Clear Lake pics can be found here.

To be continued....

[FishPOET]

Monday August 6 we ran 3 trails. The first was Engineer Pass

We started the morning at the ghost town of Animas Forks


More Animas Forks photos can be seen here

From there we climbed up Engineer Pass


At the top




More Engineer Pass photos can be seen here

To be continued...

[ssichler]

Great report and pics. Love that pano shot at the end.

[FishPOET]

From Engineer Pass there is a little used spur that goes to Schafer Gulch and Hurricane Basin. We took that spur

We found a wonderful waterfall.




And an old mine with lots of old equipment and a 20 bed boarding house.




More Schafer Gulch and Hurricane Basin photos can be seen here.

To be continued...

[FishPOET]

After running Schafer Gulch and Hurricane Basin we returned to Engineer Pass and continued on towards Lake City.

Cabin with a bridge over a gorge for access


We had lunch at Whitmore Falls


We saw the Rose Lime Kiln


Capital City is for sale


We spent some time at the Ute Utay Mine




And we finished the trail in Lake City and had an ice cream break.


To be continued...

[FishPOET]

After leaving Lake City we drove past Lake San Cristobal and headed up the Cinnamon Pass Trail.

We stopped at the Sherman Townsite Interpretive Area


It started to rain heavy as we climbed the steep switchbacks.


We persevered and reached the top of the pass.


Thankfully it was the last day that we would have heavy afternoon rain.

More Cinnamon Pass photos can be seen here

As we reached Animas Forks we had planned on running Eureka Gulch a few miles down CR2. We ran into a landslide that was completely blocking the road.


We had to turn around and take California Gulch to Hurricane Pass to CR110 and back to Silverton.

To be continued...

[FishPOET]

Tuesday August 7 we ran 3 trails. First trail of the morning was Black Bear Pass

Black Bear Pass is arguably the most famous 4WD trail in the country. C.W. McCall even wrote a song about Black Bear Road

The steep switchbacks leading from the pass down to Telluride are so steep and narrow that they are one way travel downhill only.

Climbing up from the Million Dollar Highway trailhead


Near the pass


Black Bear Pass 12,840'


Going down into Ingram Basin


Swinging out over Ingram Creek and Telluride


Telluride 3000' below


Switchbacks


Bridal Veil Falls and Powerhouse


View of the switchbacks


More Black Bear Pass photos can be seen here

To be continued...

[teotwaki]

Excellent trip Doug! I love all of the photos.