So, maybe we are crazy…..we had a couple of days open and knew there were a few trails that we really wanted to drive in Anza Borrego State Park: Mortero Wash, Canyon Sin Nombre, Arroyo Seco Del Diablo andDiablo Drop off and finally we wanted to exit the park via the Grapevine Canyon Trail. We were leaving coastal southern CA temperatures of 68-74 degrees and heading into the blazing desert swelter, of 98-111 degrees. We couldn’t have been more grateful for the air conditioning systems in our rigs!
Entering the Mortero wash
We began our adventure with Mortero Wash, to check out the historic railroad station and water tower. The trail is rated easy with a slight moderate sections that we knew would keep the driving interesting. The trail starts out in a remote area beautifully lined with ocotillos, then passes into sandy, rocky backcountry roads that have areas that are rutted, have deep sandy washes and one area with a small rock ledge. We aired down before driving the trail to make things a little less bumpy and in case we encountered deep sand. You should too. Check out our trail write up Anza Borrego-Mortero Washfor GPS coordinates, directions, more pics etc.
Rocky section of Mortero TrailWater Tower and old rail road tracks at Mortero Wash
Next we wanted to check out Canyon Sin Nombre, which we had heard was amazing with it’s millions of year old granite and folded sedimentary sandstone walls and slot canyons. It did not disappoint! See the trail write-up for Canyon Sin Nombrefor directions, details and more pictures. We hit a few spots of moderate rocky or sandy wash spots through Arroyo Seco Del Diablo which is a side wash of Vallecito Canyon and primarily winds through the sandstone canyon and sandy washes. At last, we turned off at the famed Diablo Dropoff, which, according to the ranger, was pretty washed out at the bottom (the most challenging area anyway) and passing could be difficult. We had to go. We had heard a few things about the drop off: A. once you go down you’re committed…do not try to go back up. b. The sandy drop itself is not difficult for a stock 4×4 with high ground clearance. c. The wash and the ledge at the bottom are challenging. We were there June 13th, 2015 and the lack of rains seemed to have smoothed and padded the ledge and challenging areas of the wash. So, it was fun but not intimidating and we would rate it as moderate for a 4×4 with high clearance and note that tire placement is a critical component on this portion of the drive.
Towering Sandstone Walls in Canyon Sin Nombre
We’re not posting the picture of Diablo here. You will need to check it out in the Arroyo Seco del Diablo Trail write up. The next day we headed out of the Park via the Grapevine Canyon trail. You head into an area that is lush from Stuart Spring and Angelina Spring. We got out to look for water…no dice…this is A DROUGHT. Still, the vegetation was lush, so the water is somewhere. Then we headed up a fairly narrow, rocky, winding part of the trail that came to a beautiful overview of the canyon. For a more detailed trail write up and photos see our Grapevine Canyon Trailwrite up. From there we drove through what looked like a private road…apparently the road is still open but there are numerous “no trespassing/private property” signs and farms or ranches on either side of the road. We popped out onto Montezuma Valley Road (S22) and headed back to San Diego. All and all a smokin’ hot summer, desert adventure! TAP note: Although we made this journey, we do not recommend desert excursions between May and September and certainly not with one vehicle. We drove by an S.A.R (search and rescue) team in Canyon Sin Nombre, getting a hiker who was in really bad shape in one of the slot canyon hiking areas off Sin Nombre. This type of heat is literally lethal. We brought and drank more gatorade mixed with water than we thought we needed. When airing up our tires at the end of the run, it felt like the heat was slamming into us. We do not recommend this journey during this time without a solidly running, air-conditioned vehicle and at least several gallons of water with some electrolyte solution mixed in for good measure…sunscreen and a hat of course. Hiking in this type of heat is foolhardy!
TAP into Adventure!
Rocky section on the Grapevine Canyon Trail at Anza Borrego State ParkGrapevine Canyon-View down from trail
**Please note: As of 5/1/17 the following protocol should be followed before planning a trip to Cerro Gordo Mine.
From-Sean Patterson of Cerro Gordo Mines.
“We encourage all of our guests to contact us via email before heading up, cerrogordomines@gmail.com. We are not accommodating overnight lodging at this time. Tours are $10 for adults, and kids 5-12 are free. All proceeds go to the Cerro Gordo Historical Foundation 501(c)3, founded to preserve and improve the town site of Cerro Gordo. Our goal is to continually upgrade amenities and keep the town intact to be enjoyed and explored as a true historical site in California. When you have a chance, go check out our new website cerrogordomines.com. On the website, you will find our WAIVER. All of our guests must complete a SIGNED WAIVER upon arrival. Thank you for your help! Take care. Sean M. Patterson Cerro Gordo Mines Phone: 760.689.2443 Email: cerrogordomines@gmail.com Website: cerrogordomines.com”
We’d spent the last 3 days camping primitively in Death Valley National Park and had quite a few fairly rugged miles under our rigs and trailers, so were feeling pretty confident. We’d tackled Lippincott Road with ease, endured the washboards around The Racetrack and found our way to some very cool old mines like Lost Burro. Today our 4th day, we’d leave Saline Valley and head for Cerro Gordo Ghost Town. I’d contacted the owner via email a few weeks ago about a tour and had received a curt “The town is closed” response, but had also heard via forums that Robert the caretaker is super friendly and always happy to show you around if you just turn up unannounced. It was Thanksgiving Day, so I admit I was a little concerned about interrupting him and his wife.
