Yes I know it's early, but I need to start planning soon. I live in Michgan and plan on heading out that way next year. My in-laws have a couple of time shares that my wife and I can use. I met a few of you at Bret Edges Spring Fling.
I'm looking for suggestions for a base camp. I was thinking the Durango or Telluride area. There are choices in the large ski areas also. I will need to make the reservations soon, so any suggestions would be great.
Obviously any time suggestions would be appreciated also. From what I gather late July seems to be the best.
Thanks.
Posted by Karl Buiter on November 9, 2011 at 4:45 PM
I have been making annual trips to the San Juans in late July every year - part of an off-road trail group that also takes the time to view the wildflowers in American Basin, Yankee Boy, and other 4x4 accessible basins throughout the region. We normally base in Ouray. However for Durango, I found an excellent $100/night condo rental in Cascade Village via Priceline this past September. Cascade Village is part of the Durango Ski Resort and about 20 min (if that) up to Silverton.
A trip planning note - in late July the 14k foot San Juans get the back end of the monsoonal storms that impact the Southwest. So its best to do your shooting early in the day; By noon the clouds come and by late afternoon its storm chasing time; I have been trapped by mud/tree/rock debris flows on Mineral Creek trail as the mountain comes down. In particular, stay away from waterfalls and canyon walls (like along 550) when its storming because they will be spitting rocks or worse.
edit - Post-storm sunsets can be awesome so dont forget to setup after the storms.
Posted by Scott Bideau on November 9, 2011 at 5:16 PM
@Karl: care to share the details about this trail group? I'd like to join.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on November 9, 2011 at 7:47 PM
If you're able to basecamp in Silverton or Ouray, you'll probably be in one of the better general areas. Crested Butte and Telluride would probably be the next best choices. Then if you can set your travel plans around the last week of July, you should be in pretty good shape. Its not certain that you'll be there for the peak, but from this far out that's probably the best stab.
Posted by Karl Buiter on November 9, 2011 at 8:25 PM
Scott - The group began as the annual VW Touareg 4x4 Rally some many years ago. Its generally still that - but with a few members now with Jeeps and Rovers and VW no longer providing trail-capable vehicles in the US Market, it may become just a tight group of friends with more opportunity to invite others (for example I am the webmaster for the Vegas Valley 4 Wheelers Jeep club). We do most of the key trails in the area - with only Poughkeepsie (likely) and Black Bear (we are just too big) to complete. I can certainly let you know as details for next year firm-up. In a more open, unofficial format we also routinely do the mid-range Moab trails (Fins, Hells, 7-mile, so on) either in May or October. Its most likely this will become the dominant trip for us.
Discussion
4 repliesI'm looking for suggestions for a base camp. I was thinking the Durango or Telluride area. There are choices in the large ski areas also. I will need to make the reservations soon, so any suggestions would be great.
Obviously any time suggestions would be appreciated also. From what I gather late July seems to be the best.
Thanks.
A trip planning note - in late July the 14k foot San Juans get the back end of the monsoonal storms that impact the Southwest. So its best to do your shooting early in the day; By noon the clouds come and by late afternoon its storm chasing time; I have been trapped by mud/tree/rock debris flows on Mineral Creek trail as the mountain comes down. In particular, stay away from waterfalls and canyon walls (like along 550) when its storming because they will be spitting rocks or worse.
edit - Post-storm sunsets can be awesome so dont forget to setup after the storms.