ouray jeep road conditions

5841 Views 69 Replies 37 Participants Last post by kokopelli, Jun 20, 2008

toytaco970

Discussion Starter · May 31, 2008

I have been a lurker on here for awhile and decided to join to share some info. I love the FJ, but couldn't wait for them to come out so I have an 05 Tacoma, full 3" lift, bilsteins, blah blah blah.
Anyway. I live about 1.5 hrs from Ouray and love the trails down there and axiously awaiting them to open. This is a recent article from the Montrose Co newspaper about the current road conditions.
News : Snow delays road opening, jeep tours (Montrose, CO)
I'm sorry to say its not looking good for two awesome trails, Imogene and Engineer, in time for your Summit. Black Bear will probably not be open either, as it is usually the last one to open because of the switchbacks.

41 - 60 of 70 Posts

TennesseeSquire

· #41 · Jun 8, 2008

Sean K. said:
May I make a suggestion for the future?

Considering I have a pretty good amount of experience in that area, can I suggest if you guys continue to go to Ouray for Summit that you push the date back to August?

Usually, by the first or second week in August, the trails are as devoid of snow as they are going to get.

It just makes more sense if you want to run the higher mountain passes in the area without having to worry as much about plowing.

Granted, there are some years that some passes NEVER open....this may be one of those years, but generally speaking: August is a better time of year.

2 cents,
Sean

This is a good point, but you also take into account a lot of people attending will have there families with them and if we wait until August most of those kids will be back in School.

I know if it was moved back to August next year, there is a good chance we will not be able to attend.

So this is the question. If it's in July we take the risk of 1 or 2 trials not being open or have it in August and the attendance is cut in half.

Sean K.

· #42 · Jun 8, 2008

TennesseeSquire said:
This is a good point, but you also take into account a lot of people attending will have there families with them and if we wait until August most of those kids will be back in School.

I know if it was moved back to August next year, there is a good chance we will not be able to attend.

So this is the question. If it's in July we take the risk of 1 or 2 trials not being open or have it in August and the attendance is cut in half.

As I recall...I always started school in mid-August, not beginning....but I'm sure it varies by district.

Sean

frogeye

· #43 · Jun 8, 2008

Sean K. said:
As I recall...I always started school in mid-August, not beginning....but I'm sure it varies by district.

Sean

My district starts the first week of Sept. I'm hoping that the snow melts. It's starting to warm up. Maybe we'll get lucky and Imogene will open up for us.

TennesseeSquire

· #44 · Jun 8, 2008

Sean K. said:
As I recall...I always started school in mid-August, not beginning....but I'm sure it varies by district.

Sean

My daughter starts back this year on Aug. 7th.

breauxtus

· #45 · Jun 8, 2008

August is an interesting idea. I suppose if it's moved to August, I'll probably not be able to attend because late August is the start of Bowhuunting season. That, and my wife is running the Leadville 100 in mid August. Just won't be able to pull off three big events in a month due to having to do that pesky work thing too.

I guess every month would have its drawbacks. The fact that that area got super pounded with snow this year making it a very late thaw doesn't help much.

MajorMiner

· #46 · Jun 9, 2008

Check out all of the really excellent information on what we are going to do here...

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/national-summit-discussion/60620-plan-b.html

Sonoita

· #47 · Jun 9, 2008

The first week in August has worked well for ALL-4-Fun over the years, but even then a few trails are not open every year. The turn out has allways been good usually liminting the event to 350 vehicles. If moving the Summit to the same week one should cordinate the location as not to use the same one and over load the town. Any way just some thoughts.

t2cruiser

· #48 · Jun 9, 2008

Sonoita said:
The first week in August has worked well for ALL-4-Fun over the years, but even then a few trails are not open every year. The turn out has allways been good usually liminting the event to 350 vehicles. If moving the Summit to the same week one should cordinate the location as not to use the same one and over load the town. Any way just some thoughts.

350 jeeps , first week of August. Rest assured we won't be overlapping that event!

Sky

· #49 · Jun 9, 2008

We've just had a couple heavier than normal snow years, I've done Black Bear Pass/Engineers/Imogene on July 4th more than a few times.

Sean K.

· #50 · Jun 9, 2008

Sonoita said:
The first week in August has worked well for ALL-4-Fun over the years, but even then a few trails are not open every year. The turn out has allways been good usually liminting the event to 350 vehicles. If moving the Summit to the same week one should cordinate the location as not to use the same one and over load the town. Any way just some thoughts.

But All-4-Fun doesn't always hold their event in Telluride/Ouray. They split their event depending on year between Ouray and Crusty Butt (as well as other locations in the state).

I've been there almost every year since I was 14 from late July to mid-August. In late July, I've followed the plow on Imogene or Blackbear on several occassions. It just depends on the year and the amount of snowfall.

Look guys, everyone seems a little overly defensive about changing the date. Forget I ever said anything about it. Kay?

Didn't mean to start a ****storm.

