Overland adventure in Colorado

Having spent most of my life in the US Military, specifically US Army Special Operations, I chose to memorialize those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country by exercising my freedoms in the back country this past Memorial Day weekend, overlanding with family and friends. My backyard just happens to be over a million acres of San Juan National Forest and within an hour drive from me is some of the most beautiful and majestic scenery in North America. More specifically near the town of Silverton, Colorado.

We packed out our bags with the essentials: a survival kit that has the ability to make fire, sanitize water, or send signals to search and rescue, and medical kits that could provide first aid for all the potential injuries you’d see on the trail. In the backcountry of Colorado, a wrong turn or a broken-down vehicle in the middle of a mountain pass could be catastrophic and deadly. So, preparation is a standard operating procedure for any overlanding trip.

As we drove through Silverton, we made our standard pit stop to top off fuel, coffee cups, and handle any last-minute business prior to departure. We also aired down our tires to 18psi to ensure we had maximum traction and softer tread on sharp rocks and boulders we were bound to encounter. Additionally, we got the last-minute updates of open and closed passes on the route we’d be venturing. On trails above 10,000 feet the weather can change your plans in a matter of minutes.

Our journey started through Silverton and its historic downtown, which was a silver and gold mining town founded on salons, brothels and the currency that hard-working men were pulling out of the mountain side. As you pass through Silverton, the hard ball turns into a dirt road, which only increases in difficulty on the way up to California Pass. You are literally in a mountain valley, navigating along the same dirt roads that horse and carriages transported thousands of miners trying to strike it rich, and thus find a better life. This backcountry frontier is remote compared to the hustle and bustle of most popular destinations, mainly because of the difficulty of the roads. On the trails you’ll see Jeeps, Toyotas, and the occasional weekend warrior in their daily driver; however, it’s not common and definitely not recommended. What we noticed more than the ability to crawl along in 4-low is the need for good brakes and a reliable rig. The inclines and declines along the back side of California Pass were steep and treacherous, and mostly single-laned along a cliff edge that would mean certain death if you went over.

The mountain leading up to California pass was covered in snow. Being at almost 13,000 feet, the snow that remained was melted on the road but created a seven-foot wall of ice on both sides. It was a tunnel of ice that added to the beauty of the trail. As you approach California pass you’ll know it because you hit the switch backs leading to a long incline that’s in the clouds. At California Pass, you can see off the top on off both sides, opening the scenery up to endless ridge tops with no sign of manmade structures.

After we came off California Pass, we headed west to Hurricane Pass and used Corkscrew Pass to get us into Ouray. Corkscrew Pass is as it’s named, a winding road of inclined-switchbacks with breathtaking scenery. As you make your way down be sure to use a low gear so you don’t fatigue your brakes more than you need to. Also, remain courteous along the trails for traffic (which is rare) coming up the other side. Remember the vehicle traveling uphill has the right of way. Generally speaking they have the momentum and it’s more dangerous for them to reverse downhill.

As we came down into the lower valley floor, leading into Ouray, the beautiful Aspen tree line became visible and the trailhead ended near the highway pass through Red Mountain. Red Mountain being a beautiful bonus that added to our journey. We parked our rigs and headed into Ouray Brewing Company, my favorite destination in Ouray, for great brews and great food. We shared stories of the trail and stories of old team mates no longer with us. It was a perfect ending to a perfect day, celebrating freedom and remembering those that sacrificed it all for that right. Kurt and I lifted our beer mugs and tapped our glasses together, “Here’s to those that couldn’t be here, thank you for your sacrifice!”

* OutdoorX4 Magazine – Promoting responsible 4×4 adventure travel and outdoor recreation