Click on Santana, Top Gun, Bob Marley, Rocky, AC/DC, Mission Impossible,
Beach Boys, Axle's Theme, James Bond, Van Halen, or the Eagles while you browse this Hobo Run 2001 report...
On Saturday July 14th, 2001, the HoboJeepers hosted the 3rd Annual Hobo Run 2001 for 29 "Hobos for a Day" over the Kingston Peak Loop Trail. "As real hobos ride the rails, we too ride the trails in that same traveling spirit". A hobo needs to muster up needed supplies in order to survive. Each checkpoint offered the hobo a chance to collect different point values from the items (fresh egg, matchstick, toilet paper square, Q-Tip, stick of gum, and a hersey kiss). Along with the items, a card is chosen at the other 5 checkpoints to try to have the highest poker hand for extra points.
Eugene the Jeep (our little mascot), was also on hand in the area. At the second checkpoint, "Where's Eugene?" clues were handed out to each hobo and read out loud over the CB as to his possible whereabouts in the area. A hobo could receive 200 extra bonus points with the right answer. Each item was stored in souvenir traveling bandanas, and at the lunch spot, all the points were totaled up and trophies along with door prizes handed out.
|
|
|
The Hobo Run 2001 dash plaque handed out to each participant is the same as this last year's except the title and date... |
The trail actually started at IHOP at 6th and Simms in Lakewood, Colorado at 8:00-8:40am with registration for the run. Since everyone had already pre-paid, registration consisted of only signing in and picking up you're goodie bag. Everyone was excited for a fun day, and a 'different' day of jeeping. After a quick driver meeting, and an "official" hobo swearing in ceremony, we were off parade style up Hwy 6, and west on I-70. Hobos were given an instruction sheet which covered the rules to read on the way up to the trailhead. Thanks to all of you ("Hobos for a Day") who supported us in this years run including our corporate sponsors.
|
|
| As early as 7:30am, 'Hobos for a day' arrive to register... |
|
|
|
Registration of 'Hobos' who receive a goodie bag with their travel bag (a stick on a souvenir bandana) dash plaque, a nut to wear around their neck, and other sponsor material... |
The "Hobos for a Day" included (sorry if I miss some spouses-busy day ya know), Kevin "not broke yet" Carter (MHJC Patrol 8), Heather and David Burke (MHJC Patrol 8), John and Darlene Murphy (MHJC Patrol 14), Dennis and Marci Ervin (MHJC Patrol 14), Brent Miller (MHJC Patrol 14), Nathan Rogers, Tom Hester (MHJC Patrol 14), Zane and Dale Znamenacek (MHJC Patrol 14), Brad Johnson, Robert Schlegal, Linda Boocher, Justin Olsen and wife, Debrah Lampson, Joel "www.eugenestuff.com" Riedesel, Sever "Kazman" Kazanowsky, Rena Fusiller, Brent Highland (MHJC Patrol 14), Nathan Kraus, Eric Lister (MHJC Patrol 14), Tony Vigil (MHJC Patrol 11), Tim Vigil (MHJC Patrol 11), Bob Meakim, Jed McClelland, Roger Rau, Rick Fitzsimmons, Eric Lemings, Kalle Anderson, and finally Doug Smith.
|
|
| The Hobo driver meeting and the swear-in at IHOP in Lakewood, Colorado... |
Now here's a sight! Picture 36 (29+7 HoboJeepers) good-lookin' jeeps running up I-70 all with their lights on in line, it looked cool from the front were I was! We managed to stay within about a 2-mile stretch of each other too, and nobody broke down! I think it took about 10 minutes for the CB introductions.
|
|
| Seems we had the far right lane taken for miles with Jeeps with their headlights on... |
|
|
|
Near Alice, we air down and they pick out the 1st survival item (a fresh egg)... |
Once off I-70 and up the more peaceful Fall River Road, we worked our way up to the summer town of Alice at about 10,500' in elevation to the air-down spot. Kristin Jacobson helped me with the dispersion of the fresh eggs as the hobos air-downed for the trail. You didn't get points for your egg if it was broken by lunchtime, so don't break it!
|
|
| Everyone airs down and disconnects for a fun day.... |
|
|
| Lots of hissssin goin' on... |
All Aboard! One by one the train of hobos chugged/jeeped up the hill (with some pretty rocky stuff), as each hobo followed the trail to places unknown. Each of the HoboJeepers were at 5 other checkpoints as the train passed by to provide items for each hobo. We all made the turn at another checkpoint and headed into the tight-tree lined trail.
|
|
| Heading out of Alice towards Yank Hill... |
|
|
| Looking back West from the 1st checkpoint... |
|
|
| The 'Hobos' wait for their 2nd survival item, their 1st card, and a Eugene clue... |
Each Hobo received a 'Where's Eugene' clue, and read it over the CB. Most everyone figured out where he was after the 30th clue (he was down in Central City). Then we passed many more checkpoints to receive the next item and card. I dared to find out how long we were strewn out when we stopped for a 10-100 on the east side of Kingston Peak. It took about 10 minutes for the end of the line to catch up. I know 2 guys on motorcycles came up on me on the trail, and when I told them I had 36 behind me with nowhere to pass the turned around and peeled away.
