SNOWED IN on BLACK BEAR Pass!

Рет қаралды 7,280

10 ай бұрын

Our fifth and final Jeep Badge of Honor Trail in the San Juan Mountains found us on Black Bear Pass. This infamous trail was both scenic and fun! Unfortunately, the trail was snowed in, which is crazy for the end of July. Because of this, we had to turn around just passed the summit and were not able to conquer the switchbacks going into Telluride. Regardless, it was worth the drive and we hope you enjoy!
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Пікірлер: 64

@carolynbentley 9 ай бұрын

'Liked your comment at the top, "Still worth doing". That says it all. Good video as usual. Thanks for your effort.

@TrailExpedition 9 ай бұрын

Thanks again for the encouraging comments!

@WolfOverland 10 ай бұрын

❤❤does not count!!! 😂 the best side is the switchbacks. But if you never been still a pretty ride to the summit. Sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad.

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

We did all that we could and I would definitely go back to finish the job. Still worth doing if you’re in the area.

@timstroh216 10 ай бұрын

Hey guys another great video! I would love to try black bear pass but the wife saw the video when the Jeep came rolling down the hill and she doesn’t like the idea of doing that trail!! The next day after seeing you guys we went over Stony Pass and at the top we ran into over 1K sheep over there!!!! We took great pictures!! Stay safe you guys

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

Haha! Those sheep are everywhere! My wife researched it and apparently the farmers bring them in to let them graze for months at a time. Crazy to see that many sheep. And my wife was not happy about Black Bear at all. She was very relieved we she learned the switchbacks we’re closed.

@bryanlewis8891 10 ай бұрын

Ophir Pass ends up being the thoroughfare to get back to either Telluride or Silverton / Ouray.

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

Yeah Ophir was definitely the easiest of all the badge trails and was the quickest to get through.

@oldcatch 10 ай бұрын

A group plowed through the snow bank the other day and a Toyota almost went off the side after the steps. San Miguel Sherriff Dept had to go up backwards and rescue.

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

I heard about that. Silly mistake. The Road definitely deteriorates after the section we turned around on.

@jerrymcgeorge4117 5 ай бұрын

That group went around the closure sign illegally and when they got to the rock slide are lucky the first one didn’t roll off and kill everyone in the 4 Runner. The recovery put members of the County crew at risk and may result in the trail being permanently closed. The Sheriff and County have had with stupid people on Black Bear.

@TrailExpedition 5 ай бұрын

Agreed. We went to the summit from the Ouray side which was completely open and relatively easy. Just past the summit we turned around due to impassable snow. Obviously not risking everything just to “complete a trail”.

@GATORADDAM 10 ай бұрын

Sucks it was closed. I've done it 3 times. 2020, 2021, 2022. Nice video.

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

Thank you and yes, sucks that we couldn’t do the entire thing. But better to be responsible than to be an “Ass Clown” 🤡

@_Jin_Kim_ 10 ай бұрын

a huge bummer for me too... but i want to definitely go back. Colorado is so gorgeous!

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

You bet it is!!

@TwoFeatherChannel 10 ай бұрын

too bad man, y'all lucked out on what I would consider the best part of Black Bear Pass. the Switchbacks, Narrow off camber trail and the Waterfalls and View. I wouldn't claim a badge if I didn't do what most consider the best and hardest half. One day I will get to try it, just so far from Louisiana.

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

Right on. We did the entirety of the trail that was actually open so I don’t feel bad about claiming the badge. We loved Colorado and will be back sooner or later. Hopefully Black Bear stays opened. I’ve heard that the trail is extremely deteriorated on the Telluride side.

@stevevice9863 10 ай бұрын

The drone footage really starts to capture the vastness of the views from those elevations. Maybe someday I'll muster up the courage to take Black Bear all the way into Telluride....my heart is in it, but still waiting on my guts...or maybe part of my anatomy farther south...it remains on the list.

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

Haha! Now that’s funny! I would have done it if it was all the way open but not gonna chance falling off a cliff if the road is impassable.

@granitecolorado 9 ай бұрын

I am a Colorado native and one winter I drove my 1978 fj40 over tincup pass and got stuck at least 30 times. That truck had a quarter eliptic setup with Rockwell 2.5t axles and a mechanical Cummins and 48 inch boggers.

@TrailExpedition 9 ай бұрын

Dang! Talk about persistence! Kudos to you!

@TA.387 6 ай бұрын

I watch the video to see you get snowed in

@TrailExpedition 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@AF1US 9 ай бұрын

Good video, we have driven Black Bear many times in the July timeframe and not had this kind of snow but it was a very snowy winter out west. In one of your shots did I see an Air Force logo on your tag? I am retired AF and was just checking to see if you are still in or not? The switchbacks are ok but the real excitement is the "steps" and the first and second switchback, they are tight.

@TrailExpedition 9 ай бұрын

Yes sir! Air Force Veteran of nine years and thank you for your service as well. It was a bummer we didn’t get to do all of black bear but at least we got to do some of it. We’ll get back eventually.