We broke camp early at around 8am and were heading south along Saline Valley Road by 9am. It’s an easy road that has some washboarding but nothing like The Racetrack. The road climbs gradually up from the valley floor though Grapevine Canyon with the Nelson Range to our west. The canyon obviously has good ground water as there were Willow and Cottonwood trees growing that looked stunning with their yellow fall leaves. Almost at the top of the canyon, the road passes Hidden Valley Road, another easy trail that eventually takes you to Tea Kettle Junction at the NE end of The Racetrack.
It was already 10am by the time we reached the start of Cerro Gordo Road at Lee Flat. We’d only traveled approximately 15 miles as it was slow going hauling loaded trailers up the canyon. As the name implies, Lee Flat’s is a flat high desert area with an impressive Joshua Tree forest. Continuing through the forest we eventually reached San Lucas Canyon and headed NW between the Nelson Range and Santa Rosa Hills. After another 5 or so miles we turned west and started climbing up the Inyo Mountains. At this point there were no markers, so we were relying solely on GPS. The trail immediately became rougher and “less trail like”. At this point I started questioning the trail rating of 2 or indeed were we even on the correct trail? The GPS assured us we were. Without trailers, taking the wrong trail is rarely a problem…..with trailers, things can get interesting fast! As we continued up the “trail” I started really questioning the GPS, continually stopping and checking. At this point, Lori shouts out…”let’s stop worrying about this and go for it”…..yes, my partner in crime is way more “adventurous” than I…
Death Valley Cerro Gordo Road ascending east side
Another 2 miles of slow crawling through rough terrain and through washes, we commit the ultimate mistake. Hey, why go left along the trail, when you can go right along a wash with a downed tree across it? Luckily, I realize this mistake about 100 yards in before it became too crazy! It did however mean a double 100 yard trailer reverse through a rock garden! 40 minutes later and a lot of sweat and swearing, we’re back on track…….they say it’s not a real adventure until something goes wrong.
Another few miles and an hour later we eventually break out of the rough stuff and reach the summit at 8100 ft. We’ve obviously taken the correct direction and the GPS wasn’t telling lies, but the guide books estimation of the trail rating is way off. It had been the roughest trail we’d ever taken the trailers on, but we managed it and felt great! This was why we do this stuff and will definitely give us a lot of confidence tackling more rugged trails in the future.
Over the summit we drop down into Cerro Gordo Ghost Town and we’re greeted cheerfully by Robert, the caretaker. He looks at us and says..”Did you come up from Lee Flats with trailers??”. With a quiet sense of accomplishment we acknowledge we had.
After an hour with Robert and an amazingly interesting tour (don’t forget to give Robert a little gratuity for his time and efforts in keeping this ghost town going), we start heading down the western side of the mountain towards Owen’s Valley. We’ve driven approximately 40 miles off-road over 5 hours and we’re getting tired. It had been an adventurous day where we were stretched, nervous and excited all at once….a perfect overlanding adventure. Oh, did I mention my Tacoma’s brakes over heated and failed on the way down….but that’s another story…!
Overland Gear: This product review contains items that I took on my 10 day journey through Colorado on the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route (ridebdr.com). This is not intended to be a sales pitch, simply a review. Read on and TAP into Adventure!
The Magellan eXplorist TRX7
TAP has spent 6 months testing out the Magellan eXplorist TRX7. Although we did not find this device to be particularly intuitive, we do appreciate all the data and functions it offers. Here are some highlights of how we have used the Magellan TRX7 and how it has worked for us.
The Magellan eXplorist TRX7 allows you to record trails for trips you have taken, save them in a database, for repeat journeys and publish them for others to use. It contains over 40,000 trails that have been uploaded by Magellan as well as by other Magellan users. This function is a great way to access local trails, some of which we had not seen listed by other sources.
The Magellan eXplorist TRX7 allows you to drop waypoints and get a readings on the GPS coordinates and altitude. You can take photos and upload them for future reference and access photos taken by other users of your area of interest. Once you have completed a trail, you can pull up “Attributes”, to make notes on its conditions, terrain, pitch etc. If you are going on one that is stored in the database, you can access this information before heading out.
The Attributes function allows you to record aspects of the trail.Here we mapped out our route to San Felipe BC.
When logging in to my account on trxtrailhead.com (more details about this is on their website), and going to profile/awards, I can see what states I have driven in, which state parks and national forests I have been to, how many trails I’ve contributed to the community library of trails and see the mile badges I’ve earned. The kid in me thoroughly enjoys this.
For the trip along the CBDR, I uploaded all the GPS coordinates to the TRX7. From the dashboard, I went to my journal then my log, used the touch screen to go to the CBDR Tracks, downloaded originally from the ridebdr.com website. All routes and alternates were listed.
I found the map and tracking to be very comprehensive and precise.
When in a town, it will give you detailed directions to your destination and will also pull up the closest gas stations, restaurants, campgrounds, hotels etc.
The Magellan allows you to pull up local amenities.
The Magellan eXplorist TRX7 is a competent GPS system and so much more. To read more about it or check out the full line of Magellan products go to www.magellangps.com.
