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Lifestyle Trails (A.K.A. “Trails for Pusses”) — list them here!!!!!

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Dkretden

Dkretden

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Peak 9 trail in Breckenridge Colorado
activity: various. See below.

I wish that I could tell you how to exactly get there. But, I can’t. A friend directed me. It is about 6 minutes (don’t blink) out of downtown Breck — you cut through a parking lot——and you head up ….. get this….. literally under the Breckenridge ski lifts…. Really, really cool. The ‘Breckenridge stables” will be to your left (in the SUMMER)…. So find your way to the stables (take a break and ride a horse??) then, after your 1818 horse ride, just keep going in your 2018+ JL ride!!!!

As you head higher you will cross ski run after ski run, kinda cool. You will also find the going tougher …… after a while NO SEDAN will make it. Zero. no Subaru's. Zero sedans. You will also lose a few 4x4 trucks (we did). We went on a Tuesday in late June. Some snow still on the trails (or just off to the side) at higher elevation but nearly no one on the trail. There was some large party of folks, seemingly taking a large “group picture” near one of the higher gondolas…. Seemingly all of the party had rented Jeeps to get everyone up there as the jeeps all had rental logos on them….

We did not hike or hoof but there are tons of places to take in the scenery. Hardcore Jeepers will yawn at the trail (“easy” for them) but Jeepers like me will look at the ruts and rocks (scree) higher up and think “hmmmmm…. Is it getting too much?”. Then you realize that you have a jeep and what you see is just a few (kinda deep) holes and loose rock and you keep climbing well above the tree line. A lovely drive with opportunity to hike or just ride horses (much further down). Your jeep will, as normal for this thread, yawn. (Note, unlifted Sports and Sahara’s may hit a rock or two underneath. My unlifted Rubicon hit nothing and I did NOT air down for traction or sidewall cuts). The higher you go the tougher it is……….. go as far as you wish…. to get above the tree line is “easy”…. Also, my 3.6 engine fan “lit up” and was whining like a hungry baby likely due to altitude and jeep software ‘whatever’……. Noisy but nothing else….

I am told that Breck skI resort is on land “leased” from the forest service (or something). Hence, your ability to drive on it when not in ski season……. My advice: “Do it”….. it’s really fun…….

final caution: Breckenridge (downtown) is at 9600’. That is “high altitude“ by all definitions…. These areas are much higher. Drink water (lots of it) and, if you have an open soft top or a Sunrider (like me), be mindful of the sun….. H2O…. H2O ….. and SUNSCREEN & a HAT….. I am now from Denver (rather than Houston) so, I now “understand” altitude. If you are from sea level, DO NOT under-estimate altitude……. rather, be very mindful of it. hydrate and be careful of the sun……..

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MSteeves

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Northeastern New Mexico.

This is one of our fave day trips. When all the kids and grandkids were home, we'd take the vanload down there.

We saw one nice bull elk, antlers dripping with velvet. There were the usual mulies, and a host of birds. You can get a good idea of the flora and fauna from the links below.

If you come from Raton, get gas there. The only place I know of anywhere near the monument is over in Des Moines. If you are coming in from the north, out of Colorado, gas pumps are few and far between that way, too.

Capulin Volcano National Monument 07.03.2021,in which we hike the crater rim, observe piles - literally - of the ubiquitous lady bug, enjoy a pretty good picnic lunch accompanied by a couple of local mooches, breathe deeply, pass over Johnson Mesa whilst stopping to sniff the wild flowers, and snuffle some pretty good ice cream at Little Rox's in Trinidad before hieing for home.

No off-roading on this one. Pretty good roads to and from. There is a hiking trail just off the picnic area which is worth the time, too.

The entire album is over on our FB page.

https://www.nps.gov/cavo/index.htm

https://www.inaturalist.org/places/capulin-volcano-national-monument

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/johnson-mesa-new-mexico/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Mesa

Here is an excellent survey/inventory of the presence of humans early on:

http://npshistory.com/publications/cavo/unm-185-1039.pdf

Jeep Wrangler JL Lifestyle Trails (A.K.A. “Trails for Pusses”) — list them here!!!!! CAVO07032021 (15)


At the foot of the volcano. It last erupted some 60,000 years ago, long before humans set foot in this area. However ... this is very near the Folsom site (which see).



Jeep Wrangler JL Lifestyle Trails (A.K.A. “Trails for Pusses”) — list them here!!!!! CAVO07032021 (25)


View from the top. The monument is in the Raton-Clayton volcano field. There are lots of cones surrounding Capulin.
 

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Dkretden

Dkretden

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Burgess Junction (Big Horn Mountains) Wyoming.

hotel: Elk View inn (a bit ‘rustic” and needing some ”work/polish” but “acceptable”). No gas at this location— they have an issue with their tanks …. Should be fixed in a few months… Gas available at Bear Lodge resort a mile away……. Next option is Dayton….. 4 pumps …. 60 minutes away roundtrip.