@AdventuresOfRogersAndHenderson 10 ай бұрын

Those drone shots tho! 👌 So, baring unforeseen abnormalities in weather, what time of the year would the trail typically be fully open? Asking for a friend

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

I do love my drone shots! It’s nice being in a place that you can get a drone up in the air and not have to worry about trees. And typically July through September is the ideal time to do the trails in the San Juan mountains.

@terrymcguire6478 9 ай бұрын

www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/406/Road-Conditions. Bookmark that. It was still closed late August when i was there.

@jerrymcgeorge4117 5 ай бұрын

Our club sponsors the trail to the pass, a club from Montrose sponsors it from the pass down into Telluride. You’d normally expect it to open between late June to late July. Unfortunately it may never reopen due to an out of State group who ignore the closure and had to be recovered by the Sheriff and County crew.

@jerrymcgeorge4117 5 ай бұрын

This past summer may be the last time we’ll see the sheep. An agreement was reached with the ranchers to end summer grazing due to the threat of transferring domestic sheep diseases to the native big horns.

@TrailExpedition 5 ай бұрын

Interesting 🤔 it was definitely interesting to see. We initially came across them on the top of Engineer Pass. Surprised to see them up that high.

@Smokingtrailsoffroadclub 10 ай бұрын

Such great views out there

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

Views on views on views!!

@surgicalinstrumentsexplained 10 ай бұрын

No switchbacks? What a bummer! Still, a very pretty drive.

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

Yeah, unfortunately it was not passable passed the summit. Maybe next time!

@surgicalinstrumentsexplained 10 ай бұрын

@@TrailExpedition Guess you’ll just have to go back sometime. Too bad. lol

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

Don’t have to twist my arm!

@swampdogglawless88 10 ай бұрын

Hold my beer lol😂😂😂😂

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

Haha! I wanna try something! (My wife would have killed me)

@markcocco3130 10 ай бұрын

Trail is closed, might not even open this season

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

High likelihood that it will not open passed the summit on the Telluride side.

@richard-witty 10 ай бұрын

@@TrailExpedition yeah that road is closed. The sheriff is pissed people have been driving on the road but as you saw the gate was not closed. After last week’s incident with the 4Runner they made sure the gate is closed. It’s a very heated topic here in CO right now. After all the people driving on the closed road (the sheriff expects people to check their website to see if it’s open or closed) there are rumors that the future of black bear pass is in jeopardy to future use by motorized vehicles. All rumors at this point but definitely a lot of discussion going on

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

@richardwitty9163 yeah, the gate was open when we went and we did the responsible thing and turned around when the road started to deteriorate.

@markcocco3130 10 ай бұрын

@@richard-witty I hear the people in telluride would like it closed down?

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

@markcocco3130 I’ve heard the same thing as well. Apparently they are not huge fans of the off-road community or so I’ve been told.

@chriskryder2994 8 ай бұрын

Ran black bear pass in 75 in a stock 69 wagoneer before they cityfied the road.

@TrailExpedition 8 ай бұрын

I bet it was crazy back in those days!

@chriskryder2994 8 ай бұрын

@@TrailExpedition at that time the trails in the area were basically abandoned routes to and from the silver and gold mines in the area. Time weather and people have taken there toils on the remains of these mines that back then we're still in decent shape full of artifacts. That was the good it's easy to forget carburetor vapor lock at altitude, and the fact you had to be prepared to fix your rig on the trail because there may not be anyone else coming by for days. There's nothing like putting in a ujoint on a 40 degree incline to get your stress level maxed out let me tell you first hand. I have so many great memories your lucky that technology allows you to film your adventures to relive when you get too old to have such fun as I unfortunately have become. So I relive the excitement through KZfaq videos.

@TrailExpedition 8 ай бұрын

@chriskryder2994 it sounds like you’ve lead an exciting life! That’s exactly why I film my adventures. I want something my family and I can look back on and relive the adventure.

@ironvalorapparelcompany 10 ай бұрын

what date were you there?

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

July 30 2023

@ironvalorapparelcompany 10 ай бұрын

@@TrailExpedition yeah looks like all the passes got clobbered with snow this year

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

@ironvalorapparelcompany they sure did! Was cool to see all the snow on the trails.

@ironvalorapparelcompany 10 ай бұрын

@@TrailExpedition lol ill be there in a week. coming from PA.

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

@ironvalorapparelcompany nice! It’s a long drive to get there but we’ll worth it. Have fun!!

@ForeverJeep 10 ай бұрын

Did you kiss at 6:34😅

@TrailExpedition 10 ай бұрын

🤣 😘

@TheTrailheadNetwork 6 ай бұрын

Too bad the sheriff wants it closed permanently.

@TrailExpedition 6 ай бұрын

Say it ain’t so! 😱

@TheTrailheadNetwork 6 ай бұрын

He's very hostile towards OHV. We've talked about it a bit on my podcast and with CORE (@keeptrailsopen) and we're going to chat about it some more in the near future. There was a lot of confusion this year about the status of BBP (it was NEVER opened this year) and it appears the Sheriff and/or the county worked to keep that confusion going until they had a good photo op. @@TrailExpedition