Day 11 CDR-Sept 5

We broke camp and headed south from Tiger Road. We immediately started climbing toward Mosquito Pass. The first couple of miles were easy and it almost lulled us into thinking it would go fast. No so!!

When we were 5 ½ miles from the summit, we started hitting the rough part of the “road”. This trail required at a minimum of 4 wheel drive in low range, a lifted vehicle with 32” or larger tires and some experience with extremely rocky trails.

The trail was barely wide enough for one vehicle so occasional pulloffs were necessary account of meeting other vehicles going the other way. A full sized vehicle would probably not be able to navigate this trail to the pass from the Breckenridge side. The pulloff areas were barely wide enough for two Jeeps and someone had to get close to the edge and look down a very long ways to the bottom. Sometimes the pucker factor was quite high.

At the Summit we paused for photos and then headed down toward Leadville on the west side. The trail wasn’t much better going down.

On one very rough and narrow switchback, Matt’s trailer rolled onto its top. It took us a while to get it righted so we could assess the damage. The minor amount of damage is testament to how well Matt built that trailer.

It was on to Leadville and up over Cottonwood Pass, crossing the divide for the second time today. From there we drove through the town of Tincup and found a camsite about 5 miles from there. Tomorrow we will tackle Cumberland Pass.

CDR Day 10=Sept 4

We got a good start on the day from the campsite south of Steamboat Springs and proceeded south. We continued on forest service roads as much as possible but sad to say pavement was necessary. WE crossed he divide numerous times during the day and crossed many passes.

We paused in Kremmling long enough to top off our tanks and fill our reserve tanks as we had to use them out in the wilderness.

Then it was on to Silverthorne where we stopped again got a few supplies. Leaving there we proceeded to Breckenridge where we went to our traditional campsite on Tiger Road above the 10,000 level. Since it is L:abor Day weekend we were afraid our site would be occupied and it was. We did a bit of exploring and found another site that was even higher than the first. We set up camp and cooked our evening meal which was Ribiolita with cut up egetables, Italian sausage and spices. It was great.

We avoid hot dogs and sandwiches as much as we can and have used the pressure cooker extensively.

Tomorrow we plan to get as far south as we can. Even into New Mexico. We will have to stock up on everything account there are few places to get anything once you get to southern Colorado.

Day 9 of the CDR-September 3,2011

We now number 3 vehicles and 7 people. Rob, Marcus and Ben joined us for part of the trip south.

We left Rawlins at about 0930 and proceeded south along highway 71 till we were able to cut off on a gravel county road. In about an hour we crossed the divide again.

Proceeding south we reached the Routt National Forest. Arriving at Steamboat Springs we wanted nothing more than to get out of that town. People everywhere. After stopping at the grocery store for one last item, we traveled south back into the Routt forest. We came across a campground and found a spot that was big enough for all four tents and three vehicles.

CDR Day 8

The Oregon Trail

Crossing the divide

Desolate country

Day 8 had us traveling out of Pinedale southeast where we crossed the divide again southeast of Big Sandy, WY.

From there we continued our southeast direction where crossed the Great Divide Basin. No pavement, all dirt roads and two track trails. It is very dry and the dust was unrelenting. It gets into everything.

Along our way we found the Oregon Trail that we followed as long as we could. The country is windy, desolate and far from nowhere. It is amazing how the pioneers survived when they crossed this part of the country. We finally reached Rawlins, WY where will spend the night and wait for Marcus, Rob and Ben from Lincoln who will join us and travel south with the team.

We have stocked up on supplies as this will be a leg of the trip that will not have any amenities for a long while.

Day 7 of the trip was a great one. We started our southbound route at Missoula and headed

toward the Beaverhead National Forest. Through the Anaconda Range where we crossed the divide again. It was then toward Wisdom, MT, Jacksn, MT and on toward Bannack where we traveled the old Bannack Pass trail into Idaho. We crossed the divide again at the top of the pass. The photo is of Matt at the CD marker on the pass. The view from Bannack Pass was spectacular. The Bannack Trail is not much more than a 2 track, low 4 wheel trip across some very rugged and desolate country.

We worked our way over to Wyoming where we traveled along the southern edge of Yellowstone Park and on toward the Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Lake on the east side of the Tetons. Absolutely beautiful country.

Then it was on toward Moran Jct. and then cross country toward Pinedale where we camped for the night. Just north of Pinedale we saw 4 wolves next to the road. We had hoped to see wolves in the wild and our dream was realized. Didn't get photos account it was 10 pm and we were moving right along.

That night we camped in a wildlife habitat area next to a small lake northeast of Pinedale.

Here is an updated SPOT Adventures page for our trip, but we still recommend watching our SPOT Shared page if you would like to watch where we are in near real time. Enjoy and stay tuned for some great photos.

CDR2011 Shadow of the Rockies

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CDR Day 6

Leaving Holland lake we traveled on mostly forest service roads and trails through the mountains to the south. Spectacular scenery. The views are breathtaking. Some of the trails were no more than a two track road not traveled much. Just what we like.

Unfortunately we found trail closures and had to back track a bit.

Since we had been using rivers and lakes for our personal hygiene needs we decided to get a motel when we arrived back in Missoula. Hot showers and getting our laundry done has refreshed us and we will be ready to hit the trail again.

CDR Day 5

Day 5 is our first official day of the CDR. We are headed south and will continue till we arrive at the US/Mexico border. We made it to Holland Lake just south of Flathead Lake and found a nice campground at Larch Loop.

We read the signs and paid our $15.00 to camp there but the camp host came around and told us that it was $15.00 "per tent". We have three tents. He saw his way to waive the extra money and wished us well on our trip.

He mentioned that a bear cub had been sighted about 100 yards away and to look out for mother bear. We didn't see either the time we were there.

CDR Day 4 continued

The border station where we were at is not manned by anyone. Vacant. The only way you can tell it is the US/Canadian border are the signs and a gate. All of the buildings that at one time were used to inspect incoming traffic now stand deserted.

It was karma or a stroke of luck that as were standing at the border gate, a Canadian gentleman and his wife drove up to the gate from the Canadian side. They were doing the same as us but in Canada. This is a handshake across the border.

That night we camped along the Flathead river on an island between the US and Canada. We were no more than 20 yards from Canada. The border was marked by an overhead cable.

This campsite was the most remote so far. Probably no one around for 30 miles or more.

CDR Day 4

Day 4 had us traveling from Seeley Lake to the US/Canadian border on the west side of Glacier national Park. The border station was not open and hadn't been in operation for a couple of years