SteerSmarts has quite a history. One that needs to be shared: While being relatively new to the aftermarket components industry, it has over 100 years of experience, starting back in 1909 when the Detroit Socket Company manufactured, forged and welded buggy and wagon top products. Over the years, the Detroit Socket Company morphed into the Letts Drop Forge Industries. Later, it merged with the Powers family, who had been approached by Ford and were making pitmann arms for the model A. When Powers and Sons was sold to Letts Drop Forge, the new organization, Powers and Sons LLC, focused primarily on supplying solid forgings to the aftermarket industry. By 2002, Powers and Sons LLC was a multinational, full service OE supplier. In 2015, Powers and Sons LLC launched SteerSmarts, incorporating over 100 years of lessons learned along the way about creating high quality products. Today, they produce highly engineered steering components for the Jeep Wrangler.
YETI DRAG LINK and TIE ROD
Before going on a 10 day backcountry overlanding trip, you have to get your rig checked out and primed for the journey. I have a Jeep Wizard who I will shamelessly call out by name; Chris Johnson, owner of Rock-Tech Off road in La Habra CA. My Jeep has over 65,000 miles on it and required a new drag link and tie rod. Chris recommended YETI by SteerSmarts, and I went with it. Here is some information that you should know about this little known industry secret.
Here, you can see the “full picture”.
THE YETI DRAG LINK
If you have a 3.5 or more lift on your Jeep, a top mounted drag link is an important part of your modification. The YETI drag link features the first patented “no-drill” Reverse Taper top mount, making installation easier and more precise. Precise installation is critical when realigning the steering geometry on your JK in order to prevent sloppy or loose steering.
Here are some specs on the Yeti Drag Link:
It is made from cold headed medium carbon alloy steel ball studs, no-flop “reverse pin” ball joint technology and 30mm ball joints with steel bearings. The ball studs are induction heat-treated and the ball joints are greaseable. The forgings are constructed from 1541 heat-treated steel and they are made with chromoly tubing. The Yeti drag link’s 3 configurations are:
-“No drill” top mount
-Top mount for reid knuckles or drilled out stock knuckles
-Standard bottom mount
The YETI TIE ROD
SteerSmarts YETI tie rod features SteerSmart’s unique “No Rock” induction hardened ball studs with greasable steel on steel bearings for extra strength and longevity (see video below)
Additional Specs:
The YETI tie rod features a no-flop “reverse pin” ball joint technology, 30mm greasable ball joints with steel bearings, high quality key-life seals and rolled threads. Forgings are constructed from 1541 heat-treated steel and they are made with chromoly tubing. The tie rod comes with custom clamps for better locking and it is e-coated and epoxy powder coated.
SteerSmarts makes all of their parts in the USA. steersmarts.com
Kargo Master Safari Hinge Steps:
These little beauties make roof rack access that much easier. The Hinge Step Kit is coated with a marine-grade black powder coat finish which makes them highly resistant against corrosion and abrasion. I can’t tell you how many times I have almost stood on my (plastic) fenders to get to the roof of my JK. Check them out at Kmsafaristore.com.
Snomaster Traveller Series Fridge/Freezer
My “comrades in adventure” had not heard of the Snomaster fridge/freezer. It’s fairly new in the US, in from South Africa. It was easy to install (120v plug installed behind the back seat) and I kept it running for 10 days, day and night with no problem. A feature that I really like is the battery monitor. This can be set via the control panel or the remote control in three stages between 10.0, 10.7 or 11.8 volts. When falling below the voltage, the unit turns off, avoiding damage to the battery by deep discharge.
The freezer portion is separated by being elevated from the fridge portion, which intensifies the temperature in that area and allowed me to keep my meals frozen and drinks cold. A note: I needed to find the “sweet spot” temperature-wise in order to prevent my drinks from icing over. For more details on their products, check out snomasterusa.com
This is a company that makes some very cool products. We have written up the XP-10 and here are a few more reviews on the products that I took with me along the CBDR.
One night, I left my key partially turned in the ignition and drained the battery (it was a long day…). The XP-10 Micro-Start got my Jeep going when all the others were in the process of having breakfast or breaking camp. I didn’t need to bother any of them for a jumpstart.The XP-10 got me started no problem.
The Antigravity Batteries Multi-Function Lantern is a 4-in-1 Camp Lantern, wireless bluetooth music/audio player, speakerphone and a flashlight. It’s a great lamp for inside a tent, flashlight when looking for lost keys (don’t ask) and around the fire, when some tunes are welcome, it puts out good quality sound. I did not use the speakerphone function, so can’t comment. It is a compact, multifunctional and very functional item, especially when space is limited. It’s also a good quality toy for camping adults.
Perfect sized tent light.Steve almost stole it from me. This is a picture of him “modeling”/getting ready to bolt.
The THUMP-BOX is an extremely compact (2″ x 2″ x 3″) bluetooth speaker system. Sound transmits into any surface the THUMP-BOX is placed on and the surface becomes the speaker system. It also works as a speakerphone. I did not bring this product on the CBDR because it had been taken by my 17 year old…no. I don’t need this product while camping, but at work and home, it comes in handy and produces great sound.
The SPORT comes in a compact, case with a variety of connectors.
On this trip I had many devices that needed charging, so having a compact energy source came in handy. Antigravity Batteries describes the Micro-Start SPORT as one of the smallest lithium-ion Jump-Starter/Personal Power Supply (PPS) that provides 150 amps/300A. I used this continually throughout the 10 days. Every two days, I recharged it while driving.
The NEW UltraLight X is a flashlight, bluetooth music player, speakerphone, and Power Bank. Sounds super cool…will be taking it on the Mojave Road in November, so the review is coming….
