Winter wheeling & camping

[SMiTTY]

Hey all,

I know this is a couple months off. But wanted to get some feedback on some good spots for winter wheelin and camping. Some of us actually enjoy the snowy months better :flipoff2:

With being new to Colorado, I have yet to hit any of the trails in the winter. Hoping to find some other cats that enjoy the winter wheelin just as much. Maybe get some info on what trails are good for playing in the snow and have somewhere descent to camp.

Anyone know the laws on cutting/falling dead trees out here? Is it allowed? Do we need a permit? What trails have ample dead trees for firewood. This firewood would be for campfires while camping, not for hauling out.

Any info would be great.

- SMiTTY

[Andy1333]

Old Chinamans Gulch and Carnage Canyon, both in Buena Vista, are usually open all winter. Anybody have any info on nearby camping during winter?

[oleblue]

Sorry I cannot answer any of those questions so I guess I cannot contribute:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/oleblue/snowstuck2.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/oleblue/snowstuck.jpg

I just like to go get stuck.:D

[Funrover]

China Wall is fun (Lake George area) Old Chinamens Gultch ( Buena Vista)

[4runninfun]

from what i gathered, i think he's looking for places that will be snowy most of the season. My favorite place to go snow bashing is Rampart range, plenty of places to camp, and usually keeps its snow around for a while. and it's pretty close just head out to Sedailia and the turn-off is down off 67 IIRC.

[ColoradoXJ]

Anyone know the laws on cutting/falling dead trees out here? Is it allowed? Do we need a permit? What trails have ample dead trees for firewood. This firewood would be for campfires while camping, not for hauling out.


there is a list of FS numbers somewhere around here that gives ranger district office numbers. there are signs in some areas, but if you're in doubt, call and ask.

[Funrover]

China Wall
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Off%20road%20Trips/IMG_7999.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Off%20road%20Trips/IMG_7992.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Off%20road%20Trips/IMG_7986.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Off%20road%20Trips/IMG_7978.jpg


Lower Rampart, end of season!
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Off%20road%20Trips/IMG_7782.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Off%20road%20Trips/IMG_7783.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Off%20road%20Trips/IMG_7824.jpg

[Leon Phelps]

Tarryall Res. Area.

Look for the Lunarticks to be out there destroying ouy stuff trying to plow through there in Decemberish.

[jimfoo]

West of Jefferson is also a good area, the trails that go over to Hall Valley. AFAIK, you need a permit to cut down a tree, but like someone else said, call the FS as they might not care if you are just using a little wood while camping.

[zoriloco]

Ok, Ive never seen someone camping out during winter time. How cold does it get and what the hell do you guys do while camping. Im kinda wondering since I have never done it. It sounds like something I would try once to see how it goes.

[Leon Phelps]

Look for us to do a "Donner Party" run this winter. Lots of Drinking for damn sure.

[ColoradoXJ]

i'm in for a donner party run... :D


bring snacks, cause i ain't gonna be worth much as far as nutrition goes if ya gotta bbq me

[scottycards]

Ok, Ive never seen someone camping out during winter time. How cold does it get and what the hell do you guys do while camping. Im kinda wondering since I have never done it. It sounds like something I would try once to see how it goes.


It's cold, gets dark early, and anything that gets wet will stay that way until you get home. Until you have to pee in a Nalgene bottle and put it inside your sleeping bag to stay warm, you have not winter camped. Did I mention the inside of your tent will freeze up from frozen breath, then the ice comes showering down on you in the AM, when you touch the side of the tent, making your sleeping bag wet for the remainder of your trip?

God, I hate winter camping. 10th Mountain Huts are as close as I'll ever go to those miserable experience(s) again...........

Have fun, tho. :flipoff2:

[cwkelle]

camping early may is cold enough that my dog wants in my sleeping bag....snows fun to play in, but sleeping is something different...i've done it once, had a tent heater and a msr all season tent, and a bag rated for -10 and still was cold...but anything outside is fun, just bring lots of socks

[SMiTTY]

Thanks for all the feedback! I've done a bit of digging about cutting firewood. Everything I could find was to haul it out and requires a 4 cord minimum or something.

I'll give the FS a call tomorrow and see what they have to say and will post up what I find.

BTW : I'm down for a donner party run :) LET THE SNOW BEGIN!!!!!! :flipoff2:

- SMiTTY

[4runninfun]

It's cold, gets dark early, and anything that gets wet will stay that way until you get home...

i love winter camping! no bugs, no mud, less people, just cold, i can deal with cold much better than crowds, cold for me doesn't start until around -10 -20 . but then again i also wait until winter to climb 14er's because it's just not as much fun in the summer. (i may have a screw loose, but who doesn't?)

i'd say go out and try it. if you don't like it you can always pack up and head out. i would try to bring firewood as it can be difficult to find dry timber in winter time.

