Imogene & Black Bear Passes, Telluride, CO

[madchassey]

Did you go to Silverton or further down 145 thru Rico - San Juans are stunning in that area, could see a few scrapes on your tires but looks like you have a lift on the truck. For me Imogene is worth the drive just seeing the magnitude of the Tomboy mine operation. Back to Telluride in a few weeks for the Blues n Brews festival, aspens are usually in full gold array by then, I just hope this seemingly perpetual monsoon has run it's course by then

I went all the way to Silverton and then turned around for Ophir Pass. I'm running a decent lift and thicc boi tires and it did perfectly fine. That was my first time out there and I loved it, I will definitely go back. I saw a few gold aspens there which bummed be out that I could see it fully turned. Yeah, the rain was brutal. It rained on us for most of the time we were there which was kind of a bummer

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[whoisdp]

I do - its @sd.tremor.

Well I feel like a bonehead. Already following along. lol.

 

[mtbikernate]

relevant to this region, it seems

Jeep Gladiator Falls Off Cliff in Colorado During Jeep Tour, Three Killed (thedrive.com)

 

[dtech]

latest off road fatality (actually happened on sept 9th, but just got this in the feed) - lake como road, termed the roughest in co, anyone been up that way ?

can't even tell what the vehicle was, wouldn't want to be a 1st responder if the occupants were still inside, my assessment is that with all these Gladiators, Broncos, Rubicons etc being bought by inexperienced off roaders we'll be seeing more of this. Personally I have a dislike for those RZRs, see so many of them just driving up and down dirt roads down my way - not even ATV trails but forest roads.

https://www.outtherecolorado.com/ne...cle_40417e5a-3a8b-11ed-abd9-8bfba04f8d3b.html

 

[rcairflr]

Was not familar with Imogen pass, so just watched a YouTube video. Looks like a lot of fun and some nerve racking areas....

 

[dtech]

relevant to this region, it seems

Jeep Gladiator Falls Off Cliff in Colorado During Jeep Tour, Three Killed (thedrive.com)

Out of Ouray but if it's anything like I saw in 2 trips to Telluride this past summer - lots of Jeeps and other high clearance vehicles with off road adventures, jeep tours etc advertised on their body panels. Supposedly these companies are regulated by the state, don't know if customers have to sign a waiver, what qualifications the drivers have, some look to be well established operations while others appear to be local dudes with Jeeps picking up some extra cash. Like anything else your experience can vary going offroad, some highly experienced, capable, polite and conscientious folks and some total fools and douches that are inexperienced and ill mannered. On Imogene and other similar roads there are some long stretches wide enough for one vehicle and no pull outs, you just hope if you encounter another vehicle it's has an experienced driver.

 

[mtbikernate]

Out of Ouray but if it's anything like I saw in 2 trips to Telluride this past summer - lots of Jeeps and other high clearance vehicles with off road adventures, jeep tours etc advertised on their body panels. Supposedly these companies are regulated by the state, don't know if customers have to sign a waiver, what qualifications the drivers have, some look to be well established operations while others appear to be local dudes with Jeeps picking up some extra cash. Like anything else your experience can vary going offroad, some highly experienced, capable, polite and conscientious folks and some total fools and douches that are inexperienced and ill mannered. On Imogene and other similar roads there are some long stretches wide enough for one vehicle and no pull outs, you just hope if you encounter another vehicle it's has an experienced driver.

I don't know about guiding for offroading, but I guide a number of nonmotorized outdoor activities and we are a pretty professional crew who requires fairly standard industry certifications. and there's an absolute scope of practice, too. guides with experience but no certs have to work under more experienced guides, and they can't really lead until they have the certs. these certs cover things like wilderness first aid/first responder, guide theory, risk management, assessment of the guide's skills, the guide's ability to teach skills to participants, and so on.

and there are ABSOLUTELY less professional guiding outfits in our area without the requirements for certifications, and it definitely shows in how they operate and conduct themselves. I have no doubt that a similar variation exists in the offroad guiding industry.

 

[YaBoiNewton]

Firing up my C.W. McCall play list.

"the road looked like a bunch of Z's and W's."

Dog-gonnit, Roy Gene!

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