1967 CLOTHING COMPANY INSPIRATION “When we got to the top of Half Dome, a tourist took our camera and agreed to take a photo of us as we stood there. When we looked at that picture, we said, maybe we’d better get in the clothing business.”- Liz Robbins 1968
A bit of history about ths company that was founded by Liz and Royal Robbins: Both Liz and Royal were avid climbers and outdoor enthusiasts. Liz Robbins was the first woman to ascend the face of Half Dome, and the first woman to ascend a grade 6 climb anywhere in the world. Royal was an internationally acclaimed climber and kayaker. In 1968 they created and began selling outdoor clothing. Their brand was called Mountain Paraphernalia. In 1980, it became Royal Robbins, an active lifestyle apparel company for rock climbers, adventurers and travelers. TAP respects and lives by Royal’s view that life is meant to be lived as an adventure. That is what gives it value. Speaking of value…I took some clothing items made by Royal Robbins on my 10 day journey across Colorado on the CBDR. I have traditionally been a “cotton clothing” kind of an overlander/primitive camper/hiker. But, I kept hearing about the value of wearing good technical clothing while out adventuring in various altitudes, temperatures, and terrains. On the CBDR we had temperatures that ranged from the low 40’s to over 100 degrees. We were in high altitudes where the sun was searing. We also had rain and hail. I wore their shirts and am a convert. The shirt dried quickly when wet, protected me from the sun with SPF 50 fabric, and kept me cooler than my cotton tees when the weather was hot. That made me a happy camper.
My Royal Robbins shirts converted me to technical outdoor clothing.
You can check out their full line of men and women’s clothing at royalrobbins.com
So, there you have it. These are some of the items that I took on my journey through Colorado that made the trip a bit easier, safer and more enjoyable. It’s important to get your rig trail-ready, have a solid GPS device, good lighting, power to charge tablets, phones, and your rig. Quality clothing to help protect you from the elements and keep you more comfortable. A good quality fridge/freezer to keep you from eating freeze-dried teriyaki beef or whatever. Then there is what I will call the “frosting” element. My light streams music! I have steps on the sides of my Jeep that fold in and out so I can get at the Maxtrax that are tied down on my roof rack!
This is by no means intended as a sales pitch. These are items TAP was introduced to, used, and we want to pass the info on to you. Get out there. Get your camp and rig essentials dialed in for safety, and have fun. There are so many great places to go out and explore.
Author: Lori Palmer, TAP Co-Founder and Editor, avid outdoor fan and adrenaline junkie.
It was an epic journey. Full stop. One I will not forget. I had the opportunity of going on a ten-day, off-road trip through Colorado along the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route. From July 10-July 19th, a group of us travelled from the Four Corners Monument, where the borders of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado converge, up to the Wyoming border. Chris Wood, Director of Sales for American Expedition Vehicles, has driven two other BDR’s and this year had chosen to drive Colorado. He invited me the Editor of TAP, Ken Beahm, a SAR volunteer and contributing TAP author, Steve Drewniany, Firefighter/Paramedic and Jackson Ellis of Glendale Dodge, Chrysler Jeep, an authorized AEV dealer. All of us have known each other and Chris for a few years and have, co-hosted, attended or assisted on the AEV in-field trainings and runs (including the AEV/TAP women’s runs). Our rigs are all fully capable, AEV built, Jeeps. None the less, everyone had them checked out before taking off. On an extended, off-road, camping-in-all-kinds-of-weather kind of a trip, a good, compatible team, and mechanically solid rigs really matter.
Route planning began months earlier via e-mail and phone. The team is spread out and lives from up in Washington state to close to Tijuana BC, so face to face conversation was out of the question. Chris scoped out the route using the Butler Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route map, Google Earth and ridebdr.com. If you go on a BDR road trip, these are excellent resources to use. Chris broke the days up according to mileage, points/passes of interest and the availability of what appeared to be good primitive camp sites by searching via Google Earth. Because we were to travel at high altitudes, we needed to check which passes were still closed due to the amount of remaining snow cover (CO had 150% of its average snowfall this season), and what alternate routes could be taken. (These were listed on ridebdr.com.) Steve also checked the status of fires to see if any were burning along the route. There were a few active fires, none close to the CBDR.
There was a lot of planning around the type of gear to carry: tools, spare parts, rig fluids, extra water and fuel storage. We discussed how to cope with the possibility of altitude sickness as all of us come from close to sea level altitudes and this trip would take us up to 12,600 ft. Chris took this into consideration when planning the first few days of our trip and the goal was to ease into altitude gain. Each one of us have experienced altitude sickness and welcomed this strategy. We discussed the importance of hydration (electrolytes), frequent high calorie snacking to keep our concentration levels high, and the necessity of calling for breaks when needed. We also talked about the fact that the weather would range from 95 degrees and sunny, to frequent thunder and lightning storms, rain, hail and temps in the low 40’s. This meant packing efficiently and including multiple layers. When packing for a long journey in a Jeep, economy of size is critical.
Items list left to right: light, fire extinguisher, step stool, fridge/freezer, stove, rags, all dry food items (top box), all shower “stuff” (bottom box), table, diet coke, first aid kit, behind that is my onboard compressor hose, bungee cord for paper towels and hanging clothing to dry. Looks ghetto? Worked great.
