Weekday Camping Again

Well, survived yet another 4th of July Weekend's fireworks idiocy.

I heard though, some teen lost his arm while engaging in a Roman Candle fight.  Darwin at work, folks.  Another will probably lose an eye due to fireworks.  

In the Stoner State, it's illegal to use fireworks which explode or leave the ground, this includes Roman Candles.  Enforcement thereof is nonexistent as far as I can tell.  

Now camping on Rampart Range Road area, in the Pike National Forest, north of Woodland, CO.  

Weekday Camping is camping during the work week, planning to return home for the weekend.

The weekends, with school out, tend to be full of weekend campers, frantically trying to get their money worth out of their noisy SxS and ATVs.

Berthoud Pass and Back Home

Once the temperature outside reached 50°F, I headed off on Yagi, my TW200 towards Berthoud Pass.

The pass was only 5 miles away but a steep climb at times on US 40 as on heads towards Winter Park.

It's paved highway so no real challenge, mind you.

Here's the view from near the summit sign, looking North.

Heading back down:

I decided to check out the road to Urad Valley on the way back to Jones Pass Road.

The valley is home to the Henderson Mine Complex where Molybdenum was and apparently is mined till this day.

It's also home to the Urad SWA (State Wildlife Area) and Urad Lake.

I rode Yagi to the end, where the trailhead parking into the SWA is located.  

It's a pretty rough 3 miles or so but the lake seemed nice:

The lake appears to be on private property owned by the Henderson Mine company.

I dimly recall a large reclamation effort resulted in the current valley conditions and the creation of the SWA.

I returned to camp and had an early lunch.

The weather clouded over again and I decided might as well head home a day early.  The weather was actually nicer at home you see.

So I broke camp and was home by 4pm or so.  The Jones Pass Road has several small campsite; though accessing them can be tricky.  

Saw a couple of RV sites even further up from where I camped, bet it gets cold at night....

An Attempt to Summit Jones Pass

I rode yagi, my TW200, about 2 mi up Jones Pass Road this morning trying for the summit. 

Alas, it was not to be, the last half mile or so is still blocked with snow, pretty deep snow. 

Views of Uma and the campsite from Jones Pass Road.

Things clouded up pretty good by Noon so I spent the afternoon hanging out in the VRRV.

Maybe I'll ride to Berthoud Pass tomorrow if the weather is warm enough.

Boondocking on Jones Pass Road

Monday, June 23

After 4 days of high heat conditions in the cesspool that is the Metro Denver area, it was time to seek relief.

I drove Uma, the VRRV, fully restocked and topped off with consumables and headed for the mountains!

The drive up had a couple of sections of slow heavy traffic on I-70 due to construction.  I found the previously scouted site and would be almost done setting up by Noon.

The nearest town is Empire, CO. US 40 is the main highway to it and one turns onto Jones Pass Road from it.

After lunch I indulged  in a bit of a police call to pick up litter.  Once I cleared the immediate around my campsite, I decided to clear a nearby trail too.

Not much litter but enough to make me glad I'd brought the litter gear along.

Then, I stumbled onto something unexpected!

Guest Book for recording one's visit

Tibetan Prayer Flags?

I'm guessing it's an ad hoc shelter of sorts for hikers and possibly cross-country skiers in Winter. 

This curiosity is perhaps a 10th of a mile from my campsite, down a narrow path that seems to go up the nearby hill.

It rained briefly around 4:30 pm, clouds moved in around the campsite.  I am after all, located at 10,850 feet.

I'll be riding tomorrow to Jones Pass I think.  The deafening silence and solitude is broken infrequently by passing cars headed to and from the pass.