On a cool and damp Sunday morning July 24th, we were ready for our 1st run of the week.  Hobo Dan Bader & Denise (TJ), Jim McClelland with his wife and son (TJ), Hobo Jed McClelland driving his Dad's new Liberty (with his Mom and Dad), and myself with Molly (CJ7) headed off for some gas, the west on Hwy 50 out of Gunnison towards Pitkin.  The skies were cloudy (a sign of things to come), as I headed east.  It was a bit cool to, as I was the only one with just a bikini and tonneau (that is the Jeep adventure right?).  We made the turn off Hwy 50 onto County road 1031.  We passed Chevette's group along the way a few times going up to the Alpine Tunnel (they went over Tomichi Pass later).

   Past the peaceful town of Pitkin, the road became gravel (Forest road 765), and we arrived at the intersection of FS road 839 and aired down.  We headed up the old railroad grade that reaches to the Alpine Tunnel.  At the Hancock/Tomichi Pass intersection, we took a left which heads thru the Palisades up to the Alpine Tunnel.  

   The old railroad was a main trough fare from Gunnison to Buena Vista.  The trail is easy and has a gradual accent.  On our way up, we passed the water tower that the Mile-Hi Jeep Club restored in 1969 (I was 7 and probable there!).  The engineering for the 3 miles of track thru the 'Palisades', "is the most fantastic bit of railroad construction in North America".  A feat in 1880, forging a narrow gauge railroad past sheer cliffs is amazing.  They hand stacked many of the huge boulders to build up the road.

   The weather was partly cloudy and cool, as the rain held out til the later part of the day.  At the Alpine tunnel, the Restoration Society has preserved the history of the office and surrounding buildings which stood from 1880 to 1910.  Numerous wildflowers were still in full bloom, as a wet spring kept the area green and sprouted many varieties of wildflowers.

    We back-tracked out thru the Palisades, and to the main intersection.  We turned off an up the Hancock Pass Trail (on FS 266).  This section had many rocky sections a stock vehicle had to maneuver around/over.  Jed, driving Dad's new liberty--did some fine driving to avoid any damage (the parents were proud and happy).  He masterfully placed the stock tires thru the rocks.  Just past the turnoff and some rocky sections, we stopped for lunch with a view of the valley below.

   After lunch, we climbed up the last valley to the top of Hancock Pass at 12,125 feet.  Across the valley, we could see Chevette's group heading up and over Tomichi Pass to our SE.  As the kids climbed the rocks, they finally came down and we got a group photo, the climbed in for the ride down the north side in to the Chalk Creek Valley below.

Group photo...

   Passing thru more meadows filled with wildflowers in the lower tundra, and cascading streams, we made it back down to tree line.  After a quick 10-100 (only 1's), it was down the road to St. Elmo (which became easy when we hit the main Hancock road to St. Elmo).  As we were heading down, the skies opened up on us.  a sudden downpour rained down with small pea-sized hail to start.  I stopped under a tree (remember I'm not closed up), and it stopped some of the rain from coming in.  After a few minutes we headed down in a light rain.  We let ATVers pass as they were soaked!

   Just as we pulled into St. Elmo, the rain stopped long enough for us to feed the chipmunks.  These chipmunks have it made, and so does the store owner across the street.  I heard he finally made his 1st million from just selling tourist sunflower seeds to feed to the chipmunks after 10 years!  Funny to see the little guys try to gouge as much seed in their pouches as they walk all over you.  The rain started again, so it was back in the Jeeps again!

   The plan was to head over Tin Cup Pass back thru Taylor Park an on to camp in Gunnison.  We did hear that the pass was open, but with a stock Liberty, and enough bouncing around for one day, we decided to head around the long way over Cottonwood Pass.  As it was raining down, we headed down the dirt/muddy county road thru Chalk Creek Valley and past Chalk Cliffs.  We made it down to Hwy 285, and it was a short trip thru Buena Vista, and headed back west up the next valley towards Cottonwood Pass.  The road on the Buena Vista side is paved and nice, while the Gunnison side is a gravel (muddy when wet!) road.  Gunnison county didn't want people going to Taylor Park to take Cottonwood Pass, but take Hwy 50 thru Gunnison (to bring $$).

   The light colored mud on the west side of Cottonwood Pass went everywhere!  It was raining hard at the top of the pass--no time to stop!  If you have ever been in a open jeep running 40 mph you know what I mean.  We finally reached pavement in Taylor Park, and the rain let up alittle.  We headed down the scenic Taylor River Canyon towards Gunnison.  We reached camp about 6pm.  Dan and I headed to the car wash to try and get some of the gravelly mud off.  It was everywhere, just like the sands of Moab!  Then it was off to the pavilion for the Gunnison Door Prize Night hosted by Chevette!

   At 7pm, Chevette and her committee did a fine job in giving away some local door prizes from Gunnison merchants.  Everyone pulled up a 'chair' and the lucky ones received a door prize.  At 6pm, Dirk (Trail Boss) put up the sign up sheets for trips heading out Monday morning.  The sales crew were busy selling All-4-Fun stuff and handing out pre-orders.  Seemed everyone got one or 2 shirts!  I made another announcement that I was leading trips to the San Juan's Monday and Tuesday.  Many went back to their camps, while others mingled.  Wow, a fun 1st day to a great week!  On to the San Juan's!!

"See ya on the trail"

Bill Hallinan HoboJeepers

Other Alpine Tunnel/Hancock Pass websites/trip Reports:

Alpine Tunnel Photos:
http://www.barchoc.com/AlpineTunnel.htm

The Colorado Live Steamers-Alpine Tunnel Photos:
http://www.coloradolivesteamers.com/photos/at/at.html

The Alpine Tunnel Historic District:
http://narrowgauge.org/alpine-tunnel/html

The Alpine Tunnel Auto Tour:
http://www.narrowgauge.org/alpine-tunnel/html/auto_tour.html

Pikin, Colorado/Alpine Tunnel:
http://www.pitkincolorado.com/alpinetunnel.htm

Hancock Pass/Alpine Tunnel WeBeJeepin Trip report:

http://www.webejeepin.com/Trails/Colorado/Hancock_Alpine.htm

Hancock Pass/Alpine Tunnel GPS points:
http://4wheeldrive.about.com/od/coloradotrails/index_a.htm

Handcock Pass Report from 4x4trails.net: 
http://www.4x4trails.net/db_view_trail.php?trailNum=61

Handcock Ghost Town:
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/co/hancock.html

St. Elmo Ghost Town:
http://www.norske.org/colorado/ghosttowns/stelmo/stelmo.htm

Other All-4-Fun 2005 Trip Reports

Sat: Registration/Set-up Sun: Alpine Tunnel/Hancock Pass

Mon: San Juans-Engineer Pass/Animas Forks  Tue: San Juans-Black Bear/Imogene Passes

Wed: Family/Vendor Day  Thur: Italian Creek/American Flag Mtn.

Fri: Poverty Gulch/Devils Punchbowl/Crystal

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