The route had us to stopping in towns to refuel and buy any essentials almost every day. Because of this, we got to visit Cortez, Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, Lake City, Salida, and a few ghost towns. We also spent three days exploring the Alpine Loop in the San Juan Mountains, which was outstanding. It was great getting away from everyone and everything, enjoying the backcountry then cruising into Ouray for ice cream at 10:30 in the morning. What’s a vacation (work trip) without ice cream? Seriously, most of our time was spent in the pristine backcountry of Colorado. The wildflowers were out in full bloom, there were snow-capped mountains in the distance (or snowbanks on either side of us), a vast array of trails to drive…but nothing too technical. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken!
The Columbine’s journey to become the Colorado state flower began in 1891 when Colorado school children voted the Rocky Mountain Columbine their favorite flower. It won by a landslide – of the 22,316 votes cast, 14,472 went to the Rocky Mountain Columbine.
Before the trip, Ken told me to be prepared for a mental endurance test. He said that ten days of driving, setting up and breaking down camp in all kinds of weather, would get to me at some point. I thought he was dead wrong. I love driving, I love camping, I am super human. Nope. Day seven body slammed me… for no particular reason. I had slept fine. The lightning and thunder had travelled onward and left us alone. My body had enough calories and hydration, but it happened anyway. I bonked, but kept on driving, came alive again and all was well. So, not so super human after all.
My advice to anyone who can get enough time off of work and who is vaguely interested in backcountry exploration is…GO. Make it happen. Do it with a group of friends. Do it safely and hang on for the ride of your life. What follows is a daily photo journal. I have provided GPS coordinates for our campsites…except for a secret one which I risk losing my life if I tell…so I won’t. As you will see, we took our time. We took lots of photos, we chilled, we enjoyed the trails, the sights and the company. I will do my best in describing where each of the photos were taken, but can’t promise perfection there. If you like, follow along on Google Earth. As I mentioned, that’s how Chris found our campsites. He calculated how far he wanted us to go in a given day then swooped down using Google Earth to check for areas to primitive camp. We had AMAZING camps….every night. Enough said: Read on and TAP into Adventure!
I fell in love with Colorado instantly.
Day 1 July 10, 2017- drove 75 miles: The first day, we lined up at Four Corners Monument then headed out, passing through Cortez toward the town of Dolores. We had a relatively short day in order to allow for altitude acclimation. We camped in a beautiful flat field that apparently belonged to a herd of cows who made their presence known to use just after we had finished setting up camp.
The starting line-up.These guys were not happy with us at all. As we were setting up, they formed a “cow wall” and started closing in on us.
Three out of five of us had James Baroud roof top tents and I’m not going to lie, I was a little jealous. Their set up and breakdown was fast and easy. No wet ground to deal with, and all sleeping items were stored in the tents, freeing up room in their Jeeps. Our campsite was near Lake Dolores. Camp coordinates: 37.6608 N, -108.4342 W, elevation: 7,825 ft
Chris Wood’s rig.Jackson EllisSteve Drewniany’s set up.Ken and I “roughed it” in tents.
Day 2, July 11 -drove 108 miles: We drove by Lake Dolores, thenheaded up Groundhog Mountain and out toward the San Juan Mountains. We had lunch by the river in the picturesque town of Telluride (elevation 8,750) then drove over Ophir Pass…..stunning. That evening we camped at a secret spot by Mineral creek. Camp elevation: 10,755 ft
Bridal Veil Falls-TellurideHeading up Ophir Pass
Camp day 2
Day 3, July 12-Drove 40 miles: Today we entered the Alpine Loop area. We went to the town of Silverton for fuel and checked out Animas Forks ghost town. After that, we headed up to the Alpine Loop area and drove California Gulch and Corkscrew Pass. That night we camped in Poughkeepsie Gulch near Ouray. Camp coordinates: 37.9663N, -107.6269, elevation: 10,492 ft
Silverton CO. This was my favorite town.Animas Forks is located on a 65-mile system of roads in the San Juan Mountains known as the Alpine Loop. The Alpine loop connects the towns of Lake City, Ouray and Silverton.Animas Forks ghost town is located approximately 12 miles NE of Silverton. It was established in 1873. Mining, speculation and processing mills helped Animus Forks grow. By 1920, it was a ghost town due to the decline of mining profits.By 1876 the community was a booming mining town. It consisted of 30 cabins, a hotel, a general store, a saloon, and a post office. In 1884, a 23-day blizzard inundated the town with 25 feet of snow. The residents had to dig tunnels to get from building to building.
This is an unbelievably beautiful area.Heading through California GulchCorkscrew Pass’s switchbacks were super fun to drive. How many Jeeps do you see in this picture?Heading down into Poughkeepsie Gulch.Campsite: Poughkeepsie Gulch
Day 4, July 13-Drove 61 miles : We went to check out the beautiful little town of Ouray, fondly referred to as the Switzerland of the United States. We got fuel and ice cream (yes!) then headed out to Cinnamon Pass. That night we camped near Cottonwood Creek Camp coordinates: 37.9000 N, -107.4414 W, elevation: 10,348 ft
Ouray COOverlooking part of Cinnamon Pass.
Top of Cinnamon Pass.Camp at Cottonwood Creek.View from camp.
Day 5, July 14-drove 86 miles: Today we drove through Lake City, past Lake San Cristobal and camped near Razor Creek Dome. Camp coordinates: 38.3476 N, -106.7429 W, elevation: 9,137 ft
Heading toward Mineral Mountain.Razor Creek Dome camp. We had rain almost every day, so the awnings were really nice to have. They are set up on a slant so the rain can drain off.View from Razor Creek Dome.I had no idea that Ken was such a kite wizard. It was really windy and he handled it like a pro.This is what vacations are for.