Sean

kokopelli

· #51 · Jun 9, 2008

Sean, Perhaps SMC and others would be better served with a private ride/event that they could schedule/regulate as desired. Others could be better servers with rides focused toward their interests. A pro/hardcore, semi, SS, family, etc. categories would probably be the most efficient and the leaders of the particular group could be in charge, It would provide the opportunity to have a beerfeast for one group and fun and games for another. Even a wrench/mod evening and a cookoff on the same evening. The demographics of the forum is not exactly singular and if certain factions get to plan/plot everything well end up just like all the other forums with “favored ones, goderators, the in-crowd and groupies. From looking at the forum traffic lately, it does appear to be becoming rather closed and selective. Anyhow, just something to consider with 20K members… JMHO Ron

No disrespect to thosee that have worked hard to pull this off,,, Cheers to you

Sean K. said:
But All-4-Fun doesn't always hold their event in Telluride/Ouray. They split their event depending on year between Ouray and Crusty Butt (as well as other locations in the state).

I've been there almost every year since I was 14 from late July to mid-August. In late July, I've followed the plow on Imogene or Blackbear on several occassions. It just depends on the year and the amount of snowfall.

Look guys, everyone seems a little overly defensive about changing the date. Forget I ever said anything about it. Kay? Didn't mean to start a ****storm.

Sean

Sean K.

· #52 · Jun 9, 2008

I think that's what I forget too often on this site. Summit is about meeting people...it's more of a social aspect for many than a wheeling destination.

When I go on vacation, I go to wheel. Not being able to hit trails like Blackbear, Imogene, or Poughkeepsie keep me from wanting to go at all. I've done them all many times, but it's always fun to see if you can actually make some of the 3 point turns on Blackbear in one shot without going off the cliff (at the expense of terrifying my wife

) or hitting the big wall on Poughkeepsie when everyone else is slamming into that tree....or just watching people get stuck on the winch hill or in the mud bogs in the middle of Poughkeepsie. Then there's the scenery of all 3.

Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

I'll really commit blasphemy and say you should change the name from Summit....and move the whole event to somewhere much more suitable and more fun to play in.....MOAB!!!! Though that suggestion would really screw with the kiddies school schedules :lol: since the best time of year to be there to run trails is late Sept-late Nov or late April to early June.

Sean

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5280FJ

· #53 · Jun 9, 2008

FYI, A-basin just closed today for the ski season. The local news reported that there was two inches of fresh powder that greeted the last days' boarders/skiers.

Sean K.

· #54 · Jun 10, 2008

Ouray Colorado :: Jeep Road Conditions

Bushducks - Jeep Trail and Backroads Trip Reports<BR>Colorado Jeep Trails and Passes - Opening Dates

t2cruiser

· #55 · Jun 10, 2008

Sean K. said:
Ouray Colorado :: Jeep Road Conditions

Bushducks - Jeep Trail and Backroads Trip Reports<BR>Colorado Jeep Trails and Passes - Opening Dates

Nice helpful links!

Cashnutz73

· #56 · Jun 10, 2008

We all need to bring shovels. Not only for the snow, but also for the large amount of BS that will be spilled throughout Ouray.

Gunslinger_2-6

· #57 · Jun 10, 2008

According to this,
Ouray Colorado :: Jeep Road Conditions
better get our lifts and armor on for few of these.
Emogene, Black Bear, Engineer...??? Keeping fingers crossed, anyone up for a snow slush run?
GW

OCR14a

· #58 · Jun 19, 2008

Sean K. said:
May I make a suggestion for the future?
Considering I have a pretty good amount of experience in that area, can I suggest if you guys continue to go to Ouray for Summit that you push the date back to August?

Usually, by the first or second week in August, the trails are as devoid of snow as they are going to get.

It just makes more sense if you want to run the higher mountain passes in the area without having to worry as much about plowing.

Granted, there are some years that some passes NEVER open....this may be one of those years, but generally speaking: August is a better time of year.

2 cents,
Sean

Ya....what he said.

t2cruiser said:
We had considered a later date, however 2007FJSummit was great. I was there the same week for the 2006FJSummit (attendance - 1 FJ. me) no problem. I also know that Jason had conversations with Ouray about the dates, the town has a calendar with other events we have to respect also. This particular week was deemed best for hotels, local businesses, non conflicts with other events.

Rather than worrying if Black Bear will be open, and for those new to the area, believe me, this area is a huge playground. Plenty of trails, and many other terrific things to do. Don't forget to do some research, lots of non FJ attractions that shouldn't be missed! You could spend a lifetime there and not see and do it all.

Personally, I am going to steal Vince's snorkle equiped FJ and try it out in the Hot Springs Pool! Then I'm taking the asphalt to Telluride and drinking a latte while I wait for the authorities to arrest me...

Trailbus has the right attitude: "I'm bringing the snowboard! ":bigthumb:

Oops...I mean ya, what he said.

Man, I'm glad I read all the way though before posting.

steven

Bostonian1976

· #59 · Jun 19, 2008

hey I think the mud could be fun.

it looks like a good portion of the trails are now open....we should be fine in another month

We may have slight changes, but hopefully all will roll with the punches as we simply can't control the weather (yet- we're working on a weather control station for 2009)

JoeUser

· #60 · Jun 19, 2008

Bostonian1976 said:
we're working on a weather control station for 2009

So, the registration fee is going up, in other words... great....

jk

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