Rocky Mountain summertime trails.

[Panzerknacker]

So I would like to start looking for interest in some trails to do this summer and when to do them. Any interest in camping while out? A lot of them have campgrounds nearby or even on them...

Memorial day weekend perhaps...
Tincup/Antero? http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=120
Medano and Great Sand Dunes? http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=53

I would also like to do one called Hermit Pass. http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=113
Sometime in late June/early July.

 

[BldrRover]

I would be down for a couple trails, but I am out in Boulder. I tend to stick with stuff rated a 4/5 and higher.

 

[Panzerknacker]

I would be down for a couple trails, but I am out in Boulder. I tend to stick with stuff rated a 4/5 and higher.

Whats your setup? How does your LR3 do on that stuff if you arent heavily modded? I would like to get on a couple of the more difficult trails but kind of wary since im stock.

 

[Geotrash]

Whats your setup? How does your LR3 do on that stuff if you arent heavily modded? I would like to get on a couple of the more difficult trails but kind of wary since im stock.

There are a number of books and websites out there that have details on the good trails and rate them according to difficulty. You'll be surprised at what your LR3 can do- especially once the air suspension is in rock crawl mode. I did a trip for fun with the local Land Rover dealer on a trail called Johnny Park a couple of years ago in my old Discovery and the LR3s proved to be a more capable off road rig than mine. It's one of the reasons I bought an LR3 in fact. Highly recommend going with a group for your first time, but also later on so there is plenty of support around in case you break something or get hopelessly stuck.

Tincup Pass specifically will be no problem for the LR3. You won't even scrape bottom. My wife and I went over it with the Discovery last August at near dark and it was snowing. I'd do it with plenty of daylight next time but it was no problem for the Disco, and as I say, the LR3 is even more capable. There's a great little campground on the lake on the west side of the pass.

Dave

 

[Geotrash]

So I would like to start looking for interest in some trails to do this summer and when to do them. Any interest in camping while out? A lot of them have campgrounds nearby or even on them...

Memorial day weekend perhaps...
Tincup/Antero? http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=120
Medano and Great Sand Dunes? http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=53

I would also like to do one called Hermit Pass. http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=113
Sometime in late June/early July.

Tincup won't open up until probably mid June, but the Great Sand Dunes are a good choice for Memorial Day weekend.

 

[Geotrash]

I would like to get on a couple of the more difficult trails but kind of wary since im stock.

There are a number of books and websites out there that have details on the good trails and rate them according to difficulty. You'll be surprised at what your LR3 can do- especially once the air suspension is in rock crawl mode. I did a trip for fun with the local Land Rover dealer on a trail called Johnny Park a couple of years ago in my old Discovery and the LR3s proved to be a more capable off road rig than mine. It's one of the reasons I bought an LR3 in fact. Highly recommend going with a group for your first time, but also later on so there is plenty of support around in case you break something or get hopelessly stuck.

Tincup Pass specifically will be no problem for the LR3. You won't even scrape bottom. My wife and I went over it with the Discovery last August at near dark and it was snowing. I'd do it with plenty of daylight next time but it was no problem for the Disco, and as I say, the LR3 is even more capable. There's a great little campground on the lake on the west side of the pass.

Here is a link that shows when the various Colorado trails opened in 2009.
http://bushducks.com/tripreps/passopen_2009.htm

Dave

 

[pvangura]

What's up...spotted a bunch of Colorado LR3 talk and wanted to say hello. I'm in the Denver area, and also own/wheel an LR3. I agree that you will be surprised at what the LR3 can do, it's definitely surprised me several times. As for trails, Medano pass is a great spring choice, as the creek will actually be flowing at the dunes, and it won't be really hot yet. I've done that trail several times, in both an LR3 and a Disco, and I have to say that the LR3 was a little more effortless. Also check out some of the trails in the Leadville/Buena Vista area...that's where last year's National Rally was, and there are some great old mining roads and high altitude passes with plenty of places to camp. You can check out some of my pictures from the rally here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/paulvangura/2009LandRoverNationalRally?feat=directlink

Leadville is definitely a summer time trip though, because of snow (I actually woke up to a completely frozen campsite there on July 29th).

I'm always down to head out and run a trail on weekends, so get in touch if you want to run something sometime.

-Paul

 

[Panzerknacker]

What's up...spotted a bunch of Colorado LR3 talk and wanted to say hello. I'm in the Denver area, and also own/wheel an LR3. I agree that you will be surprised at what the LR3 can do, it's definitely surprised me several times. As for trails, Medano pass is a great spring choice, as the creek will actually be flowing at the dunes, and it won't be really hot yet. I've done that trail several times, in both an LR3 and a Disco, and I have to say that the LR3 was a little more effortless. Also check out some of the trails in the Leadville/Buena Vista area...that's where last year's National Rally was, and there are some great old mining roads and high altitude passes with plenty of places to camp. You can check out some of my pictures from the rally here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/paulvangura/2009LandRoverNationalRally?feat=directlink

Leadville is definitely a summer time trip though, because of snow (I actually woke up to a completely frozen campsite there on July 29th).

I'm always down to head out and run a trail on weekends, so get in touch if you want to run something sometime.

-Paul

Yeah there are some good ones in the Buena Vista area. I havent run any of the trails but I have been camping out there years ago, I consider that area one of Colorado's best kept secrets. Keep an eye out in the regionals down here and maybe we will get some reasonable sized runs put together.

Ill be deployed to the middle east be the time the rally is happening.

 

[BldrRover]

My setup is Cooper Zeon's and the 2" senosr mod lift. That's it. Essentially, I am stock. I did the GD4 last year with Offroving and we did some pretty tough trails. I would say that, as long as you have some good tires on, you can run 5 and 6 rated trails with no issue. You just need a good spotter.

I run a lot of trails with the Sollihul Society and those guys have heavily modified rigs. I have never had a problem keeping up with them and, occasionally, I make it through stuff with a lot more ease.

With these rigs, all you need is a set of good tires and a little bit of "testicular fortitude".

 

[pvangura]

I agree with the post above...the LR3 will go most places with good tires and enough guts. Also, I'm pretty sure I've been out on some trails with BldrRover, and after seeing the 2 inch lift from the modified rods, I bought a set of my own. I keep them in the glovebox and swap them out when needed...takes about 20 mins in the parking lot of your favorite meeting place/garage the night before.

edit - I run the Nitto Terra Grappler A/Ts in a 285/60/18 and love them. They could do a little better with clearing out mud though.