Day 6, July 15-drove 80 miles: We drove over Old Monarch Pass and the Continental Divide (11,375 ft). Stopped in Salida for lunch and fuel then passed throughGunnison National Forest and San Isabelle National Forest. We camped on a bluff overlooking Nathrop CO and watched large, dark storm clouds form on both sides of us. We were pretty sure that the two storm systems would meet overhead and drench us. We ended up getting only a few minutes of hail, rain, thunder and lightning that evening. Nothing too bad. In the end, the storms stayed on either side of us. Camp coordinates: 38.7038 N, -105.9758 W, elevation: 10,144 ft
View from Old Monarch PassCampsite overlooking Nanthrop CO
Some R and R before the storm rolled in.
The storm hit Nathrop. We got a little bit of rain, hail, thunder and lightening, but the storm stayed mostly in the valley below us.
Day 7, July 16-drove 74miles: We drove through Pike and San Isabelle National Forests, through the town of Buena Vista, then past Turquois Lake. Some Super fun driving, some “meh” silty road driving and some slushy hail. We camped at Weston Pass. Camp coordinates: 39.1020 N, -106.1572 W, elevation: 10,846
Beautiful rock formations past Buena Vista.Expansive meadows, easy driving.Who doesn’t love a good water crossing.Weston Pass camp.Yes! Jackson comes through with burgers for all.
Day 8, July 17-drove 103 miles: Went over Hagerman Pass, on to Crooked Creek, then past Mt. Massive Lakes. There was quite a bit of ( I’m changing my air filters as soon as I get home) silty road driving again today, but once again, the views were stunning. We camped near Green Horn Mt. in the Gypsum hills. The terrain here turned to chaparral and it was 98 degrees when we hit the town of Gypsum. Camp coordinates: 39.6963 N, -106.9435 W, elevation: 7,638
Heading toward Hagerman Pass.
Steve taking some pictures at Hagerman Pass.The views were amazing.This is where I put in a good word for technical clothing. It made all the difference in the world. When wet, it dried fast, when the sun was beating down, it was breathable and the material is SPF 50. I’m a convert. I’m also a complete dork, as you can see.My camp spot came decorated.The terrain was very similar to parts of Anza Borrego State Park, CA.
Day 9, July 18-drove 116 miles: We left Gypsum, driving through Medicine and Bow-Routt National Forests, past Crooked creek pass. The terrain reminded me of Sedona with it’s red rocks and scrub brush. That night, we stayed in a hotel in Steamboat Springs.elevation: 7,638.
Day 10, July 19-drove 88 miles: Steamboat to Baggs WY. The last leg of the journey was mainly through farmlands and ranches. Beautiful country.
On our way up to the WY border.Right before entering WY we stopped to take a group photo. It had been an unforgettable 10 days with a great group of people. Photo: Chris Wood
Colorado is a unique and beautiful place. The CBDR gave us an opportunity to travel through the state, off the beaten path, to see some of the natural beauty that this part of the country has to offer. As I stated earlier, if you have even the remotest possibility of going, do it. Prepare for sure, be safe and enjoy the ride. I can’t wait to get back out again.
Author: Lori Palmer, TAP Editor and Co-Founder.
TAP would like to extend a big thanks to the following companies who supported TAP’s trip along the CBDR.
Our next article will contain a product reviews. Do not miss it!
Charlene Bower, owner of Bower Media and Ladies Off-road Network, recently put on a 4 day co-driver challenge. The 10 women who attended were the finalists chosen out of 41 candidates to compete for co-driver or media position alongside Charlene for three events: the 15th Achieve Tahoe Rubicon Trail Experience, the 50th SCORE Baja 1000 with BFGoodrich Tires and 1st Fury Rode.
The four-day challenge was made up of a variety of activities to test the women’s skills in the areas of teamwork, media ready performance, initiative, wheeling, recovery techniques, shooting, endurance and stamina. There was not one evening that allowed for more than four hours of sleep. Activities were planned one after another, keeping the women out of their comfort zones as much as possible. This 4-day event was designed to be an intense training and test of endurance. Despite, or because of this, they had a blast. I was asked to come along and record the event via photos. Here is a photo journal and brief description of this four-day event. Enjoy and watch how these women TAP into Adventure!
Day 1:Teamwork: The women arrived on Thursday afternoon, set up their sleeping areas, then went on a trip to the science museum where the women had to replicate a recovery using the items provided. Their “vehicle” needed to move 6 inches without them touching it.
Day 2: Shop Tours: Jagged X Racing, UTV Inc., Geiser Brothers, and SDGQ. The women gained knowledge of and spoke first hand with shop owners, racers and the technicians and engineers. They checked out the rigs, ATV’s, etc. and learned about how certain modifications benefit a vehicle’s performance. After the shop tours, each woman gave a live media presentation related to the visit.
Day 2: Recovery Training/Exercises: Charlene is one of only two women who are International Four Wheel Drive Trainer Association trainers. On the evening of day 2, she put on question and answer training demonstrations then had the women rotate through different stations: winching, Hi-Lift Jacks, plugging tires and flipping tires onto beadlocks….well into the night.
Day 3: Wheeling. We departed early from Phoenix to Sedona AZ where we picked up Jeeps from Barlow Adventures Jeep Rentals for a day of wheeling and navigating. This was a practice in teamwork, picking the correct line and doing some navigation 101.
