Holy Cross Trail Trip Report 2006
On the Rocks Jeep Club
By Gary Sheets
Holy Cross is one of the very best 4x4 trails in the state of Colorado. It has gained national recognition for its beauty and difficulty. It is rated an 8 or a 9 by all trail guides. Required vehicle modifications include lockers, 33’ tires, winch, and plenty of underside protection. Without these items, this trail will likely cause damage to your vehicle.
We had a total of 27 Jeeps for this trail run. Well, maybe 26 one was actually a custom built buggy on a Bruiser chassis named “Suicide Sally”. Yeah, you know who I’m talking about.
On Friday August 18th we set up camp in a private group camping area on the very south end of Camp Hale and finalized the plan for the next mornings trail run. Saturday morning we split our large group into two smaller groups to help keep the pace up. Group-1 departed camp at 7:30 a.m. and Group-2 departed at 9:15 a.m. We tried to keep a fairly even mix of members and non-members in each group. That way we could all get to know each other better throughout the course of the day. Also, we tried to keep a fairly even mix of vehicles with big tires and bigger tires in each group. This helped keep both groups moving at a pretty even pace.
The first notable obstacle was a rock wall to climb on the right with a tight off camber left line against a tree. The easier line of the two was going left along side the tree. Some went left but quite a few climbed the rock on the right and made it up that way. It was still a little wet so traction wasn’t that great.
The second obstacle was a ledge with at least three different lines to choose from. Far right was the easy line but many choose far left harder line and climbed up and over the ledge with much delight. I guess most drivers knew their own capabilities here because there were not many straps unleashed at this obstacle. There was however one problem and that was with Jeff and Kim’s jeep. Apparently it decided to stop allowing fuel to reach the injectors. A call was put out and Gregg answered with his code reader. Some how just hooking it up seemed to fix the problem and Jeff’s engine came roaring back to life. Maybe our guest mechanic, Gaylord from Texas had a little something to do with it?
The third obstacle was French Creek.
We had 2 designated spotters to help get vehicles through French Creek in a reasonable amount of time. Thanks to Dan and Ryan for volunteering their time for this assignment. The idea was to get as many vehicles through French Creek in as little time as possible while still giving all drivers the opportunity to try the line of their own choice. The spotters allowed each driver to take up to ½ hour or make three different attempts before they stepped in and showed the driver the line they needed to take. In most cases, our jeeps cleared the obstacle with very few problems. With this many vehicles and no plan to get them through efficiently each group could have been at the creek for several hours. Things went well and the 2nd group cleared the creek by 1:00 p.m.
Group 1 reached Holy Cross City and some headed up to give Cleveland Rock a try. It was still wet from the prior evening’s rain and all found it to be too much of a challenge without winching. By the time group 2 arrived at the city there was a lot going on. Some were heading on up to Cleveland Rock and some finished their lunches or took time to visit the 130-year-old structures that are still standing around the old mining camp. Others milled about the Jeeps, checking for loose connections, missing bolts and nuts, talking and enjoying each others company, and. some were spectating and helping weld a repair on a Ford Ranger from a different group.
Carnage, Trail repairs, and Funniest Incidents: You decide which is which….
• Brian Anderson broke his rear yoke plate the day before on the pre-run and wasn’t able to drive his jeep on the trail with the group on Saturday (That’s two years in a row now that he broke before he really got started) Good luck next year Brian! • William Edmands found a broken leaf spring the night before the run and unfortunately was unable to drive the trail.
• Friday night after Brian’s good friend Jeff Gold encountered some Elk on the highway back to camp. Apparently after slamming on the brakes and missing the first elk as it ran in front of the truck, there was a second Elk that was a little confused by the change in momentum of the vehicle. With her cadence disrupted, the second elk rammed right into the side of Jeff’s truck, smashing both of the passenger side doors. Jeff’s brand new truck was just 4 days old.
• Brian Anderson bought $100.00 in raffle tickets after he couldn’t find the $100 part that needed to repair his jeep and drive the trail.
• Brian and Gaylan from Texas drove 12 hours and arrived Camp hale at 10:30 pm. The Texans were mighty tired but quickly strung up their Texas flag, began to set up camp and were hoping get as much shut eye as possible before daybreak. Sometime after they spread out the tent on the ground, but before they got it raised up, Yukon the Husky made a visit and left a steaming and not too fragrant doo-doo present on the flattened out tent side wall. Ugh! That may have smelled all night. Direct quote from Brian Barkley "I know were from Texas but we haven't even been here 10 minutes and they’re shi__in’ on us already"! …Oh what good sports they are!
• Some might say Dan takes the cake. Blown tire, smashed front fender, torn front drive shaft boot, and a popped U-joint on his front axle.
• Scott from Missouri had a little bad luck on French Creek with a blown yoke clamp on his front drive shaft. Gary had a spare to give him and once Scott replaced some U-Joint caps he was quickly back under way.
• Jeff’s few minutes of having no fuel to his fuel injectors.
• Ryan with the club’s Premier Ready welder welding up bolts, nuts, scraps and whatever else was available to the front coil mount of the Ford Ranger truck up at the City.