[ZappBranigan]

I used to go winter camping when I was a lot younger. We would usually bring inner tubes and tube down some hills near Geneva Creek (Guanella Pass area.) Often there was drinking involved (here's a hint: 151 proof rum makes a good firestarter!)

Never had difficulty finding wood and the nice thing about Winter is: No fire bans.

Told the GF I would like to do some winter camping again. She said "have fun, but there's no way in hell I'll be with you." Hey, more room in the truck for me. :D

My sleeping bag is good to -10, and I've peed in a bottle before (gatorade bottles work the best.) So I say let's go for it.

We just need some truck inner tubes, some burgers, some music and some :beer: :beer: and we're all set.

[ColoradoXJ]

yes :D

can't wait. worst case scenario i sleep in tha jeep. my bag is good to 0* and i have a liner too. of course, i've made snow shelters to sleep in before, and thats the shizzle. gets frickin warm in those things...

[Gotlift91]

When we go winter camping we use my brother-in-laws wall tent that he uses for hunting. Has a wood burning stove in it too!! That sucker is tits.....you stay nice and toasty as long as you don't get so drunk that nobody remembers to stoke the fire!!! LOL Then you're gonna freeze your SACK off!!

[Leon Phelps]

yes :D

can't wait. worst case scenario i sleep in tha jeep. my bag is good to 0* and i have a liner too. of course, i've made snow shelters to sleep in before, and thats the shizzle. gets frickin warm in those things...

I'll drag POS out, make him wheel his travelall. That thing will sleep 4-6 in a good way. Dog elvis takes up 3 spaces though. :shrug:

[Funrover]

I'll drag POS out, make him wheel his travelall. That thing will sleep 4-6 in a good way. Dog elvis takes up 3 spaces though. :shrug:

I miss our old travelall.. I really want to get another one someday!! They are just AWSOME!

[ZappBranigan]

I miss our old travelall.. I really want to get another one someday!! They are just AWSOME!

My first two 4x4s were Travelalls. a 1957 and a 1968. The 1957 had a 240 straight 6 and a 4-speed, with a two-stick T-case. It was so slow it couldn't get out of its own way but it had torque up the ass. It had 17.5" wheels. Have you ever tried to find tires for 17.5" wheels? :D

The 1968 had a 345 V-8 and a 4-speed. It also had manual steering :eek: and a tiny little steering wheel (obviously the wheel was designed for power steering.) Unfortunately, I thought it was ugly so I traded it in for a 71 Blazer that looked great, but was a total POS. :mad:

[Funrover]

My first two 4x4s were Travelalls. a 1957 and a 1968. The 1957 had a 240 straight 6 and a 4-speed, with a two-stick T-case. It was so slow it couldn't get out of its own way but it had torque up the ass. It had 17.5" wheels. Have you ever tried to find tires for 17.5" wheels? :D

The 1968 had a 345 V-8 and a 4-speed. It also had manual steering :eek: and a tiny little steering wheel (obviously the wheel was designed for power steering.) Unfortunately, I thought it was ugly so I traded it in for a 71 Blazer that looked great, but was a total POS. :mad:

We had a 1971 1210 series.... it had the 392 c.i. 5 speed.. That thing was AWSOME!!!! The 2 gas tanks were great when we went out for a weekend! My dad got rid of it when I was a kid so I had no say!!! :mad: But it was for a good reason so I understand!

[MJs4ever]

Dog elvis takes up 3 spaces though. :shrug:

Thats how 'Three Dog Night' chose their band name. The Austrailian aboriginies rated how cold a night was by how many dogs you slept with. A 3 dog night was the coldest.

I camp year round. Usually Slaughterhouse or the St Marys Glacier area. Snow camping is the best. The trick is stay dry.

[MJs4ever]

BTW - I saw alot of winter wheelin but no evidence of any camping going on [not saying they don't - I'm just saying wheres the tents??] so to prove it does happen, heres some snow camping....

Slaugtherhouse
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/XJs4Ever/SLAUGHTERHOUSE%202002%20-%202006/SLAUGHTERHOUSE%202003/MVC-507F.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/XJs4Ever/SLAUGHTERHOUSE%202002%20-%202006/SLAUGHTERHOUSE%202006/camp2.jpg

Twin Cone Peak - and yes thats my sleeping bag in the back of my MJ. Who needs a tent?? I ended up pulling a tarp over me later cuz the snow started falling around 1am.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/XJs4Ever/TWIN%20CONE%20PEAK/faf952e4jpg.orig.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/XJs4Ever/TWIN%20CONE%20PEAK/faf95444jpg.orig.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/XJs4Ever/TWIN%20CONE%20PEAK/faf953a7jpg.orig.jpg