Day 3: Tagging. How could I forget. We gassed up in Phoenix before heading out to Sedona and while at the station, the women were instructed to turn the van into a marketing tool. Again, strategy and teamwork came into play. Here is what they created:
Day 3: Shooting.Target Practice at Shooters World for some training and target practice. (Shooting is part of the Fury Rode event.) Here, the women were taught safe handling and shooting techniques.
Day 4: Kayaking. This was the final big push of the weekend – a 14 mile kayak ride down the Salt River. Mimicking events the women will be participating in, this last leg proved to be a challenge. Here the women had to balance stamina and teamwork.
Day 4: PARTY! At the end of the final day, there was a relaxing pool party with friends of the Ladies Offroad Network. These women had participated in the co-driver challenge last year and came to offer their congratulations and support to this years finalists.
The next stop for three of these women will be to pair up with Charlene Bower on one of the three upcoming events: 15th Achieve Tahoe Rubicon Trail Experience, the 50th SCORE Baja 1000 with BFGoodrich Tires and 1st Fury Rode. Based on my experience with these women, the choice will not be an easy one.
On a final note: Not only was I the photojournalist for this event, I also got to interact with and see some very talented women. I saw them pushed to their max; laughing, crying and putting themselves into some very uncomfortable situations. Why did they do it? Because they are the kind of people who look for challenges.They want to team up with the creator of this challenge/training week-end, Charlene Bower, on three extreme offroad events and live life just a little bit out of the box….where the fun is.
About Charlene Bower: Charlene worked upper retail management at multi-line Powersports dealerships for 11 years and in magazine media for 4 years before founding Bower Motorsports Media in 2009. She has built brands that include the online talk show Bower Power Hour, Race Team Store online marketplace, I’m Not Just A Girl clothing and jewelry line, Ladies Offroad Network website and events devoted to women offroaders, and Racer Marketing Schoolfor online education. Charlene is a dirt bike rider, hard core wheeler, and the only female member of the Arizona Undertakers 4×4 club. In 2014, she earned the title of “Fastest Girl Up Backdoor” at the King of the Hammers Backdoor Shootout. With different contest winners in her co-driver seat in 2015, her team took 2nd in RallyVenture and in 2016, they placed 1st in the Rebelle Rally and 2nd in the Pro Class at 36 Hours of Uwharrie. Charlene has been recognized by BFGoodrich Tires as one of their Performance Team Members, and was recently voted by peers as an Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Industry Rising Star. In 2017, Charlene obtained her training certification from the International 4-Wheel Drive Trainers’ Association.
For those of us who live our lives driving from one adventure to the next, the offering of capable vehicles in the U.S. is slim. When traveling abroad, I drool with envy over the variety of 4wheel drive mid-sized trucks. Not only do many manufacturers offer them, they offer them in diesel. Not so Stateside.
I continually read with anticipation the rumors of a new Defender, a more capable Discovery, or an auto show concept that gives promise, only to be let down by news of schedule push backs, the “not available in the US” caveat, or compromising over computerized CUVs deemed capable in the eyes of execs who don’t drive off-road.
Enter Chevrolet. The longstanding, American vehicle division under the GM umbrella isn’t necessarily known for building what the core market sees as a true adventure worthy vehicle. The Silverado is respected as solid and reliable, and the second generation Colorado was a welcome improvement over the original. However, with a little insight into the engineering team (having worked with several while racing for HUMMER), I knew their Chevy Colorado Variant Z had the potential to change people’s minds and perception.
The ZR2 is a vehicle built for those who love to drive.
I first saw the ZR2 at NAIAS (the Detroit Auto Show), and it was a sight for sore eyes. After spending much of the show discouraged at the barrage of autonomous vehicle talk and the implied message that felt like tech companies couldn’t wait to save us from our driving selves, I was happy to see a vehicle built for those who love to drive. What excited me most was what started as a concept vehicle first seen late in 2014 in Los Angeles, would really end up hitting the trails, in the hands of consumers. Whew.
Putting the ZR2 Through the Paces
The ZR2 is purpose-built and has lofty goals. Chevy claims it has “exceptional performance in a variety of scenarios” ranging from tight, technical trails, crawling, high-speed off-road as well as daily driving on pavement. Off the showroom floor, the ZR2 has a solid stance and the specs to back up Chevy’s claims. But the proof is in the ride, so Chevy invited me to gather up a worthy crew and head to Gateway, Colorado to put it to the test.
To give some perspective, I spend many days coaching off-road, and countless hours and days on trails in remote locations. I have the task of laying out a 2000 kilometer off-road rally raid that spans 8 days, so a dependable, capable vehicle is a critical tool. I was joined by 3-time King of the Hammers Champion Shannon Campbell, World Extreme Skiing Champion and Olympian Wendy Fisher, and Johnny and Manuel Garner – the twins of Dirt Cinema.
As we pulled into the majestic valley under the red cliffs and buttes, I had to wonder if this 2-day Chevy ZR2 test drive was going to be the real deal and allow us to put it through the paces. However, I was already happy to be back in the Rockies where my true home is, and pleased to be in a different location than the “go to” Moab experience.
Right out of the starting blocks, we were ushered off to the Trophy Track and in helmets and HANS devices before we could blink, with ample laps on the two-mile course complete with jumps, straightaways, and plenty of corners. Airing the truck isn’t standard fare at a test drive, but the engineers at Chevy knew it would be the best way to show off their new prize. From there, we headed to Bangs Canyon just outside Grand Junction to run double track trails, and a section of stair step climbs and descents. In between, we had plenty of time driving the classic Colorado roads of Highway 141 and the majestic Colorado National Monument to gauge its road manners. With a side session for filming on the sweeping dirt roads along the bases of massive canyon walls, I walked away with plenty of data and seat of the pants feel for what the ZR2 is all about.