Trail: freezeout point.

went to a jeep jamboree this past week as part of a two week trip exploring the Great Plains. Freezeout is a trail for Pusses but, frankly, for a true puss like me, I would require handholding to get through the water crossing on forest road 167 at Fools Creek (google maps: “freezeout point WY“ or Burgess junction WY and follow the trail up from Burgess junction …. It’s called Freeze Out Rd or 15….Take a right on 167 to fools creek Then keep going and circle around the point on your way up)

at Fool’s creek, the Water was about “bumper high“ and I would not have crossed this unless I was with the trail guides. Why? Well, that should be clear, I’m a puss….. yep…. Total puss And “deep water” concerns me….. you CAN bypass this obstacle if you are going alone… (don’t turn on 167…) ….. see a map…..

you will climb and climb and also open (then close behind you) five or six gates as you make your way up through expansive alpine grassland and narrow high altitude forest. Other than the water crossing, the trail is quite easy and has some terrific views along the way.

anyway, the 3-hour journey to the top of freezeout point was fun. Normally I would want this trail to take me to some hiking location or something and I didn’t see any marked trails for that. What I did see was scattered clouds at the top (about 10k feet) that did amazing things with the sunlight.

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hiimmike

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Boreas Pass


This is pretty much the best trail for pusses known to man. It’s just a dirt road (that was an old railroad route) but it does take you from Como to Breckenridge up and over the continental divide at about 11,500 feet. This “trail” is suitable for just about any vehicle (or bicycle).

If you are looking to teach the kids or grandkids about the continental divide, this trail is a must. If the kid is a young boy you can ask him if he wants some “water“ to go to the Atlantic or Pacific or maybe both? There are a few people parked at the pass, so if YOU want some ”water” heading in a specific direction, you will need to be fast, and especially fast If you are a women!

lots of opportunities to camp or hike from this “trail”. We didn’t. We just went into Breck and had crepes for lunch. The entire purpose of this drive was the Aspens in color:
Crepes A La Carte!!!!!!!!!!!! So good but their prices have skyrocketed! We were in Breck a couple months ago and it was like $42 for two of us. I mean, they do have a sign saying now hiring paying up to $25/hr plus tips so.....
 

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Really? Which one?
Not sure. I’ve had a few different cars over the years and have participated in a forum for most.
 

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COLORADO, Lake City

Cty Rd 30 (along and past Lake San Christobal)

Mostly easy well-maintained road that connects to the east side of Cinnamon Pass (itself a connector to Engineer Pass, Animas Forks, and is part of the Alpine Loop). Takes you past a bunch of scenic (read: $$$$) homesteads and on up into access areas for 14ers Sunshine, Red Cloud, and Handies, including a usually rough 4x4 spur to American Basin. A few narrow spots and it can have a few tricky spots depending on conditions (I've not been on it in a few years, and it was degrading due to over-use like most of those Alpine Loop / Engineer Pass roads). Stock JLs shouldn't have a problem and it shouldn't be too bad up to the split to the Am Basin and Cinnamon Pass. I used to see 2wd cars on it at the 14er trailheads... not sure if that is still possible. Stay alert.

Bonus: Cinnamon Pass can get quite tricky, with steppy bench switchbacks and a puckery stretch coming up out of Animas Forks. Probably not for beginners or the more casual following this thread, but I used to do it in my stock Ford Ranger and F150 back in the 90's - before it got too torn up by over-use. I presume it is still stock Jeep passable, but it might be questionable. If you are unsure, use it as a hike up to Cinnamon Pass, where the views are worth the walk! (just try not to get hit by a teenager on a moto-cross dirtbike going faster than good sense would dictate)
Cinnamon Pass is pretty easy. The drive from Animas Forks to Lake City is beautiful. Just drove it this summer and it was in pretty decent shape.
Jeep Wrangler JL Lifestyle Trails (A.K.A. “Trails for Pusses”) — list them here!!!!! PXL_20210717_153432420
Jeep Wrangler JL Lifestyle Trails (A.K.A. “Trails for Pusses”) — list them here!!!!! PXL_20210717_154029602
Jeep Wrangler JL Lifestyle Trails (A.K.A. “Trails for Pusses”) — list them here!!!!! PXL_20210717_154035490
If this is trails for pusses them turn around and come back on Cinnamon Pass you will not like the very last bit of Engineer Pass on the return trip.
 

Mack Daddy

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Excellent thread. Thanks fo doing this.

Mt. Walker in northwest Washington is an easy an worthwhile trail.
 
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Dkretden

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Excellent thread. Thanks fo doing this.

Mt. Walker in northwest Washington is an easy an worthwhile trail.
thanks for posting. can you add anything about the “lifestyle“ aspect of this trail? Hiking, fishing, unique geology, fern, fauna? some pictures? A rough description of the trail where it is, etc. see example formats from page 1-current.
 

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thanks for posting. can you add anything about the “lifestyle“ aspect of this trail? Hiking, fishing, unique geology, fern, fauna? some pictures? A rough description of the trail where it is, etc. see example formats from page 1-current.
I have no videos or pics but there is a video on youtube. I'll post a link. Typical northwest forest with a gentle climb about 2500' to panoramic views of the Puget Sound, Cascade and Olympic mountains and Mt. Rainier on a clear day.
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