NorCO run 11/29/09, open to suggestions

[burbnamedbill]

I know it's way super early to start this thread, but here goes anyways. I have a Welsh friend coming to visit and am planning on taking him on a run on Sunday the 28th. I initially just planned on Sevenmile thinking most of the rest of the trails in the area might be closed for the season by then, but according to the Canyon Lakes page everything is still open (not that that'll be the case by the 28th necessarily). I'm not sure what the snow situation is on most trails after the big storm, but I'd prefer to get him in on some snow-bashin' if at all possible, since the most snow he's ever seen at a time was 2-3 inches in Wales. Anyways, I'm open to suggestions for those who are interested in joining!

[CurleyMan]

Bunce school house road gets a lot of snow and doesn't close but I'll join ya on either trail.

[OdiN]

Sevenmile is usually a good time when it's got snow all over it. I may be down for this. And I'm closer now too lol.

[burbnamedbill]

I wheeled the crap out of Sevenmile in the snow last year, and sure wouldn't mind doing it again...but i still wanna leave open other possibilities. Bunce sounds good Ben; I've only done the part up to the T-33A plane crash site, so it'd be cool to check the rest of it out.

[OdiN]

Yeah Bunce could be fun too. Just let me know what and when and I think I can make it.

[burbnamedbill]

I spoke with a ranger today. She said they try to keep as much open as possible until the end of hunting season, which ends 11/15. She also said there's a bunch of snow that "is not melting" (who knew)...so it would appear our options will be significantly limited come 11/29.

[OdiN]

I imagined. Sevenmile is always open I believe - though that doesn't mean passable.

[burbnamedbill]

Yeah it was open all throughout last winter. Made fresh tracks at least once when the snow was probably 15" deep or so up a little higher, but it was far from impassable.

[OdiN]

Went up in I think April 2 years ago and it was impassable - however my Xterra was bone stock then.

If there was a trail breaker then it probably could have been done. We got to just past the old cabins. It's not too far after that point to the end, just that real shady area with the trees had tons of snow.

[burbnamedbill]

Yep that was where I always hit the most snow last year. Well let's play it by ear and see what is for sure open closer to the 29th.

[Ric]

I might make it this,, just had to post to get the updates, lol

[burbnamedbill]

awesome, sounds good Ric

[OdiN]

Any more thoughts on this one?

[burbnamedbill]

well here's the update from the FS: still open in the Canyon Lakes District are Dadd Gulch/Salt Cabin, Cheyenne Ridge, Mineral Springs, Chicken Park, Many Thunder, Pennock Pass, Pole Hill, Pierson Park, Johnny Park/Button Rock, Hell Canyon, Moody Hill, Crystal Mountain, Storm Mountain, West White Pine, Greer, Old Flowers, Sevenmile, Bald Mountain, and Long Draw Road.

of those, i've done Pole Hill, Moody Hill, Crystal Mountain, Old Flowers, and Sevenmile. i'm pretty sure most of the rest of those aren't really off-road trails, but i don't know much about them so i can't say for sure. can anyone else weigh in on these and whether or not any combination of them might be fun for a snow run?

otherwise Andrew, going off what i know, i'm still thinking Sevenmile, Pole Hill, or Bunce.

[OdiN]

Storm Mountain certainly is an off road trail.

[burbnamedbill]

yeah i know it is as well as Pierson Park, Johnny Park, and Bald Mountain...at least they're all on traildamage.com. i just don't know anything about them.

[OdiN]

Pierson Park, Johnny Park I know are pretty simple.

Storm on the other hand is a decent trail that isn't just a dirt road.

[OdiN]

So what's the status? Trying to schedule stuff for this weekend!

[burbnamedbill]

k it's gonna be either Pole Hill, Moody Hill/Crystal Mountain, or Sevenmile...leanin' towards Moody Hill/Crystal Mountain since apparently they're both still open. but regardless, let's meet somewhere near the chosen trailhead around 8 or 9. any objections to Moody Hill/Crystal Mountain, assuming they stay open through Sunday?

Ben, you wanna play around in the mine on Moody again?

[OdiN]

Well I'm curious what kind of snow/mud there will be. Could be some bad spots on Crystal that, if snow covered, I don't think I would want to do. Same at the rock quarry at Moody, but that's optional anyway.

[burbnamedbill]

yeah i dunno how it's gonna be. also keep forgetting Bunce as a possibility, but I think we're gonna take a quick trip to Estes after the run...Bunce is a little further away to be able to still fit that in. I think I'll just plan on calling the FS later this week and see what they say about conditions, and we'll go from there.

[burbnamedbill]

no information about trail conditions from a ranger i talked to this morning. but let's plan on Moody Hill and Crystal Mountain (and stops at the quarries of course). i'm thinkin of probably going through Rist Canyon to get to the trailhead, so i could meet anyone else wanting to go that route at Vern's in Laporte around 8-8:30.

Vern's
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=40.633085,-105.154014&daddr=&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=40.632967,-105.154004&sspn=0.002255,0.004823&ie=UTF8&ll=40.632942,-105.153859&spn=0.009021,0.01929&t=h&z=16

for those coming from the south we'll meet you at the trailhead if you don't want to come as far north as Laporte before heading west. we'll probably be there by 9 or so.

Moody Hill Trailhead
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=40.570936,-105.34833&daddr=&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=16&sll=40.57096,-105.34842&sspn=0.008329,0.01929&ie=UTF8&ll=40.57061,-105.348759&spn=0.016658,0.038581&t=h&z=15

Moody Hill Profile
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=72

Crystal Mountain Profile
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=73

[burbnamedbill]

anyone still plannin' on joining tomorrow?