“Saddle up and get ready for a great ride.”
“The ZR2 is not just sport utility vehicle, but a purpose-built truck hell-bent on adventure.”
Is the ZR2 the real deal? Absolutely. While there are many integrated features, the ones that stand out for the dirt include a 2”lift, 3.5” wider track than the standard Colorado, redesigned front bumper which boosts the approach angle to 30°, front (notable for a mid-size truck) and rear electronic locking differentials, Multimatic’s Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) shocks and beefed up control arms. Rock sliders come standard along with a solid skid plate and t-case protection.
Immediately noticeable is the responsive, tight steering. Off the jumps, the truck settles quickly. The elockers made the ledgy, loose climbs a breeze. Honestly, not much upsets the ZR2 on dirt, and it is genuinely fun to drive.
Stiff? Yes. Deal breaker? No. Although you might be a committed Fox or King fan, the DSSV damper technology is borrowed from road racing, notably Formula 1, and now available for us mere mortals. Chevy tasked Multimatic to achieve an off-road version and it is worth the look and a test drive, so don’t be tempted to discount it just because it is new to our market. (Worth the read – https://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/chassis-suspension/1611-chevy-colorado-zr2-shocks-explained-inside-the-multimatic-dssv/)
Given the level of off-road capability, I didn’t anticipate much on-road. We off-roaders expect compromise. However, I was blown away by the truck’s manners on pavement. Honestly, it is the best road handling truck I’ve driven to date. Once again, a combination of steering and suspension. With minimal body roll, we could drop into high-speed corners of the mountain roads without hesitation. And while I didn’t drive it all tooled up with a bed full of gear, I suspect the handling will serve you well when loaded down and headed out for the your next escape.
“Honestly, it is the best road handling truck I’ve driven to date.”
Curb weight is 4,985 lbs with a wheelbase of 128.5”. It feels well-balanced in all conditions. And while Chevy opted for 31” Goodyear Duratracs on 17” rims, they get the job done.
You can choose a 3.6L V6 or a 2.8L Duramax diesel, and crew or extended cab. The petrol version comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission and the diesel is a 6-speed automatic. No manual option for the ZR2. The price starts at $40,000. Our pick was the crew cab diesel with a sticker of $45,435
Rolling into Overland West
So after I finished the test drive, at 3 a.m. I hopped straight in a subpar rental and worked to set a time record to Flagstaff where I was teaching a mid-day course at Overland West. As I pulled in, I was struck by how many Tacos were on display and in attendance. It felt more like the Toyota Overland Expo. There were plenty of other vehicles, a large number of Sprinters, but vehicle diversity is not a phrase I would use to describe this year’s event. I couldn’t help but appreciate Chevy for making a big bet and deep commitment to this space, and the mid-size truck segment. The ZR2 is not just a sport utility vehicle, but a purpose-built truck hell-bent on adventure. So my recommendation is if you are looking to stand apart from the crowd, saddle up and get ready for a great ride.
“The ZR2 is not just sport utility vehicle, but a purpose-built truck hell-bent on adventure.”
Sidebar:
Saguaro Trail – ZR2’s own playground and test track
What stood out at the ZR2 test drive was the engineering team, and their recounting of the process to make concept a reality. I counted nine engineers that took part in the drives and events at Gateway. What is very clear is the ZR2 is a passion project. These engineers are not just vehicle fanatics, they are off-roaders. For example, ride and handling engineer Todd Hubbard is an avid rock crawler, as well as mountain biker, hiker, and outdoorsman. He led the Rubicon Trail test of the ZR2. Doug Moore, based at the GM Proving Grounds in Yuma, AZ, is in charge of certifying the engineers in off-road driving. In his signature cowboy hat and boots, he takes dirt seriously.
And then there is the Saguaro Trail. This isn’t a public venue, but a course at the Arizona facility specifically built by a team led by Moore and Brian Kudela to put the ZR2 through the paces – day after day after day. Approximately six miles in length and complete with varying sizes of whoops, high-speed dirt, jumps, and a natural sand wash. It may be a source of pride internally, but externally it signals the level of commitment by a team dedicated to delivering a superior product, not a compromise or afterthought. For all the specs, log on to https://www.chevrolet.com/colorado-zr2-off-road-truck
Here’s a slice from Gateway, edited by Dirt Cinema: A compilation of Chevy and Dirt Cinema Footage.
About the Author:
Emily Miller is most comfortable driving the dunes of the Sahara and dreads the commute on the 5 freeway. A California transplant from the Rockies, Miller learned quickly that a vehicle is the great equalizer for body size and gender. What started as an opportunity to race stock trucks for legend off-road racer, Rod Hall, became a chance to not only see many amazing places across the planet, but gain invaluable life and work lessons from the driver’s seat. Miller holds numerous podium finishes and wins, including the Baja 1000 and being the first woman to solo Vegas to Reno – longest off-road race in the US – and win the class.
Today, she has coached over 4,000 people to drive off-road, organized and produced over 100 experiential automotive events, and is the founder of the first women’s navigation rally raid in the U.S., the Rebelle Rally – a 7 day off-road competition based on manufacturer vehicles and skill not speed without GPS, cell phones, or outside assistance.
