Colorado Mountain Club – Peak X

/ JKB Adventures / 2 Comments

After 7 weeks of field days, lectures and learning it was time for our Wilderness Trekking School Group Hike.  The Group Hike was to be a culmination of everything we learned over the past few weeks — map and compass skills, teamwork, weather awareness, etc.  This was our opportunity as a group to lead our instructors on a day hike and show competency in our newly learned skills.

The instructors selected the location of our final hike, but it was up to us to research and plan a route for our travels.  Peak X, located in the Lost Creek Wilderness just south of Bailey, CO, was our destination for the day.  At 12,429 feet, this would be the highest elevation gain we had traveled as a group.  We left the trailhead around 7:30 am and headed up the trail.  With a 50% chance of precipitation, it was our goal to reach the summit as soon as possible so we could “beat” the rain and/or storms.  After more than 3 hours of travel, we were within sight of the summit, but the clouds were moving in quickly and the skies becoming darker.  After much discussion, we decided it would be safer to not head to the Peak.  With thick fog and the possibility of a storm, we did not want to take chances.  So, instead we hiked back down to a safer area and enjoyed a backpacker’s lunch.  After lunch, the dark skies were still hanging around….so we decided that Peak X would have to wait for another day.

Spectacular View of the Tenmile-Mosquito Range

The hike down involved a variety of weather from dark clouds, sleet, hail, thunder, and even some blue sky.  This chaotic weather confirmed our decision to not ascend the peak.  It was disappointing to not reach our goal, but it was an excellent learning opportunity in respecting the weather.  With 7 miles of travel for the day and carrying a full pack, the end of the trail and view of our vehicles was a welcoming sight!

We plan a return trip to conquer Peak X…and also complete the Alphabetizer!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Cruise Moab: Day 2 & 3

/ JKB Adventures / 2 Comments

Our second day on the trail was a scenic one and one that is relatively new to the events at Cruise Moab.  We were to travel about 35 miles on the Dome Plateau trail and head out to one of the best views in the area.  We got up, made some breakfast (steak and eggs) and met our group for the short 20 mile drive down the Colorado River canyon to our trailhead.  We had 12 trucks on this trip and a lot of ground to cover, so as soon as we arrived at the trail, we aired down our tires and headed out.  This trail was more scenic than technical (for the most part…).  After a few hours, we stopped at an overlook that truly was amazing.  It overlooked the Colorado River with the Fisher Towers, Professor Valley and then the La Sal Mountains in the background.  Great backdrop for some lunch.

K getting ready for lunch

We still had quite a bit of trail ahead of us, so we headed to the next destination, the sand caves.   Moab is composed of sand stone, slick rock and more SAND and these natural caves were not very deep, but provide great cover from the elements.  Not to mention, they are about 20 degrees cooler than being outside.  I am sure the ancients used them for shelter in the past.

We had one more stop before the trail was over, but we had to find it first.  There are some abandoned log cabins that were used as shelter while the area was being mined.  Our trail leader decided to try an area that could be a shortcut to the cabins.  There were a few obstacles, but nothing we couldn’t manage with some careful spotting.  After we got everyone through, I looked at one of my maps and this area said, “old Jeep trail, not recommended, nearly impassible”, funny…  it didn’t say “old Land Cruiser trail, not recommended, nearly impassible”.  We soon found the cabins and explored the area.  The weather is so dry in the desert, it helps to preserve these cabins.  They were in great shape.  We also found an old mine behind one of the cabins.  You could go in about 200 feet and then you could see where they blasted it closed.  Glad we brought flashlights.

After playing archaeologist, we finished up the trail and headed back to camp.  It was raffle and dinner night, so we didn’t want to be late.  There was a large tent set up and we joined some friends and waited for the buffet, which was catered by Sunset Grill.   We had a choice of chicken or beef and all kinds of sides and salads.  It was really pretty good.  After we ate, they started the raffle, which everyone who registered for the event received one ticket.  Those who felt lucky bought as many extras as they wanted.  I couldn’t blame them as there were some very expensive items being given away (bumpers, roof racks, winches, tires, vehicle fridges) high dollar stuff from supporting Land Cruiser and 4×4 vendors.  We didn’t win anything this time…

This was the night the moon lit up the sky like a small sun.  We got the idea to do a night run, so we petitioned around and ended up getting three 100 series Cruisers, one 80 series and a 4runner.  What better trail to do on a full moon night than “Hells Revenge”?  It is rated a difficult trail with lots of very steep ascents and descents and some pretty wild obstacles.  It was a great time and took us about 4 hours (after we were yielded to by a group of about 15 Jeeps, ask me about it, pretty funny story).

We were exhausted when we got back to camp at 1 am, so we enjoyed a brew and hit the rack.

The next morning we decided to hang around Moab instead of doing another trail.  We drove through Arches National Park (it never gets old) and ate lunch at Eddie McStiffs, which was really good.  I had a salmon burger and K had the chicken gyro.  When we got back to camp, we just relaxed and got things ready to pack up the next morning.  Already looking forward to Cruise Moab 2013!!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Cruise Moab 2012

/ JKB Adventures / 2 Comments

As most of you know, we are Toyota Land Cruiser fanatics.  I bought my first Cruiser – a 1972 FJ40 in 1994 – and have been hooked ever since.  We currently own a 2002 UZJ100, which has been built and modified as an expedition/trail rig.  Every year the Rising Sun 4×4 club of Colorado puts on one of the best Toyota 4×4 gatherings there is: Cruise Moab.  This year was no different, where we basically took over an entire campground for almost a week and rode the famous Moab trails.  As usual, there were rigs from all over the country, including Canada.

