Click on some 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 2009 report...
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The Kingston Peak Trail map and descriptions from 4x4trails.net |
*Note: Some text may be similar then previous Hobo Runs...as the event is very similar.
On Saturday July 18th, 2009, the HoboJeepers hosted the 11th Annual Hobo Run for 7 "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 on the trail.
Eugene the Jeep (our little mascot), was also there is spirit, keeping watch over everyone and keeping them safe. This year, the sole item to keep from breaking stored in a souvenir traveling bandana was a fresh egg. At the timberline lunch spot, all the points were totaled up and trophies, along with some other prizes were handed out. This year, we had our 3rd Annual Egg Toss with all the unbroken fresh eggs! It was a hit again!
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Choice Image donated the bandanas this year! |
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Thank to High Country 4x4 for sponsoring the 11th Annual Hobo Run!... |
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The Hobo Run 2009 dash plaque donated by High Country 4x4 (like this 2007) was handed out to each participant... |
Thanks to Jason and Al at High Country 4x4, he helped with some gift cards and donating the trophies and dash plaques! These were made by Brenda at Sports Custom Trophies near Jewell and Wads.
The trail actually started at the Denny's at 6th and Simms in Lakewood, Colorado at 8:00-8:30am with registration for the run. After a quick driver meeting, and an "official" hobo swearing in ceremony, we were off parade style up Hwy 6 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 year's run, including High Country 4x4 and Choice Image. Please support our Hobo Run sponsor High Country 4x4 and Choice Image with a 'Thanks' the next time you see them.
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The trophies and dash plaques were donated by High Country 4x4 |
The 7 "Hobos for a Day" for 2009 included:
DAVID S, CHERYL L, CHIC C, KYLE J, DONALD K, MARK H, and CHRIS P. and his son Christopher.
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My jeepin sidekick Molly didn't make it this year, but a friend Justin did... |
At 8:45am, I had a short Driver Meeting and swear in. Instructions on how the day would go, directions and generals on the trip up I-70 to Alice, and other items were discussed. Once the business was done, I officially swore all 7 'Hobos for a day' in with an official oath as follows:
*Hobos
raise your right hand, place your left hand on your nut (oh yea, that's the
necklace in the goodie bag--with a nut on it) and repeat after me, except state YOUR first name:
“I Hobo- (state your first name)…….Do solemnly swear sometimes…… To uphold the spirit of a
Hobo……..in mind and while on the trail……..To always tread lightly………and stay on the trail…..To not put more than 10% of my income…..into my Jeep in any one year…….. Zip-bop-beep-bop…..I feel good!…..And to dog-gone it I promise……..to have a really really……..Really really…….. Fun time today!……
JEEP JEEP!!!………JEEP JEEP!!!!”
After a joyous swear in, everyone loaded up in their individual vehicles (railcars), and tuned their CB to channel 13, and we all headed west on 6th Ave. Freeway, as the Hobo Train pulled out of the parking lot. The Hobo train had 8 good-lookin' 4x4's running up Clear Creek Canyon on HWY 6 all with their lights on in line. We managed to stay within about a 1-mile stretch of each other too, and nobody broke down! We chugged on by Idaho Springs on I-70 in procession and turned off at Fall River Road exit 238.
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Exit 238, and on up to Alice via the Fall River Road... |
Once off I-70, we headed up the more peaceful & cool Fall River Road. We worked our way up to the trailhead of Cumberland Gulch Traile at about 10,000' in elevation to the air-down spot. All Aboard! One by one the train of hobos chugged/jeeped up the hill towards Yankee Hill at 11,200' (with some pretty rocky stuff), as each hobo followed the trail in the spirit of the 'Hobo' to places unknown and a fun day.
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Looking SW towards Alice, the train chugs up the base of Yankee Hill... |
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Looking SW towards Alice, the train chugs up the base of Yankee Hill... |
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Looking SW towards Alice, the train chugs up the base of Yankee Hill... |
Hobo Run Map
(Actual GPS Map of the Run on July 16th, 2005 Run)
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Thanks to Bob D. for the GPS Map!!! |
We all climbed Cumberland Gulch to the base of Yankee Hill. Since we were a small group, we could explore around Yankee, which we did. We stopped for a photo op at the top of Yankee Hill. The 180 degree views off to South were spectacular! We could look off to the West and see where we would end up at the end of the Run as we made a loop around Kingston Peak. The train started up again (well my Jeep was running it's worst), as we all headed down Yankee Hill, and into the tight-tree lined trail along the east-side of Kingston Peak.
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Looking back West, we headed around Yankee... |
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Me and my sidekick Justin (who took the shot thru the windshield)... |
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Looking SW towards Alice, the train chugs up the base of Yankee Hill... |
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Looking SW towards Alice at the top of Yankee Hill... |
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Chris and his son Christopher with Mt. Evans in the background... |
Then the 'Hobo Train' passed along the East-side o Kingston Peak. We stopped for a 10-100 on the east side of Kingston Peak in the trees. My carburetor would still not hold idle, but I rigged the throttle open a little to prevent stalling ALL the time while crawling. At All-4-Fun in August, I found out one of my jets in the carb was plugged!
