I also agree these can be some white knuckle rides. There are a lot of roads in the Rockies and Cascades that are not fast or hard riding roads. Slow down and enjoy the ride, it's a lot better than riding off of the side of a mountain.

Yeah guys, I'm interested to see how the altitude affects me. Hoping not too bad. I don't notice a difference at 6k feet at all but 12k is a different animal

Hope I'm not white knuckling because if I am, I'm doing it wrong That also remains to be seen though. Can't wait to take in the views for sure.

Chef, we definitely need to get together for at least one ride. Love meeting different members from all over the country. Maybe thebru and us can all go for a nice ride. I do like to ride fast but this is your backyard and it'll be all new for me so you'll have to tow me around some good routes for a bit. I'm getting really fired up for this trip

Dates are starting to come together now. Looks like we'll leave home on Saturday, July 8th and be out there on Sunday evening (July 9th). Looking to stay in the Leadville area for at least a couple days. I want to stay over in the Silverton/Ouray area for a bit too. Would like to ride over and see Monument Valley one day if possible as well. Something about all those John Wayne movies Probably head for home on Friday, July 21 but we'll be leaving from WY (probably near Yellowstone somewhere).

Here's another question. Is there places on BLM property out there that you can camp for free? Any decent spots/areas if so? We could easily do a night or two with a generator and all our onboard freshwater.

Deerkiller wrote:
Yeah guys, I'm interested to see how the altitude affects me. Hoping not too bad. I don't notice a difference at 6k feet at all but 12k is a different animal

Hope I'm not white knuckling because if I am, I'm doing it wrong That also remains to be seen though. Can't wait to take in the views for sure.

Chef, we definitely need to get together for at least one ride. Love meeting different members from all over the country. Maybe thebru and us can all go for a nice ride. I do like to ride fast but this is your backyard and it'll be all new for me so you'll have to tow me around some good routes for a bit. I'm getting really fired up for this trip

Dates are starting to come together now. Looks like we'll leave home on Saturday, July 8th and be out there on Sunday evening (July 9th). Looking to stay in the Leadville area for at least a couple days. I want to stay over in the Silverton/Ouray area for a bit too. Would like to ride over and see Monument Valley one day if possible as well. Something about all those John Wayne movies Probably head for home on Friday, July 21 but we'll be leaving from WY (probably near Yellowstone somewhere).

There are some killer rides out near Leadville and a good friend of mine owns like half that town now! I will see what she has to say about free campgrounds in the area. There is also some killer 4x4ing up there if you would rather I brought my Cj7 up instead of the bike for a day!

Here is the killer part about Colorado mountain passes, most don't have guard rails PERIOD! you miss a turn and you are heading into sheer rock face or off a cliff, there are virtually no shoulders and we are talking full on 10 mph switchbacks with heavy grades up to 12%. Berthod pass, a mountain pass I drive on a weekly basis to go skiing and get to my property has about 20 of these switchbacks alone and at the top there will still be snow banks to play in even in the middle of July and august. Remember we have ski resorts that stay open until the beginning of august here!

This is not the part of the country that you go riding fast through unless you have a death wish, we cruise here haha.

OK guys... Let's not scare the crap out of him before he rides the Rockies.
Just take it slow. I have friends on baggers that seem to take these roads as a challenge. I just meet them at the next stop. Beside you just miss the beauty of your surroundings. A ride sounds good. I'm about 5 miles from Coal Creek Canyon, up to Peak to Peak, over to Estes, down to Carter Lake and stop at the Windjammer.
Although it sounds like ChefTurner remembers these roads better than I. I've never ben good at that!

So I guess this means no smokies trip this june?

Chefturner wrote:

There are some killer rides out near Leadville and a good friend of mine owns like half that town now! I will see what she has to say about free campgrounds in the area. There is also some killer 4x4ing up there if you would rather I brought my Cj7 up instead of the bike for a day!

Here is the killer part about Colorado mountain passes, most don't have guard rails PERIOD! you miss a turn and you are heading into sheer rock face or off a cliff, there are virtually no shoulders and we are talking full on 10 mph switchbacks with heavy grades up to 12%. Berthod pass, a mountain pass I drive on a weekly basis to go skiing and get to my property has about 20 of these switchbacks alone and at the top there will still be snow banks to play in even in the middle of July and august. Remember we have ski resorts that stay open until the beginning of august here!

This is not the part of the country that you go riding fast through unless you have a death wish, we cruise here haha.[/quote]

Chefturner is sooooo right! My nephew in law lives in Leadville so we got the full treatment native guide tour both in his boat on Turquoise Lake and in his Tahoe touring the old mines. Those old mine roads aren't maintained and you drive on them at your own risk. A few times I was sure we were going to get stuck straddling a gully that used to be a dirt & rock road. Or tearing the entire undercarriage out of the Tahoe. Someone set up an old sofa at one of the level spots with a view and I couldn't help taking a photo with my wife & nephew in it. It was just so out of place yet what a great way to just soak in the view.

I spoke to my friend in Leadville and there isn't much free camping however most of the camp sites run about $15-20 for the night and they are gorgeous. Leadville is situated right near mount elbert and there is a river that runs through there (it's really a creek by Midwest standards) There is some beautiful back in the forest type camping up there and people routinely bring their travel trailers and campers back there. If you were to take off on the roadie you would have a few miles of dirt road before getting to any pavement.

Also there is mosquito pass right there that I love to take first time jeepers on. It is fairly mellow and the views are stunning, think rolling mountain meadows surround by towering peaks. Don't get me wrong I would love to take a ride one day but if you really want to get up to the amazing views you need a 4x4 and it just so happens that I have a very well built one! Only problem is that it only has one passenger seat, however you could easily rent a side by side or quad in Leadville and I may be able to hook you up with a deal on one of those.

https://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=41

My major advice is to force Chefturner to make you dinner. I enjoyed it when he made lunch for me as I traveled through!!!

Warden wrote:
My major advice is to force Chefturner to make you dinner. I enjoyed it when he made lunch for me as I traveled through!!!

Anyone who knows me or follows my posts knows that the smoker and cured meat cabinet are always going at the Turner household!