Engineer's Pass Ascent Oct 12-15, 2020

[L60Boerne]

Greetings to those with Guts,

This is our one month organizational mote.

It appears the winter is setting in faster this year. I think we need to move the ascent up to the last days of September or maybe first day of Oct to ensure The Loop is open.

If Anthony wants to trailer up El Bondo then I might leave Phoenix Patrol at home as my second trailer is just too heavy for my diesel jeep and a Patrol.

Anyway, this week is a call to arms!

Rob?
Chris? Are you bringing "the good one" over?
Anthony?

Anyone else?

I'm trying to determine how many Patrols we need and how many I can get up to LC for the ascent. I am very confident in every Patrol so long as the altitude above 13,000ft is not a problem.

Patrolling in Paradise,
L60Boerne

[plateaucal]

David,

I would rather fall off the summit than miss the adventure.

[L60Boerne]

Thanks Chris, So far it is us and Anthony with El Bondo. Ready with the wrench Rene is interested too. River? Justin? Rob...if you guys challenge me... we will show up with more Patrols than drivers....we have a lodge, food and a little dirty water under the seat.
Patrolling to Paradise,
L60Boerne

[jwgreen]

MAn, I'd love to make this trip this year but my Patrol will be no where near finished, although I'm making a lot of progress while my wife is out of the country for a month or so, but unfortunately I had to take time off for her to be able to leave and that time frame is right in the middle of my time at work. So unfortunately I will have to miss this year, but fingers cross I will make whatever trip yall do next year!!!!

[Peter60]

David

I look through envious eyes in reading these posts. You picked the date to accommodate my holiday schedule. Had it not been for COVID19 I would have been there! Australia is locked down - difficult leave and even more difficult to return. I'll revisit my USA trip in a year or two so hopefully we can arrange another trip then.

As a consolidation prize I'm doing a 4 day 4WD trip with my G60 Patrol in a weeks time - as we head into Spring.

Peter

[L60Boerne]

Thanks Peter,

Hopefully this will not be the only traverse. Send us pictures of your trip as well.

I drove it yesterday in my Rubicon and look forward to the 56 mile crawl. Hopefully we will get some good pictures for everyone. It will be a significant test of driver and machine. My only fear is re-starting at a steep incline. If I make a mistake in driving it will be a bit tense in several places. It will be more of a test of driver than machine.

I do know my 63 made it up to 12,900' with no issues so I think we are good to go with several Patrols.....so far.

Water covers 75% of the earth, Patrols cover the rest.
L60Boerne

[plateaucal]

David, you are scaring me. Remind me to go up first. However, I have run that route so many times that I forgot what it was like. Are you still in Lake City? If so, may we should make a trial run someday. Rubicon...top off. I'll hold your beer.

[L60Boerne]

Plateaucal,
Fear not, I had to leave LC in order to go to a weeding in Dallas. I will return to Dallas in three weeks for another wedding then I'm heading straight to LC hopefully arriving late on the 27th. The trail is always really beat up and potholed at the end of the year but easy in terms of 4 x 4 action. The only issue I foresee is keeping the motor running with the thin air but Rene says that isn't a problem we should worry with. Furthermore, it will be freezing up in the high country which will eliminate the possibility of vapor locking.

How about I book the yurt for an overnight after the loop. It is at 11,200' near Slumgullion Summit? So we come off Cinnamon Pass, traverse the Lake Sandoval from S to N hang a right, climb most of the way up to Slum Pass (on pavement) then off road a mile or so up to the yurt. How fun would that be! Huge fire and steaks. Sleeps six.

At present we have:
Plateaucal's 69 ...locally known as "The good one".
Anthony's 65 aka "El Bondo"
Curt's 65 aka Presidio Patrol
David's 63 aka Command and Control Vehicle 5 (CCV5)
David's 66 aka Phoenix Patrol possibly driven by Rene

Three vehicles have winches and all have new tires and good mechanical condition.

I sure wish we had one more driver, and we might, to drive my Rubicon as an emergency vehicle.

The door remains open. Anyone else?

Patrolling to Paradise,
L60Boerne

[plateaucal]

Sounds good as long as there is a wood stove. Looking at 8" of snow up LC way tomorrow. It will probably melt off, but maybe not.

[L60Boerne]

Jon Wilson Yurt
www.hinsdalehauteroute.com search for Jon Wilson

Highest yurt in the Rockies
wood stove...check
propane stove....check
outhouse.....check
running water....sorta
Excellent firepit...check
chairs and table...check

Patrolling again soon,
L60Boerne