On Saturday July 14th, 2012, the HoboJeepers hosted the 14th Annual Hobo Run for 15"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 once again an item collected and stored in the souvenir traveling bandana was a fresh egg.  This Winter has been very dry, the upper Kingston Peak Trail (which includes the lunch area) is going to be open unlike last year with record snow. We ate lunch up in a new open area (old lunch area has been reclaimed). Then all the points were totaled up and trophies, along with some other prizes were handed out.  This year, we even got in an egg toss before the rains came in!

    Thanks to all local sponsors: 4Wheel Parts (Steve and Jeremy) and 4WD Hardware (4WD.com) who helped with donating some gift cards, Al and Val with High Country 4x4 for donating the trophies and dash plaques, Megan with Bestop, Scott with Rocky Mountain Driveline, and Mike from Choice Image who donated the bandanas! 

    The trail actually started at the Denny's at 6th and Simms in Lakewood, Colorado at 8:25-8:40am with registration for the run.  Thanks to all of you ("Hobos for a Day") who supported us in this year's run.  Please support our Hobo Run sponsors with a 'Thanks' the next time you see them. 

Thanks to this year's Sponsors: High Country 4x4 (Dash Plaques and Trophies), 4wheel Parts (Gift Cards), Choice Image T-Shirts/Printing (Bandanas and printing), Bestop (Bikini Top prize),  WARN Industries (prizes),  Trailgear.com (prizes),  Trails Illustrated.com (maps and map books),  Rocky Mountain Driveline (u-joint for all),  MORE (Mountain Offroad Enterprises) ($140 prize),  4Mudders.com (prizes),  Ocean Potion Sun Care, & Driveoffroad.com ($75 gift Card)

    The 15"Hobos for a Day" for 2012 included: 

Tom S (Patrol 5), Scott R (Patrol 5), Wes T (Patrol 4), Dean K, David S, Guy B, Mark W (Patrol 6), Casey K (Patrol 6), Robert R, Bob B (Patrol 2), Jessica B, Neil H, Alan R, Meghan S, and William D.

    At 8:45am, we had a short Driver Meeting and swear in.  Instructions on how the day would go, directions and generals on the trip up Hwy 6 and I-70 to Alice, and other items were discussed.  Hobos were given an instruction sheet which covered the rules to read on the way up to the trailhead.  Also, each Hobo started collecting survival items and stored them in their survival bandana. The 1st item handed out at registration was an egg. Each survival item has point values in 10 increments from 10-100.

Once the business was done, I officially swore all 15 'Hobos for a day' in with an official Hobo 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 the 6th Ave freeway, as the Hobo Train pulled out of the parking lot. The Hobo train had 15 good-lookin' 4x4's running up Clear Creek Canyon (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 (YET)!  We chugged on by Idaho Springs on I-70 in procession and turned off at Fall River Road exit 238.  

     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 Trailhead at about 10,000' in elevation to the air-down spot.  My helper Linda and I handed out survival item #2 (candy) and card #1 & #2. 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. We took a left and headed towards Yankee Hill.

The Hobo Train chugs up Yankee Hill.

 

    

 

Hobo Run Map

(Actual GPS Map of the Run on July 16th, 2005 Run)

Thanks to Bob D. for the GPS Map!!!

 

 

   After we climbed Cumberland Gulch to the base of Yankee Hill, then it was to the top! We handed out survival item #3 (a Q-Tip) and card #3. We took some photo ops 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.  After David S. got another bolt from a fellow Hobo and got his tie-rod fixed, the train started up again and headed down Yankee Hill into the tight-tree lined trail along the east-side of Kingston Peak.

    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.  This was also checkpoint #4, in which the Hobos were handed out survival item #4 (1 toilet paper square) and card #4.

       Since we had little snow last winter, the trail was open to make a loop. We stopped just before timberline around 11, 200' and had lunch. Each Hobo brought up their fresh unbroken/cracked egg to get it's point value, and the Judges tallied up the scores to determine the top three Hobos. Each Hobo was also given their last card #5. During the awards and point totaling, Scott R. had the largest nut around his neck (extra 50 pts) and won a prize, and Jessica B. had the highest poker hand (four 2's) winning a $25 4Wheel Parts gift card and 75 extra points. Now the results: The lowest score was 130 points earning Alan R. the 'L' award and a prize. A tie for 2nd was determined by Roe-Sham-bo best of 3. Tim S won TOP HOBO for 2012 (with 390 pts) and won a $150 gift card from 4WD Hardware, Wes T. won 2nd place (and a $100 gift card to 4WD Hardware), and Jessica B, won 3rd place and won a $25 4Wheel Parts gift card. All three winners won trophies donated by High Country 4x4. All hobos were then handed tickets to win other prizes, now it's time for an egg toss!!

'Hobos for a Day' 2012 Group Photo! From left to right: Well---Just about everyone there at the top of 11,400' Yankee Hill!!!

 

 

 

    Right after the egg toss it started raining, and we loaded back up and the train headed up above timberline into the fragile tundra. Please be careful and don't drive off-road into the tundra. The rains were on and off as we stayed on the rocky portion of the trail (off the tundra). The storms did move off just in time for us to stop at the Rock House. Once together again, we signed the register and stacked a rock. We then headed down thru the old Bristlecone Pines for a quick 10-100, and finally down to Alice to air down.

 

Heading West towards James Peak (07')...

 

Climbing last hill towards Hobo Pass at 12, 080' in light rain this year ...

 

 

Heading up the Pass in a driving rain one year in 2007...

 

Last hill to the Rock House looking North towards Kingston Peak this year ...

 

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)

 

 

 

Rock House ...(09')

 

Loch Lomand from the Rock House ...(09')

 

   We headed on down off the mountain safe.  Once down off the switchbacks, we all met up again at the official end of the run in Alice.  Some aired up, while others headed down to Idaho Springs for some air then home. 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's Hobo Run! 

 

 

Last easy switchbacks down into the Summer town of Alice, Colorado ...(07')

 

 

CONGRATS from the HoboJeepers to-

 

Tom S. !

the 14th Annual Hobo Run 2012

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 on July 13th, 2013 for the 15th (YES 15th!) Annual Hobo Run 2012!!

 

'See ya on the trail!!'

Bill 'Hobo Willy' Hallinan

MHJC Patrol 1 HoboJeepers

 

"JEEP, JEEP!!"

 

 

 

 

 

*Here are some other Hobo Run/Kingston Peak Trip Reports:

13th Annual Hobo Run 2011-HoboJeepers

12th Annual Hobo Run 2010-HoboJeepers

11th Annual Hobo Run 2009-HoboJeepers

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

 

 

 

 

 

"JEEP, JEEP!!"

 

back to the HoboJeepers OUTINGS page

*To HOBOJEEPERS HOMEPAGE w/frames*

To HOBOJEEPERS HOMEPAGE without frames

(c) Copyright 1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2001,2012 MHJC Patrol One

Jeep is a registered trademark of Daimler Chrysler Corporation

About Us  "Eugene the Jeep"  Hobo History  Jeep History  Member Rigs

Hobo Theater  Trail List 2K4 Trail List 2K3  Trail List 2K2  Trail List 2K1  Trail List 2K

Outings  Outings04' Outings 03'  Outings 02'  Outings01'  Outings00'  Outings99'  Hobo Bylaws

Hobo Articles  Photo Album  Hobo Cafe  Jeep Links  Hobo Run 2K12  Site Map