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Rimrocker Trail - July 24Th-25th - Short Trip - Short Notice

Sean Solo

Rising Sun Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2018
Messages
143
Location
Lakewood, CO
Thursday Update - Heading out around noon tomorrow. Staying with in-laws Friday night. I will check in on this thread tomorrow night and Saturday morning to see if any one is coming. So, if you are going to book out to the Western Slope Friday night or get up early Saturday to make it to Montrose by 10, post it up here. If all there is are crickets then I am heading right out after I get my Starbucks.


Who - Club and Non Club members are allowed. Read DaveinDenver's post on vehicle suggestions below.

What - Rimrocker Trail - Off road route between Montrose, CO and Moab, Ut, 160 miles - Make sure you have enough gas to do the whole trip with out a refuel. One overnight on the trail camping. Here is a link to the trail info -https://rimrockertrail.org/

Where - Starting on the Montrose side - Follow 90 west out of Montrose which is initially East Main St to the end of the pavement where there is a large staging area. Note - there are no facilities here so gas and stuff before you head to the meet up location.

When - Planning on leaving between 9 and 10 am Saturday 24th. Will depend on those coming.

How - By vehicle?

Other info

Fire Restrictions - Montrose County, CO, where we will most likely camp- Stage 1 Restrictions
San Juan County, UT, Stage 2 Restrictions

***Fuel
- Bring enough for your vehicle to do easily more than 160 miles. Update - Apparently you can get gas in Nucla which is about 60 miles into the trip. If that place is closed you can run out to Naturita 4 miles off the route on 141 and get some.

Sleep accommodations - Bring your own bed, tent, hammock (not sure what trees there will be), etc

Food - With the late notice of this trip bring your own and maybe a little to share if you feel like it.

*** Water-Drinks - Bring at least a gallon per day per person just for drinking. Then whatever you need beyond that.

Comms
CB - Channel 19
HAM - 147.420
FRS - Channel 22

Updates-

Thursday 11:00 pm

Weather is getting interesting 70 and 80% chance of afternoon rain and thunderstorms in Montrose and Nucla respectively, hanging around the 90 degree mark on Sat. Moab is 30% chance of rain after noon and almost 100 degrees.

Still dragging stuff out to pack for the trip. Glad it is just me in the truck.

Wednesday 10:30 pm

The weather continues to develop for the trip. Upper 80 as highs in Montrose with up to 60% chance of thunderstorms on Saturday. Sunday should be drier but 100 degrees in Moab.

I will have the comms info up tomorrow in the top section.

Will look for road closures from the two counties we will be in after seeing another update from DaveinDenver this morning, which I cannot find now. Basically there have been some mudslides due to rains over the last few days.

Tuesday 10:30 pm

The 4Runner got fresh grease on the swaybar bushings tonight so I should not have a psychotic episode from them squeaking the whole trip.o_O

Weather - It looks like there will be some rain on the eastern side of the trail on Friday and Friday night. Saturday looks to be in the mid to upper 80s with the possibly of storms in the afternoon and evening. Bring rain gear. Night time lows look to be in the low 60s. Sunday looks to be in the low 90s for highs in Moab.

I will be getting out there Friday night. If I am by my lonesome, I will stay with in-laws in Delta for the night. But if other people want to camp I will look into a place for Friday night.


Monday 7/19 - 10:38 am

I am heading out this coming weekend to do the 160 mile Rimrocker Trail from Montrose to Moab. The general plan is to start in Montrose on Sat between 9 - 10 am, drive to a camping spot, spend the night, finish drive to Moab. There are no planned pre or post run activities at this time. I will head out Friday afternoon and camp or lodge somewhere then be at the trail head by 8:30.

Here is a link to the trail info -https://rimrockertrail.org/

From my understanding, this trail can be done by stock 4 x4s, but a little extra clearance would help.

This might be a busy trail since it is getting more and more YouTube coverage. Check out "Trail Recon" and "Bound for Nowhere's" videos.

Weather is looking good at this post with the highs being upper 80's on both ends of the trail.

I will update this posting everyday until Thursday with info. Will also try to update Sat morning with any comms info if somebody is going to start later.

If we go over ten vehicles, we will look at dividing into two groups up to 10 each. If we do have a second group it would be nice to have a volunteer to lead one of the groups.
 
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MountainGoat

Club Treasurer
Staff member
Cruise Moab Committee
Joined
Jul 4, 2008
Messages
3,053
Location
Evergreen, CO
So much want. Let me see what I can do on scheduling. :camping:
 

DaveInDenver

Rising Sun Ham Guru
Joined
Jun 8, 2006
Messages
12,950
Location
Grand Junction
FYI, the local buzz is drenching rains on the Uncompaghre this week with the cool down. Which would be REALLY welcome, it's the complete opposite moisture-wise west of the Divide from what you're getting over there. It was 98°F already by noon here at our house here in GJ!

For Rimrocker that means you might still need to be prepared for lingering thunderstorms and probably mud around Divide Road/Columbine Pass and around Buckeye at the State Line.

Stock Toyotas with low range and decent tires are fine, nothing really super hard but don't try with a RAV4 or anything. A stock truck still might find spots to tear off low hanging plastic and you should assume pinstripes. It was really overgrown from about Geyser Pass down to Two Mile last month.
 
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BritKLR

Rising Sun Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2012
Messages
1,199
Location
ATC HQ - Nederland, Colo.
Good info. We head out Thursday on our motos to hit the RR and then head south for Blackbeard and the Alpine Loop. Be on the trail for 6-7 days.
 

Sean Solo

Rising Sun Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2018
Messages
143
Location
Lakewood, CO
Post Run Debrief-

Good trip. Do not do the section between Nucla and Buckeye Reservoir in the rain or if it has rained. Became a total "poop your pants" experience with the trail becoming cake icing. Mud stuck to the tires and no control. Mud holes were surprisingly deep too.

Ran the trip solo which was kind of nice and peaceful. Was able to stop and take in the sights.
Thinking of changing forum name to Sean Solo - any thoughts on this? (Do you get the movie character reference?)

If you are interested in doing this trip you can hit me up with questions. Also Buckeye Reservoir looks to be an excellent family camping trip location. But do not tell anyone.
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DaveInDenver

Rising Sun Ham Guru
Joined
Jun 8, 2006
Messages
12,950
Location
Grand Junction
Mud stuck to the tires and no control. Mud holes were surprisingly deep too.
Ha! Been there, done that. We have a lot of clay around here that turns from soup to goo to cement. Don't wait too long to wash it off otherwise it'll become permanent.

IMG_0487_mid.jpg
 

Beach Boy

Cruise Moab Committee
Cruise Moab Committee
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Messages
345
Location
Moab, Utah
Still hope to do the trail this summer. I agree Buckeye reservoir looks like a great weekend spot.
 

rover67

Rising Sun Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2007
Messages
9,291
Location
Boulder, Co
Did buckeye have any water in it?
 

Sean Solo

Rising Sun Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2018
Messages
143
Location
Lakewood, CO

Sean Solo

Rising Sun Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2018
Messages
143
Location
Lakewood, CO
Did buckeye have any water in it?
Way less than the pictures Dave posted. Currently, the view shown in the second picture would have no water in it.
 
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