After much debating, head scratching and planning, I think we've finally got a plan put together for this year's Moab/Ouray trip . Just wanted to put this out there and see if anyone else was planning on being there during this time. I know there's been a lot of interest in a Colorado trip and much as though I'd like to make the trip to Colorado in August, it'd make it searing hot in Moab at that timeframe . Go any earlier and most of the trails in Colorado will be closed . And I'd sure hate to make two separate trips that far out .

That said, our plan is to leave Oklahoma on the evening of July 1st [Friday] headed to Denver, CO. Kids get to have some fun at Water World in Denver on the 2nd, and we head from Denver to Moab on the 3rd of July. Stay in Moab till the 6th and head to Ouray on the 7th, stay in Ouray till the 9th, and head to Buena Vista on the 10th, head back to Oklahoma on the 11th. Roughly 10 days with 4 days in Moab, 3 days or so in Ouray and a day or two in Buena Vista.

Here are a few of the trails we plan on doing:
Moab:

• Chicken Corners
• Poison Spyder Mesa
• Top Of The World
• Tower Arch
• Fins & Things
• Porcupine Rim

Ouray:

• Alpine Loop
• Engineer Pass
• Poughkeepsie Gulch
• Red Mountain Pass
• Corkscrew Gulch
• California Gulch
• Hurricane Pass
• Cinnamon Pass
• Ophir Pass
• Imogene Pass

Salida:

• St. Elmo
• Tincup Pass
• Hancock Pass
• Alpine Tunnel

Colorado Trails will be subject to what's open at the time, but if they are open, and if time permits, those are some of the one's we'd like to try. While in Moab, Arches NP and Canyonlands NP are a couple of places we'll be to as well. If anyone has any suggestions/tips, I'd love to hear it. Also, if any local members can join us during our time in Moab or Colorado, that'd be fabulous!!

 

I'm listening....maybe I can work that No Black Bear?

 

We did Black Bear last year - but I'd be game to doing it again if we have some company. If not, I'd like to do Ophir Pass that we didn't get to do last year

 

Sounds good, they are all repeats for me so I don't really care. Just wanted to scare the crap out of the wife This is way preliminary for me as well...don't know about getting the time off. Hopfully

 

Does she know about this?

I just got my vacation time lined up - the way the days lined out worked perfect - taking 3 days of vacation time combined with my days off, 4th of July and weekends for a total of 10 days off

 

Nah, I figure the less she knows the more scared she will be.

 

That'd be so wrong!! Hope the vacation time works out for you . It'd be nice to have a small group on the trail

 

This is an awesome trip. I did Hancock Pass and Alpine Tunnel two years ago and St. Elmo last summer. Last year Hancock Pass was closed due to a washout. Check with the St Elmo general store for the status on Hancock Pass.

 

I was there last year when Hancock Pass was washed out. Ended up not doing Tincup Pass either 'coz we got there late in the afternoon and the guy at the store said it takes him about 2.5 hours one way to get to Tincup. So, this time, we'll make sure to get there nice and early - and here's to hoping that Hancock pass would be open - that'd make a nice loop for a full day trip . And you never get enough of Chipmunk Crossing

 

On Tincup, there's a short route called "Old Tincup" that's pretty challenging. Look into that.

Also consider Lead King Basin, Crystal Mill, and Schofield Pass from Marble to Crested Butte. Did that last year, stayed in Gunnison then came over Tincup before heading back to Denver.