Check out K driving the FJ 40 “Meanie”!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyF21JSJ3nE&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJBIm1gJ0zw&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJa9VnJKceY&feature=youtu.be

Here are some pics:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Colorado Mountain Club: Snow Day

/ JKB Adventures / 3 Comments

On Saturday, we had our dreaded “Snow Day” with our CMC, Wilderness Trekking School class.  It is the class that the instructors had been warning us about since we started because the weather is so strange in April.  It could be 50 degrees with snow, or -20 with snow because we would be at over 10,000 feet.  One instructor even e-mailed us a video from his Snow Day in 2009, which looked brutal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re8byHYirCI

We arrived at St Mary’s Glacier trailhead early and geared up.  The school provided everyone with helmets and ice axes, as these were required for the days’ exercises and to traverse the glacier.  We checked the temperature when we arrived and it was a chilly 23 degrees and windy.  There was a fresh dusting of snow on the road and the trail.  As we neared tree line, we could see the wind blowing snow off the glacier and the adjacent peaks.  We estimated 30-40 mph winds.  Our instructors made the call to stop in the trees and conduct a few classes before heading up to the glacier, as we wouldn’t be able to hear them (they were right).  These lectures echoed our homework and the previous class we had on avalanche awareness and snow travel.  We learned to read slope angles to predict avalanche prone areas and learned about snow shelters.  We also tested the snow by cutting about 3-4 feet down with a snow saw and dissecting the different layers to determine how stable the snow layers were.  After the lectures, we geared back up and headed towards the glacier.  The wind was furious and we couldn’t tell if it was actually snowing, or just blowing snow.  The glacier is located between two peaks, which created a wind tunnel at over 11,000 feet.  We zig zagged up the glacier, using the different travel methods we had learned with the ice ax.  The instructors guided us over to the side, where we had lunch.  Thankfully, the winds started to subside.  After a brief lunch, we moved up one of the slopes and dug out a few snow benches, so we could learn the last portion of our class: ice ax self-arrest.  We were instructed on how to stop yourself from sliding if you fell on a steep slope.  The ice ax is your lifeline!!  The weather after lunch couldn’t have been better.  The winds slowed, the sun came out and we had temperatures in the 40’s.  It was a great day, aside from a little wind burn.  We headed to Tommy Knocker Brewery in Idaho Springs after we packed up.  What better way to thaw out than with some great brew and food???

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Colorado Mountain Club

/ JKB Adventures / 2 Comments

K and I joined the Colorado Mountain Club a few months ago and quickly signed up for our first school – Wilderness Trekking School.  WTS is designed to teach the student the basics of navigating the backcountry off marked trails.  The CMC is:  “An organization devoted to connecting those who love the Colorado Rockies or who study or seek recreation in them.”

“The primary purposes of the club are to gather and disseminate information regarding the Colorado mountains in the areas of art, science, literature and recreation; to furnish facilities for the enjoyment and study of the mountains by the Club members and the public; and to advocate for the preservation of the alpine regions.”

We meet at the American Mountaineering Center which is the old Golden High School.  They have converted it into the rich mountain learning center that it is today.  We have been nothing but impressed with the facility and the professionalism of the instructors.  There are about 80 students in our class, which we meet for a lecture once a week for 2.5 hours.  We then have a “field day” where we apply the principles discussed in class on the trail.  This course is about a month and a half, so we decided to post our first two hiking trips and then we will do our last 2-3 in another post.  We went to Eldorado Canyon State Park, outside of Boulder, for our first trip and then we went to the Beaver Brook Trail near Evergreen for our second trip.  The hikes are gradually getting longer and more difficult.  Next trip is snow travel, shelter building and avalanche awareness.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

He is Risen

/ JKB Adventures / 1 Comment
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13
 
 Easter morning we woke up early so that we could celebrate Easter at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre for their annual sunrise service.  We were glad we arrived soon after the gates opened at 4:30 a.m, as there was a record crowd this year.  The amphitheater filled with over 10,000 people eager to honor our Lord and Saviour.  It was a beautiful Easter morning with a magnificent sunrise.
 

Hippity Hop Easter Trot 5k

/ JKB Adventures / 4 Comments

We visited Central Park (not New York) this morning for our first Spring run of the year….and even Furry B came along.  Central Park is located in North Denver in an area known as Stapleton.  The park is spacious – over 80 acres! – with spectacular views of the Rockies.  It is the 3rd largest park in Denver.  The park sits on the site of the old Stapleton International Airport. The control tower is still standing just west of the park. The community is still debating on how to make use of the tower and hope to have a plan by year end.  The Stapleton Airport was Denver’s primary airport from 1929 to February 27, 1995 when the last airplane departed. Click here to view a pictorial history of the Stapleton Airport.

It was perfect weather (as usual) for a race; and the Easter Bunny even competed in the Kid’s Fun Run race. Our 5k course was “flat and fast” which made for a fun morning run.  Furry B loves to run! (Three things at the park today that Furry B does not love include people in costumes, small children, and modes of transport with wheels aka tricycles, bikes, skateboards.)

Furry B is a competitor - He completed his first 5k!