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| Nice wildflowers were everywhere... |
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The Eastern side of Kingston Peak affords a nice tight tree-lined trail (07')... |
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We crossed the headwaters of Clear Creek... |
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| Lunchtime at 11k feet! |
Once up at the tree-line lunch spot (tree line--about 11,400'), each Hobo brought up their fresh unbroken/cracked egg to be eligiable for a drawing to determine the top three Hobos. Well, we had some eggs, and we are at 11,000+ feet above sea level, how bout' an egg toss?? We started of with about 10 teams of two, each ready to go. If you dropped the egg, you were out.
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Everyone had fun with the egg toss at 11,400'... |
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Some had interesting ways of catching the egg... |
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and some ways of dropping them too... |
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1st place in the egg toss--They won a $100 Bestop rack! |
With a smaller group this year, there was a Jeep trivia contest to determine the Winner. Cheryl L won over Chic C! Congrats to the trophy winners, and to ALL the hobos, cause we all had fun--which is a winning feeling in my book.
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2nd place -- Chic C and grandaughter... |
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Top Hobo-- Cheryl L... |
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'Hobos for a Day' 2009 Group Photo! From left to right: Well---Just about everyone there!!! |
The weather down in Denver had been hot all week--mid 90's. All we had was sunshine and a few clouds up at 12,000'--oh, and nice and cool. We had a cloud-free run over the tundra section to the Rock House. We usually have to dodge rain and lightning bolts about this time of day. The views of the Front Range were great this year, compared to 2004, 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 11,500'. We all headed along the 1st switchback with views of Longs Peak way to the north. With a snowy winter, it took awhile for the snow to melt this year.
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Looking East just out of the trees... |
As we crested Hobo Pass at 12,037.5', the views were great! We stayed on the main path, avoiding any grass of the tundra. Please take the rocky section of this trail, and stay off the fragile tundra. All one can do is try to educate, as with biotic crypto soil in Moab, the tundra also takes many years to recover (only a 3 month growing season).
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| Heading up the Pass looking North... |
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Heading up the Pass in a driving rain one year... |
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 left side is being reclaimed and closed. With NO nasty weather and a smaller group, we stopped at the Rock House and stacked a rock and a Kodak moment. We then headed down to the trees and a 10-100.
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The 'Rock House'...
Stack a rock, sign the
guest book,
get some fresh COOL air,
and
take in some views!
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| Everyone takes in the scenery at the rock house... |
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| ...while others also stack a rock in honor or in luck... |
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Check out this cool collage of the 'Hobo Train' from Hobo Run 2003... (click on link for new window, click 'x' to return-photo at Rock House by Ron Reberry) |
After our last stop, we headed on down off the mountain safe. Views off to the south offered up Georgetown and I-70 to Loch Lomand Lake to the west. We stopped for a 10-100 along the saddle. The trail finally reaches back down to the Alice summer homes, and the graded (but ROCKY) switchback sections begin. Once down off the switchbacks, we all met up again at the official end of the run. Some aired up, while others headed down to Idaho Springs 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...and next year!
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Along with old Bristle Cone Pines.... |
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| This full-size Ford F150 was introduced to 'Rocky Mountain Pinstripping' along the east side of Kingston Trail today... |
CONGRATS from the HoboJeepers to-
Cheryl L!
the 11th Annual Hobo Run 2009
'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 in on July 17th for the 12th Annual Hobo Run 2010!!
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It didn't take long,,,,, before Christopher was sleeping... |
'See ya on the trail!!'
MHJC Patrol 1 HoboJeepers
"JEEP, JEEP!!"
*Here are some other Hobo Run/Kingston Peak Trip Reports:
10th Annual Hobo Run 2008-HoboJeepers
9th Annual Hobo
Run 2007-HoboJeepers
7th Annual Hobo
Run 2005-HoboJeepers
6th Annual Hobo
Run 2004-HoboJeepers
5th Annual Hobo
Run 2003-HoboJeepers
4th Annual Hobo
Run 2002-HoboJeepers
3rd Annual Hobo
Run 2001-HoboJeepers
2nd Annual Hobo
Run 2000-HoboJeepers
1st Annual Hobo
Run 1999-HoboJeepers
*Kingston Peak Loop Trail 99'-HoboJeepers
*Kingston Peak Loop Trail 00'-HoboJeepers
*Kingston Peak by mountain bike
*Kingston Peak Map & Trail Descriptions by 4x4trails.net
*Kingston Peak Trail Report by TrailRidge Runners 4x4 Club
"JEEP, JEEP!!"
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