Buena Vista, Salida, Bonanza, Sargents info '10

[ramz]

Buena Vista, Salida, Bonanza, Sargents info '10
July 19, 2010

"open" means no snow or very little easily-rideable snow; major downfall has been cleared but some minor ride-overs may remain.
"unk" means unknown.

Arkansas River Loop (Salida to Howard along the river, return via power line rd) - dry and dusty.

Aspen Ridge Rd - open.

Fourmile Area - all routes are open - dry and dusty.

Rainbow Tr - the single-track part, from the western terminus at Silver Cr to Rainbow Trail Camp / Lake Creek CG near Hillside is open.

Alder Cr Rd - open.
Clover Cr Rd - open.
Marshall Pass Rd - open.
Poncha Cr Rd - open.
Shirley Site - dry.
Silver Cr Rd - open.
Toll Rd - open.
Whale Hill Rd - open. . . CHANGE

Ute Tr (NE of Salida to Gribble Park, Hartsel, Cotopaxi, and points east) - dry.


Sargents Area

Agate Cr Tr - open with 1 each - go over/go under/go around in the lower canyon.
Baldy Lake Tr - open.
Barret Park Loop trails - open.
Big Bend - open.
Crest Tr - open. . . CHANGE
Dutchman - open.
Green Cr Tr - open.
Hicks Connector - open.
Left Hand - open.
Lime Cr Tr - open.
Long Branch Tr - open.
Milk Cr Tr - open.
Razor Cr - open.
Summit Tr (Marshall Pass to Lujan Cr near SH114) - open.
Tank 7 - open.

Frank's Bailout Rd (FR243.3E) - open.

Tomichi Creek Trading Post Restaurant is open for the summer.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner - 7 days/week.


San Luis Valley

Dorsey Cr area and south to Villa Grove - dry and dusty.
Poncha Loop area - open; seasonal closure BLM signs are removed.


Passes.

Cottonwood Pass - open.
Cumberland Pass - open.
Hancock Pass - road washed out on St Elmo side and closed by USFS.
Hayden Pass - open.
Marshall Pass - open.
Old Monarch Pass - open.
Tincup Pass - open. . . CHANGE


See the San Isabel, Gunnison, and Rio Grande USFS maps for location information.
See also Pitkin, Taylor Park, Spring Cr Reservoir info '10: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=594958

[ramz]

I'll post up info about trails and roads in central Colorado, just like I did last year. I'll update post #1 as info becomes available.

We rode to the Rainbow Tr today, but there's still too much snow on the trail for any kind of riding/clearing.



End of the line on Marshall Pass Rd:



Time to turn back on Alder Cr Rd:


There was very little snow up to this point, a dark turn below any sun exposure.

[EJWPC]

This is great. Thanks.

[Blakebird]

I was wondering when we'd get a ramz update

[NMTrailboss]

You're the man ramz!! Thank you for all your efforts!

[Hair]

Old man winter has meet his match. And given the time of the year, I betting on ramz coming out on top.

[ramz]

Why is it I leave my snow shovel at home when I do my first trail clearing ride on the RBT every spring? I'm probably hoping that the snow is all gone

Hope springs eternal:


End of the line after .2 miles heading west from the FR201C crossing near Shirley Site.

So we turned around and headed east towards SH285. And after clearing a few down trees and rocks, success; four miles of the RBT is now open!

We rode across SH285 and headed east up the first hill on the RBT. Eventually, we ran into more snow at 1 mile.

Next trip planned for Mon/Tue, perhaps going in on Methodist Mtn Rd or Sand Gulch Rd south of Salida. They look green/brown and not a speck of white is showing.

[BCRides]

Nice. Thanks RAMZ!

[mommer]

shure is a fancy blue bike rick... wish i could be there to help you but im stuck in south dakota for the summer.. be there asap next spring

[Shredware]

Where's the spot to camp down here...thinking about heading sown for a night. ??

[ramz]

This is a special post showing snow at various places on the RBT, for planning on when the trail will be accessible for clearing.

Sand Gulch at the lower end where snow is first found:

There is snow (some very deep) from here up to the turn out of the gulch, about .25 miles.


Heading east from Methodist Mtn Rd, about 100 yards; no snow yet, but the first down tree:



Bear Cr trailhead, looking north (at snow!):



Bear Cr trailhead, looking south - no snow to be seen:



Hayden Cr trailhead, looking north - nice and dry, so we gave it a try:



Still no snow, but Jim found something to do:

We stopped about .75 miles in and turned back due to time constraints, but not because of snow, which was not in evidence. This looks like a good place to start clearing the trail, heading north.


We also rode south of Hayden Cr Rd to check out the part of the route that will be changed from 4WD/ATV back to single-track trail - about .6 miles from the road to this bridge.

No snow here either.

WA - lookin' good, more next week.

What a nice day for a check-ride.

[ramz]

Where's the spot to camp down here.

Developed campgrounds are not open yet.

Dispersed camping (aka primitive camping - no facilities) is allowed in many places in the forest, usually off of any road.

Popular dispersed camping near Salida is along Silver Creek and Poncha Creek.

Drive west from Salida on US50 to Poncha Springs, about 5 miles.
Turn left (south) onto highway 285 and drive south to FR200/Mears Junction, about 5 miles.
Turn right onto FR200 and drive west to the parking lot at Shirley Site, about 2.4 miles. It's past the kiosk and around the curve, to the left.

You are at the junction of FR200 and FR201.

If you go straight ahead, past the parking lot, you will be on FR201 and you will see primitive camp sites on the left side of the road for the next mile or so. You can also drive on for another mile or so, passing the private community and lakes, and you will find primitive camp sites on both sides of the road.

Poncha Creek is on your right at the FR200/201 junction. Turn right and drive up the canyon (left at the bridge) and you will find primitive camp sites all along the way.

[ramz]

Checked snow conditions in the Sargents Area.

Marshall Pass Rd gate is closed (5 miles up from US50).
Nelson Cr and Indian Cr roads and branch roads are dry at the bottom, but get wetter and muddier as you go up in elevation.

I cleared 4 down trees on Milk Cr Tr; it's open now.




There was one wee snow bank which I kicked through:



I ran into snow and mud at the start of Baldy Lake Tr, so I didn't go any further:



I figure the week before Memorial Day would be a good time to return.
Speaking of Memorial Day: I talked to the owners of Tomichi Creek Trading Post and the restaurant will be open starting Friday of Memorial Day weekend. Breakfast, lunch, dinner - 7 days/week. I have no financial interest, I just eat there

[mntdawg]

Thank you Salida OHV Crew for shoveling those two snow banks I cleared 7 obstructions off of the trail, this one took the most work,the rest of this streach is now clean.

[Esteban]

Rick,

Your work is appreciated greatly.

Esteban