2020 ROF RimRocker Colorado/Moab Moto + Jeeps Misadventure 2.0

[BritKLR]

So as the day got later I left Moab and double back along the RR. Since I knew there was some nice "cool" (temp and view) campsites up on La Sal pass I shot up to the pass to have a nice relaxing evening with a tasty dinner. Once I found a site, I setup camp, cleaned up, made a LNT fire, cooked a lovely steak, journaled and had a nice cigar.....lovely cool night's sleep!

 

[BritKLR]

The next morning I took my time cleaning up the campsite and fire pit and returned all the rocks to where I pulled them from. I decided to continue heading south east toward Telluride, Ophir Pass and Silverton. Some beautiful long open road stretches and stopped in Naturita for coffee and their famous grilled spam, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, enjoyed it all down by the river running through Naurita.

 

[BritKLR]

After a long hot day of two lane riding I arrived in Telluride, Co. Cruised the Main Street, stopped in the city park, grabbed some water and some food from the local grocery store and headed south towards Ohpir pass. All the websites stated it was open and my plan was to get on the other side and find a campsite before it got dark. I learned from the plow driver on the road to the pass that "technically" the road is open to the pass, but the pass itself wasn't open....damn. It was late and I had no campsite or plan on where to stay. This is where Overlanders are awesome.......I'm sitting at the intersection into Ophir looking at my map and an old boy stops and asked if I needed help. I explained my dilemma and he shared his love for riding his moto and camping and said that his family has some land down by the creek and if I wanted to camp there he'd show me where it is. I accepted his wonderful offer and followed him down in a canyon west of Ophir and the most wonderful creek side camp spot I've ever had. Once saying our good-byes I set up camp, manage to text my wife and shared my goodluck to which she dared me to wash off in the snow melt creek......Well, after a shot of bullet rye, the next thing I know I'm in the freezing water getting clean.....some more rye, hot meal, reading by the creek and I passed out. Best campsite yet!

 

[Ace Brown]

Some comments and a question. The last camp together was Rustlers Campground. Before that we explored Gemini Bridges.

I’m slightly offended by the frequent Jeep label. We had two Jeeps, one Toyota and a Ford.

The question: what is an LNT fire?

Enjoying your solo report. I’m really amazed at how much you carry on that bike.


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[BritKLR]

The next morning, 5th day, I pack up, fix some breakfast, clean the campsite and head back towards Telluride to grab the Last Dollar Trail/road over to Ouray and then to do Blackbear. I learn Blackbear is also still closed so decide to head south via the Engineer pass trail to Silverton and grab lunch in Silverton before going over Engineer pass to camp on the east side close to Lake City......Well, the trailhead outside Ouray to Engineer pass is a complete mess.....Must have been two dozen rental SxS buzzing around and beating up the trailhead entrance. I started up but due to the loose, medium to large boulders displaced on the trail the heavy KLR simply didn't like it. After about half a mile I turned around and headed south via the two lane to Silverton.
While heading towards Silverton I stopped to see if I could help several motorcyclists stopped on the side of the road. It turns out they were heading south to Texas and one got a flat. We talked for awhile and since they had no tire repair kits and I had spare tubes, repair kit, tire tools, pump, plugs and patches I offered to help them repair it instead of waiting 3 hours for a tow truck to arrive and before the weather rolled in. I was then informed (told) that unlike my trusty old KLR, his bike was very expensive and the tire were "special" and could not be fixed roadside and needed a "special" machine to remove the tire and he was having another "special" tire overnighted to replace it.....Silly me....wished them the best and headed off as the rain started.

 

[BritKLR]

Some comments and a question. The last camp together was Rustlers Campground. Before that we explored Gemini Bridges.

I’m slightly offended by the frequent Jeep label. We had two Jeeps, one Toyota and a Ford.

The question: what is an LNT fire?

Enjoying your solo report. I’m really amazed at how much you carry on that bike.


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My apologizes! It was a great crew of diverse vehicles!

LNT = Leave No Trace. I learned it many years ago. Collect a large flat rock for the base, make your rock fire ring around and on top of the flat rock. build your fire on top of the flat rock and within the fire ring. Next morning, after everything is cold, spread the soaked, cold and completely out ashes evenly beyond your campsite. Replace all the rocks back where your got them. Rake the ground where the fire was to make certain everything is out and it blends back into its surroundings.

Before:



After:


After:

 

[BritKLR]

As I continue towards Silverton the weather turns colder and rainier. Once in Silverton there didn't seem to be much going on and since it was starting to sleet I decided to keep heading towards Engineer pass to see if the weather got any better or I could find a campsite......well.....a lot has changed since the last time I was in the Silverton area on a moto (14 years). I simply didn't recognize any of the roads heading out to the pass. There was a fair amount of what appeared to be avalanche damage and debris along the route. Also a great deal of fast moving traffic made up of SxS, Jeeps, Rovers, MB, ATV's, Trucks, you name it and they all seemed to be in a hell of a hurry. As I started to ascend to the pass the weather got worst, wind, rain, snow and then sun....repeat.....repeat again. After getting to the pass and working my way down I thought I would just grab a campsite on the east side but the same problem of avalanche damage and constant rain made for it difficult to locate anything. Once I got into Lake City I figured I'd just grab a hotel room since it was still raining and I was in no mood to camp....well, due to Covid all the hotels were still closed, so now my only option was turn around and go back towards the pass and search for a campsite again or head north 80 miles to Gunnison and grab a room there. I talked with my wife and she offered to find me a room in Gunnison, so off I went. The ride north consisted of dodging rain storms all the way. Once in Gunnison I checked into my room, got my first hot shower of the week and my wife had ordered me a "juicey lucy" Cheese burger and fries and had it delivered to the room...What a great woman! I passed out shortly there after.
The next day consisted of almost 8 hours of dodging cold rains storms from Gunnison to Nederland, Co.

 

[BritKLR]

A short note.....Thanks to Ace Brown and the ROF group for letting me tag along on their adventure! I truly enjoyed every minute of it. Cheers.

 

[Ace Brown]

Let’s do it again. Any old time. Seriously! It was cool having two wheels along to scout ahead for us. But next time let me carry your axe.

Ace


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[BritKLR]

Man, I wonder whatever happened to him after this?

Updated. thanks!

 

[BritKLR]

He posted in another thread yesterday, he's around.

Updated. thanks.

 

[BritKLR]

Let’s do it again. Any old time. Seriously! It was cool having two wheels along to scout ahead for us. But next time let me carry your axe.

Ace


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I hear that they've added some new northern routes that adds a couple of hundred miles to the RR and allows you to complete an entire loop. I'll do some homework over the winter but may do that and the White Rim trail for a giant figure "8" for a week......

 

[Ace Brown]

I hear that they've added some new northern routes that adds a couple of hundred miles to the RR and allows you to complete an entire loop. I'll do some homework over the winter but may do that and the White Rim trail for a giant figure "8" for a week......

We did some of the added stuff after you left. It was just typical desert roads. There was some steep sections in the Book Cliffs, so other than sandy roads nothing that would cause you trouble. The highlite of the Dubinky Well section was seeing a baby antelope close to the road. He pranced along beside us for several hundred yards before trotting off.


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[BritKLR]

2021 ------ Planning next years route now! Any cool suggestions?

 

[Ace Brown]

2021 ------ Planning next years route now! Any cool suggestions?

Run it backwards and include the new stuff.


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