• Clifton welding the same bracket on the truck again after breaking the first welds.
• Same bracket breaking loose again but close enough to the trail end to make it back to the trailer.
• Mike Sheets bent a Tie rod at French Creek, then broke his UCA mount at the Tree root. (Thanks to Ryan for the weld up!)
• Brian won over $300 in raffle prizes with the $100 in raffle tickets he bought with the money he saved from not finding the part needed to fix his YJ for the trail. • Brian Barkley and Gaylan Dozier from Texas missed the second group starting line up time because they were wiring a Horse Shoe to their bumper bar for "Good Luck"
Overall, we had pretty little damage for such a big group.
We want to send out a Great Big thanks out to all the non-member guests that attended from Colorado and as far away as, Kansas, Texas, and Missouri. You guys really helped make the trip more enjoyable for all of us and we hope to see you all back again next year.
Our Camp Cook out/ Banquet/ Raffle was very nice and we raffled nearly $3,000 in Door Prizes Saturday night at the camp. Proceeds from the raffle were used to help offset the cost of the trip.
We want to thank the following companies for co-sponsoring the event through donating items for our Raffle.
• 4wheelers Unlimited-Bob
• 4Wheel Drive Hardware-Leslie
• Elite Auto Glass-Sabra
• Rusty's Offroad-Rusty
• Edgewater Jeep-Jimmy
• Dirt Sports Magazine-Amy and Lee
In addition, a big thanks goes out to the following companies for co-sponsoring the event through donating items for our Raffle and attending the event as well.
• Steve from 4 Wheel Parts
• Matt from TNT customs
• Clifton & Rex from Poison Spyder Customs
It is our plan that this annual event will continue to evolve and get bigger and better in the coming years.
Stay tuned for information on next years big event…
The 2007 On the Rocks – Rocky Mountain Challenge (or whatever we decide to call it)
Happy Trails!
Gary Sheets President - On the Rocks in Colorado
Here are pictures from the trip
Group Photo at the Camp Banquet
Lined up at the Trail Head
Some of the longer wheel base Jeeps on the trip
The first group prepares to head out
Trail Leader Loren leads the way
Loren climbs the 2nd obstacle
Todd easily clears the 2nd obstacle
Dan climbs the obstacle
Ben makes it look easy
Our only lady driver of the group Becky shows how it's done
Guest John climbs up the obstacle
Scott Pyle from Kansas City makes easy work of it
Tim Barger in the TNT featured "Jeep of the Month" picks his line
Don easily climbs the obstacle
Tail Gunner Gregg brings up the rear
Trail Leader Gary leads up the second Group
Mike at the obstacle
Matt of TNT Customs at the Second Obstacle
Clifton and Rex from Poison Spyder Customs follow Matt's line over the rock
Thanks to Ryan and Dan for spotting the entire group through French Creek - Here's Ryan
- Here's Dan
Here's Todd at French Creek taking the long way around the right side
Gary goes up the left side
Here's Mike minutes before a strap pulled him and his his tie rod into a rock
Spotters? Clifton and Rex don't need no "Stinkin Spotters!"
We all had fun watching Suicide Sally do her thing
Gary at the Tree Root
Jeff and Kim at the Tree Root
Lane and Marsha Conley at the Tree Root
Matt cuts it tight to the tree at the Tree Root
Steve from 4Wheel Parts shows his skills at the Tree Root
Brian and Gaylan from Texas at the Tree Root (with lucky horse shoe wired to brush guard)
Jim Wright in his Rubicon Unlimited takes on the Roots
Ryan shows us how it's done at the Tree Root
Not far past the Tree Root obstacle is Holy Cross City - Circa 1876
There a few 130 year old buildings still standing at the site of Holy Cross City
Geo Stash Hunters Jeff, Kelly, and Vickie close in on the hidden treasure at the City
Views from the City are amazing and beautiful
When we all arrived at the City our we circled the Jeeps. Note the Ford Ranger at the intersection. They broke their front coil spring mount and Ryan welded it with the Club's portable Ready Welder. They were very appreciative. Way to go Ryan!
Dan had a little misfortune
While the welding Party went on below, up above Scott from Kansas City gave Cleveland Rock his best shot. Too bad it was so wet and muddy
Next Matt from TNT Customs tried to conquor Cleveland Rock, but the rock prevailed. We had a lot of rain over the prior 24 hours and the obstacle was still pretty wet
Clifton Slay and Suicide Sally took a pause to size up Cleveland Rock and develop a plan before the attempt
Clifton Smokes Cleveland Rock!
Words will never adequately describe the sight and the sound of the Thunderous Roar that resonated from high on the Mountain Top that afternoon when Clifton conquered Cleveland Rock with style!
Later Saturday evening back at the Camp Raffle Ben wins a prize
Brian Barkley traveled all the way from Texas and here he wins a prize
Jeff and Kim got lucky and won a prize
Loren wins!
Ryan gets lucky and is a winner as well
Grand Prize Winner - Mike Sheets
Matt the owner of TNT Customs presents a Gift Certificate valued at $550 to Mike Sheets the lucky winner in the Grand Prize Drawing at camp on Saturday evening