Sorry that's a Sun and Mon, but that's the way our trip plans in July have worked out (business trip/wheeling trip combo).

We were planning to do trails like Poughkeepsi Gulch, Imogene Pass, maybe Black Bear Pass, many others to choose from too (open to ideas). The area is some of the most spectacular scenery in Colorado.

Anyone interested in joining us for some wheeling? A locker or 2 can help on some of these trails but not always required, depends some on the rain, especially on Poughkeepsi. Parts of Poughkeepsi can be unpassable if its too muddy, even with F&R lockers. But if that's the case we can just turn around and go to an easier trail (like Engineer Pass).

 

Some of those trails may not have the snow cleared off of them by July 13th-14th.

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=125012

http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan/cond...s/passes.shtml

http://ouraycolorado.com/Jeep%2BRoad%2BConditions

 

x2 - hell, they might still be closed AUGUST 13-14 with all the snow they got this year ... I'm getting seriously concerned that all the high altitude scenic trails won't open at all this year

 

Oops, I didn't think about that. I usually go in mid to late Aug and everything is open by then (except Black Bear is sometimes washed out). Thanks for the heads up and links. We'll just run what ever is open at the time.

 

You guy's are going to just miss the huge FJ Cruiser event by just a few days.
267 FJs are coming July 16th to Ouray.
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forum...it-discussion/

 

Holy crowded trails Batman! 282 FJs in Ouray, that is good timing then... to miss it I noticed the Best Western was all booked up for those days.

 

Yes, this is year two of that, it is a huge undertaking with many a vendor there too.

I think I may fly out next year for it and ride shotgun.

Chris (BajaTaco from OverLand Journal) has the yellow FJ Cruiser from ARB that was in Australia getting fitted with all of ARBs gear and the Safari snorkel.
He was here last week getting the Man-A-Fre aux. tank put into it for the trip.

Yes, you will have some peace and quiet before the big rush a few days later.

I saw the pics last year, that area where you are going is beautiful.

 

Snow stopped us dead a couple weeks ago outside Silverton. Locals in Ouray and Silverton said many of the passes would be closed until August. You will still have a good selection of trails below the tundra...

 

This link shows a few passes are open now:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan/cond...s/passes.shtml

 

This link: http://ouraycolorado.com/Jeep%2BRoad%2BConditions shows lots of trails are open now. Engineer Pass is open and rougher than usual (sounds even better to me). It also says Imogene may be clear by the end of June.

 

We were up there in February. They got a TON of snow.
Here's two shots from the side of the road after leaving Ouray (on hwy 62 I think)



I would bet that the hills/trails are still covered.

 

Looks like Imogene is now open!

Oops link doesn't work, I'll just cut and paste:

Here's the thread:
http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=125012

 

We're in Vail now, leaving for Ouray tommorow. Looks like most trails will be open for this run, except Black Bear and parts of Poughkeepsi Gulch.

http://ouraycolorado.com/Jeep%2BRoad%2BConditions

We plan on doing Imogene and Engineer for sure, and probably some of Poughkeepsi if we can find a trail buddy. We'll still do Imogene and Engineer even if we're running alone since they usually have lots of people running them anyway. Some times too many people.

We had a little problem in the middle of no where in Kansas. The alternator belt broke. Lucky I had a spare one with me, but changing it on the side of the road was not too fun. Worst part is you have to remove the PS belt and the AC belt to get to the Alt belt. But 1 hour 45 mins later we were cruising again. My arm now looks like I got in a cat fight though LOL.

 

We got in Imogene Pass and Yankee Boy Basin for this trip. It was hotter and dryer than I expected. There were quite a few FJs showing up as we were leaving town.


Still some snow up there:



These jeeps were slow and didn't want to let me pass so I had to follow them up the trail.

 

Nice pics! Still up for coming back to CO in less than 2 weeks?

 

MOD EDIT: (Lysmachia) BANNED!

 

You bet, I'm changing fluids and getting ready to go now. I saw a thread of yours over on Marlin about changing the gear oil in dual cases that helped out. Did you ever get more than 2 quarts in, that's about all I got in too. I put one quart into the front shifter hole and another quart in the rear fill hole. I did pull both drain plugs first

 

This sounds dumb but I thought there was only one drain plug? I only pulled the rear drain plug, drained the lube out, and got 2 quarts in the rear case. I pulled the front t-case shifter and put another quart in the front.

Then it leaked for days and days all over the garage floor I took the fill plug out and let a little fluid dribble out the back overnight. It stopped dripping from the fill plug, buttoned it all back up. It continued to drip from somewhere for days after that. I have no idea from where. It still has a drip every once in a while.

 

Yeah the first case on mine has a drain plug too, I guess since its made from a regular 4 cyl t-case (marlin crawler) it has a drain plug too. Sounds like maybe you overfilled the front case since you didn't drain it but still put a quart in it. The front case will slowly let oil out to the rear case, just how slow I haven't figured out yet. This was my first oil change with the dual cases.

 

I just figured since it was only the front half of the t-case (high / low part), it didn't have a drain since the drain on the rear case is out of the 2/4 wheel drive section of the case. I'll know for next time