|
|
|
Hobos collected survival items along the trail (this is a photo from last year)... |
At one point we were strung out over I'd guess over a mile on the trail. All the while I rarely got out of 2nd low and kept a slow 5mph speed up front. The HoboJeepers did a great job in moving everyone along, and since Kevin Carter was in the rear of the pack, he didn't hold up anybody (or break down!). Everyone stopped at all 5 checkpoints and collected a survival item (worth points), and a card to make a high poker hand. Sean had the last checkpoint and handed out a kiss to every Hobo (Hersey Kiss that is!).
|
|
| We were strung out a good ways for this 10-100... |
|
|
|
Drew and Kristin keeping score... |
|
|
|
Each 'Hobo' reached in his travel bag for their item and then they picked a card for their poker hand... |
|
|
| The 'train' of Hobo's reaches a good mile down the trail... |
Once at the tree-line lunch spot (treeline--about 11,400'), each Hobo brought up their "Where's Eugene?" clue, and the fresh unbroken egg (for points), then settled down for their lunch after being on the trail. As the "official" HoboJeeper judges tallied the points, each hobo received a really cool door prize.
|
|
| The lunch spot with some 37+ Hobo Jeeps at tree line... |
|
|
|
|
The trophies donated by Exhaust Pros of Northglenn (laid down due to the strong breezes) |
Everyone brings up their Eugene clue answer and their egg... |
The list is long, as I handed out about $3,300 worth of some really cool stuff, thanks to the many sponsors, including the local Denver 4x4 shops: Mile-Hi Jeep Rebuilders, Off-Road Ltd, Predator 4x4, and Exhaust Pros of NorthGlenn. Each hobo also compared the size of their nut to the person next to them to see who had the largest one. OK, footnote needed here: The nut in reference is a 5/16th inch steel nut on a string around their neck. OK?--, so Jed McClelland had the largest nut (3/8th inch to be exact), and received an extra 100 points to his point total (did that make the difference??).
|
|
| Thanks to the many sponsors who donated the many great door prizes... |
|
|
| Everyone relaxed and had lunch while they listened for their number... |
With the points tallied, the 3rd runner up was Rena Fusiller (720pts), and the 2nd runner up was Zane Znamenacek (730pts) of MHJC Patrol 14. The "Top Hobo" of the 3rd Annual Hobo Run 2001 went to JED M with a total of 760pts! Congrats to the trophy winners, and to ALL the hobos, cause we all had fun--which is a winning feeling in my book.
|
|
|
|
Rena Fusiller takes 3rd place... |
Zane Znamenacek receives the 2nd place trophy... |
|
|
|
Not only does he have the 'largest nut', he is also 'Top Hobo'! |
|
|
The weather down in Denver has been showers almost daily starting in the mountains and working down. Well, we were able to finish up lunch, and head out into the open tundra above 11,400' with no serious threat of lightning storms. Great views of the Front Range could be had in all directions as we trekked along the tundra. We all headed along the 1st switchback with everyone in view (a nice sight!).
|
|
| Great views above timberline off to the north... |
|
|
| The 'Hobo Train' stretches around the corner... |
|
|
|
|
This section is an easy part, but very scenic... |
No rain today... |
|
|
| Darlene Murphy checks out the end of the train below... |
Everyone made it up both steep hills, as the second hill must of been graded for SUV's as it was not difficult at all. The views of the Front Range were beautiful as ever! We reached the summit of Hobo Pass at 12,020', and stayed on the main trail down to the last steep hill before the rock house.
|
|
|
|
The 1st steep hill climb was missing the usual mogals... |
More views just down from the Hobo Pass along the tundra... |
|
|
|
Staying on the main rocky trail is vital to avoiding 'braided trails', many drive on the tundra to avoid the rocks...please stay off the tundra... |
|
|
 |
|
This last hill climb has also been graded since it wasn't very mogally... |
One by one the 'Hobos' climbed the hill... |
|
|
|
Though you can see over time, it will be mogally again... |
|
|
|
We can look over the valley and see where we started in the morning (the farthest intersection was the 1st checkpoint below Yankee Hill)... |
We all stopped at the rock house to stack a rock, and get a group shot. The winds were howling in advance of a storm so we headed down into to the trees (which were old Bristlecone Pines straight out of the Wizard of Oz forest). Views off to the south offered up Georgetown and I-70 to Loch Lomand Lake to the west.
|
|
| Loch Lomand Lake from the 'Rock House'... |
|
|
|
|
Ya can't tell, but the winds were howling, the rock house was a popular place to get out of the wind... |
Everyone stacked a rock at the house for 'good luck'... |
|
|
| Ahhhh, this is Colorado Jeepin'... |
Once down at the air-up spot, some aired up, while others headed down to Idaho Springs for some air, and some even went up for more jeeping at Yankee Hill. A great day for all, and everyone was a winner. The spirit of the Hobo lives on to the next trail...
|
|
| "Jeep,Jeep" Hobos for a day... |
Thanks again to the "Hobos for a Day" for your support (you know who you are), hope you had as much fun as we did, and we look forward to seeing you next year in mid-July for the 4th Annual Hobo Run 2002!!
Bill Hallinan HoboJeepers
Here are some other Kingston Peak Trip Reports:
2nd Annual Hobo Run-HoboJeepers
1st Annual Hobo Run-HoboJeepers
Kingston Peak Loop Trail 99'-HoboJeepers
Kingston Peak Loop Trail 00'-HoboJeepers
Kingston Peak by mountain bike
Kingston Peak Trail Report by TrailRidge Runners 4x4 Club
HoboJeepers Homepage with frames:
