On Sunday April 21 2002, Fellow OHV users came together to volunteer some of their time to attend the 10th Annual 2002 Left Hand OHV Cleanup NW of Boulder.  The area is notorious for shooters leaving whatever they brought to shoot up.  You drive by this 'dump' every time to head up to the Left Hand OHV area.  Local motorcycle and 4wheel groups get together once a year to clean up the canyon. Last year's 2001 Left Hand Cleanup was also a success, if just for a day...  The HoboJeepers met on a cool morning at Denny's in Boulder at 7:00 am, then headed for Left Hand.  Some of us picked each other up on the way up to Boulder, and held on as the high winds on HWY 93 off the foothills made our Jeeps lean. 

    Given the unpredictable Spring Colorado weather we have this time of year, many were wondering what Sunday was going to bring.  Saturday brought snow to the mountains and a little cold rain in Denver.  It ended up being a rather decent day except for the wind.  As cool and crisp the morning began, as the sun came out and melted what snow remained so we can more easily find more trash (shell casings, cans, you-name-it).  There was about an inch of snow when we 1st arrived at 8am.

    Many OHV organizations throughout the Front Range were in attendance in cooperation with the Boulder Ranger District, Arapaho/Roosevelt National Forest.  OHV groups like the Northern Colorado Trail Riders, Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit, Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, and Trailridge Runners 4WD Club, were side-by-side with other 4wheeler for a good cause.  Tom Allen (Patrol 12), Robert Schlegel, and Gene King (Patrol 7) were the only MHJC members there other then Patrol 1.

    A special 'Thanks' to the following HOBOs of Patrol 1 for their attendance: Chris "Colonel" Potter (CJ7), Paul "Weiszguy" Weisz and son Brett "Weiszdude" (CJ7), Bill "Hobo Willy" Hallinan (CJ7), Jason "Milkdude" Brew (XJ), Marc "Nugget" Gilbertson (rode with Chris), Drew "Drewby Do" Middleton (TJ), Jed "Clampett" McClelland (CJ7), and Patrol Leader Ken "Toolman" Kordes (rode with Jed).  We met Drew, Jason, and Marc at last year's cleanup for the 1st time.  We had a great turnout of 8 Hobos, and we were glad to help make a difference.

    Bag after bag, and pail after pail of trash, was pitched or dumped into several trucks to be hauled down to the large dumpster on the highway at the beginning of the trail.  It did not take long to fill this large dumpster up.  It seemed to many, that there was actually less trash this year than the previous two years.  The larger variety items were less, while the smaller stuff still seemed endless. Maybe our efforts are paying off, we hope so.  The Arapaho National Forest Ranger was also in attendance, and put up some signs for all to read.  Hopefully all will adhere to it over the next few months in order to keep this canyon open for multiple use recreation.  It would help if everyone would pack it out…if they pack it in (shooters & Jeepers)!

    Here is a comment from last year's run on rules for picking up trash: 'Picking up the trash was a "no-brainer".  Just bend down in one place, scoop a big blob of trash into your bag, the do it in a 360-degree radius, then move 2 feet.  Everything conceivable you could think of that a shooter would want to shoot is there for the pickin's. I never knew you could shoot so many things.  I always thought that shooting bad apples or watermelons was a cool thing, but seems now everything has to be manmade.  Bag after bag of muck was shoveled in, then transferred to waiting stations to be trucked down to the "big dumpster" on the highway.  Spent shells scattered everywhere where even picked up.  The rule was "If it's not natural, it's trash".'

    The around 185 volunteers worked until about 10:30am-ish in our area, and the canyon began to look more natural again.  Some of the volunteers began cooking hot dogs early, and lunch was served to everyone that helped.  I am not sure what the count is for the total number of volunteers that attended or which specific groups were there.  At 11:00, the TrailRidge Runners cooked up some hot dogs and served lunch to everyone.  The Hobos made plans for a run up Castle Gulch afterwards.

