Once off I-70, we headed up the more peaceful & cool 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.  Hobo Jeff helped me with the dispersion of the fresh eggs as the hobos air-downed for the trail at their 1st checkpoint.  You didn't get points for your egg if it was broken by lunchtime, so many tried sneaky methods not to break it!  All items though needed to be in their traveling bandanas on a stick.  I believe 3 ended up broken, so I wonder what ideas people came up with this year to keep their egg from breaking?

    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 in the spirit of the 'Hobo' to places unknown and a fun day.  Right off the start, we had Hobo #26 (Bob Attwood's Cherokee) with a fuel pump problem.  After a few minutes, it seemed to work and Bob was back on the train.

    Then the 'Hobo Train' passed Hobo Charlie (& Family) to receive the next item and card, then on to Jed (& Family), and then on to Pete and his checkpoint.  We stopped for a 10-100 on the east side of Kingston Peak in the trees, and Pete had a stick of TP Square for the 'Hobos for a day' (wonder if some used it?).  It took about 10 minutes for the end of the line to catch up.  We had many motorcycles on the trail, we tried to accommodate them as best as possible.  With a tight tree-lined trail, it was hard to get by.

    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.  Everyone stopped at all 5 checkpoints and collected a survival item (worth points), and a card to make a high poker hand (4-6's was the best hand! -from Jim Raybeck).  Dan & Brett had the last checkpoint, and handed out a Smartie candy to every Hobo and the last poker hand card.

    The weather down in Denver had been hot all week.  Well, come to find out it was a record high of 102 degrees!!  All we had was sunshine and a few clouds up at 12,000'--oh, and nice and cool.  The great views of the Front Range were great this year, compared to last year when you couldn't see more then 100 yards or less in pea fog.  The Hobo Train started up and up into the fragile tundra above 11,000'.  We all headed along the 1st switchback with views of Longs Peak way to the north.

    As we crested Hobo Pass at 12,020', the views were great!  Unlike last year, no hail and rain!!  We reached the pass and onto the tundra.  We tried to stay on the main path, avoiding any grass of the tundra.  We passed some Toyota trucks parked way off trail on the tundra.  All one can do is try to educate, as with biotic crypto soil in Moab, the tundra also takes many years to recover (3 month growing season).

    A guy in an Orange flamed CJ ahead of us was having carb/power issues and couldn't climb well.  I helped him along with a tug (thanks to Brent H for the setup) up the last steep hill.  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.  With nice weather, we all stopped at the Rock House and stacked a rock and sign the guestbook.  We soon headed down, as I didn't want to block the trail (and have ATV or motorcycles on the tundra--though one guy didn't care).

 

 

 

Check out this cool collage of the 'Hobo Train' from 2003... (click on link for new window, click 'x' to return-photo at Rock House  by Ron Reberry)

 

 

 

   So we headed on down into to the trees (which were old Bristlecone Pines straight out of the Wizard of Oz forest).  Everyone made it down off the mountain safe.  Views off to the south thru the clouds offered up Georgetown and I-70 to Loch Lomand Lake to the west.  Once down off the switchbacks at the air-up spot, some aired up, while others headed down to Idaho Springs in the rain for some air.  Yea!!  A great day for all, and everyone was a winner.  The spirit of the Hobo lives on to the next trail... 

 

We worked our way back down to Alice thru switchbacks in 2004...

 

The HoboJeepers headed down Fall River road after a fun day--Thanks to all who came!.

 

It didn't take long,,,,,before Molly was sleeping all the way home...

 

 

 

CONGRATS from the HoboJeepers to-

 

JIM RAYBACK

the 7th Annual Hobo Run 2005

'Top Hobo' 

 

 

    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 (sign up early!) in mid-July for the 8th Annual Hobo Run 2006!!

 

'See ya on the trail!!'

A special "Thanks" and please support all

of this years local Hobo Run Sponsors:

*AAA TRANSMISSION WAREHOUSE- of Englewood: John-303-789-2001: HOBO RUN 2005 Dash Plaques & Trophies

-We are the 'Baddest Boyz in the Tranz Bizness'!  We offer a full service of Automatics to manual repair.  4x4 custom trannys always welcome.  

*MILE-HI JEEP REBUILDERS- of Denver: Jim-303-629-0378: 7th Annual HOBO RUN Traveling Bandanas
-Established 1962 in Denver, CO--We carry a full line of new and rebuilt JEEP replacement parts, & aftermarket accessories.

*FUNTREKS.COM- of Colorado Springs:--Joan-toll free-1-877-222-7623

-Guidebooks by Charles Wells cover back roads & 4-wheel-drive trails for SUV owners and serious 4-wheelers. Books include Colorado, California, Arizona and Moab, UT.

*4WHEEL PARTS- of Aurora/Denver:--Jeremy-303-347-5337 

-Wholesaler supplies aftermarket parts and accessories for Jeep and other four-wheel drive vehicles.

*ROCKY MOUNTAIN DRIVELINE- of Denver:--Scott-303-433-8683 

-All your driveline needs!!

*BESTOP- of Westminster:

-Replacement tops and accessories for Jeep Wrangler, Jeep CJ, Jeep TJ and Jeep YJ.

*DRIVESHAFT DOCTORS- of Denver:--Dave-303-297-2928

-Driveshafts for all 4x4s!!

*HIGH COUNTRY 4x4- of Englewood:--Ernie-303-761-7379

-Specializes in the sales service, and custom 4 wheel drive equipment.

*EAGLE CLAW FISHING TACKLE- of Denver:

-Quality Fishing Tackle Since 1925.

*RAINGLER.COM- Manufacturer of safety and storage nets for Jeep vehicles.

This year's other donators:

*LEATHERMAN TOOLS- From modest beginnings, the popularity of Leatherman tools has grown rapidly.

*FIBERLINK WEBBING PRODUCTS- Provides all your webbing products from industrial strength tie downs through tow straps and tie downs for your recreational vehicles.

*MEGUIRES- Carries fine car wash and waxes.

*MILE MARKER- Designs and creates the most unique products for your offroad vehicles!

*TILLAMOOK COUNTRY SMOKERS- Fresh Smoked Meats from Tillamook Country Smoker with roots reach back 50 years, when a man named Art Crossley started making his own unique brand of beef jerky. Buy online and save!

*JD MOTORSPORTS--BFGOODRICH- JD Motorsports gives you a dynamic brand-building and marketing tool, that enables you to gain valuable exposure that translates into actionable, bottom-line results.

*4WHEEL DRIVE HARDWARE- Specializes in Jeep parts and accessories.

*LECARRA STEERING WHEELS- Lecarra Steering Wheels are designed and made to provide maximum comfort and driving satisfaction.

*SHELL VALLEY- Manufacturers of Fiberglass Jeep Replacement Parts, and stainless parts.

*REDNECK CONCEPTS- Get in and out of your Jeep easily with the Redneck Concepts The removable Cowboy StirrUP Step.

*HI MOUNTAIN JERKY- With several blends to choose from you can't go wrong with Hi Mountain's Jerky Cure and Seasonings.

"JEEP, JEEP!!"

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