2002 Lefthand Cleanup--185 people + 3 hours time = a 90% trash-free canyon!   

    It's a shame the canyon will not stay this way. In less then a week, the trash will pile back up, shooters will be back to haul anything from action figures to home computers up in their vehicle, set it out, shoot it, and leave it.  They leave it, til the next time responsible caretakers of public land get tired of driving by and looking at it. If you see trash on the trail, stop to pick it up.  

Please pack out your trash, anywhere, anytime!

    Question: What do you do when you are so close to a jeep trail with good friends and your jeep?  Go Jeepin of course!!  At approximately 11:00am, the HOBOs made our way down to the highway, jumped in our jeeps, and headed towards an area just up the highway to air down and do the 'disco'. Plans were to head up Castle Gulch (FR 287), then over to Fairview Peak, and back down to Left Hand thru the 'Squeeze'.  We had our six jeeps of the 'Colonel', 'Hobo Willy', 'Weiszguy', 'Clampett', 'Drewby Do', & 'Milkdude' (Mark rode with Chris, and Ken with Jed), and guests Steve (XJ), MHJC member Robert Schlegel (YJ), along with some guys with 2 bright yellow Xtteras, and one Toyota pickup. I don't have the names of all of them but they were fun to run with, and are welcome anytime.

    As we started up the trail some locked in 4wheel drive, a little rock chute offers some fun, but less challenging then other obstacles that lie ahead. Up the Gulch, there is a switchback for FR 287.1, we stayed straight and the moderate to large rocks awaited our arrival on the middle chute.  Our guests had mostly stock vehicles.  One of the Xtteras was lifted, while the other just supercharged.  They handled this trail with ease.  The last chute had some more rocks, then we finally reached the ridgeline.

    Most of the trip up Castle Gulch seemed pretty easy, and it appeared that part of it might have been graded since I was on this trip a year or so ago.  Some of the rock chutes remain and with little or no problems, we all made it up to Fairview Peak without problems or breakage.  There we took in the views and a short break.  The wind and snow flurries prevented this from being a long break though.  It was just enough time to take some photos and take care of some "10-100's".  We did not encounter any snow until we were half up to Fairview Peak as a snow squall was hanging along the divide.  Even then, the small snow flurries presented no problem at all for the trail….Spring and another Jeepin' season is here.

    We proceeded down and headed towards Left Hand Canyon via the "Squeeze" and the once was "Tip-Over Rock".  The "Squeeze" was our first major obstacle of the day, and the most entertainment.  Most were spotted through without incident, and managed the lines well.  It's a good thing I had my steel rock crawler wheels on instead of the expensive Centerline alloys, OUCH…. Hummmm,,,,,,,guess I'll have to take a file to the edge of that rim.

    The two stock vehicles decided not to chance this one and went around.  Jed decided to see how high he could get his rear tire in the air, and how many bodies it takes to hold it down (just one-Mark).  We met a group of 7 4x4's coming up the trail in the opposite direction.  It was a bit of a 'traffic' jam, as there was no were really to park.  They had a different mix of rigs, drivers and some even had a few beers while they waited for us to get through the rocks.  Glad they were headed in the opposite direction with their six-packs and all.  One 'monster' Ford truck did manage to kiss the tree, but he didn't seem to mind.

    The rest of the trip was downhill to the cleanup area and on down to the highway.  Some of the group stayed behind and played in the Left Hand canyon area while Bill, Robert, Mark, Drew, and I headed back to Boulder for some air and fuel, then we left for home.  I hope those that stayed and played, you all made it back safely.  A great morning to give a little back, and a fun afternoon to play!

"Jeep,Jeep"

Here are some other Left Hand Canyon Trip Reports:

2001 Left Hand Clean up/ Gillespie Gulch Trail- Hobo Trip

2000 Left Hand Clean up-Trail Ridge Runner 4x4 Club

2000 Left Hand Clean up/ Castle Gulch Trail- Hobo Trip

Castle Gulch 01'- Hobo Trip

Left Hand Canyon- Hobo Trip in Jan 2000: Slide Show

Gillespie/ Left Hand- Hobo Trip in March 2000

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