Old Stage Rd to Gold Camp Rd (Colorado Springs to Victor)

[RyanSBCA]

Well last Sunday I went on another randome dirt road adventure. This happens to be quite the busy dirt road, I probably ran into 30 vehicles or more through out the day.

You start out near the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (which houses "Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun")
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/001.jpg[/img]

From what I read online and in my books, this 'trail' is a 1 in difficulty but scenic rating of 8. Also read that the beginning has a shelf road section (which made me worry a little bit, since it has been snowing off and on around here). Once I realized how many people were up there, I didn't worry too much... also realized that this 'shelf' was not the super narrow barely fit one car shelf that I had envisioned.

Pretty funny, can anyone spot the contradictions in this picture?
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/007.jpg[/img]

Scenery starts improving and I stop at my first overlook along the ~26mile "trail" (Yes, trail is in quotes bc it was a graded road).
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/013.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/025.jpg[/img]

Lots of rock canyons to go through which could be great shots for the jeeps!
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/028.jpg[/img]

I saw a spot where a bunch of tire tracks went up in the trees... so I decided to explore and went about 3/4 mile up this trail (founda big 10ft sheet of ice after my tires knocked the snow off of it, luckily there was a bypass off to the right, so I continued for a bit, then decided to check my book to see if I was on a legal trail or not. Realized I was heading up (CORRECTION I believe I was on Saran Wrap) Saran Wrap Trail, which has a really steep and extremely narrow shelf road... so I turned around before getting into a tight spot (since again, I was alone with out cell reception).
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/031.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/032.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/110.jpg[/img]

Cool meadow before heading up what I believe is Saran Wrap Trail (EDITED to be more accurate about trails):
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/036.jpg[/img]

Tunnel along Gold Mtn Trail, this used to be a narrow gauge railway.
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/040.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/041.jpg[/img]

Once I exited Gold Mtn Trail, I came upon American Eagle Overlook (which allows you to look into a huge operational gold mine)
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/053.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/056.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/061.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/068.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/070.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/071.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/073.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/092.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/083.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/085.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/100.jpg[/img]

Found my next set of tires:
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/075.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/115.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/124.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/105.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/113.jpg[/img]

The sunset overlooking Cripple Creek on my way home:
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/139.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/Gold%20Camp%20Rd/161.jpg[/img]

I'll keep posting pics of my adventures if people are enjoying them... please let me know

[Franeebeth]

Great scenic shots . I like to hear about it. Keep 'em coming!

[RyanSBCA]

Thanks! I'll try to have some better commentary, I just put this one together really quick.

BTW, GJ... any reason that when I'm typing my post, the stupid box keeps sliding back up so I can't see what I'm typing?! Is it bc I'm using IE and not FireFox or Opera or some superiour web browser?

[Desert Dog]

Very nice groupings on the map

[Dirty LJ]

Great pics and write up!

As for the sliding box....I'm not sure I will look into it.

[RyanSBCA]

[quote="Dirty LJ"]

As for the sliding box....I'm not sure I will look into it.[/quote]

Do you know what I'm talking about?

I think I'll keep doing some 'blogs/writeups' of my adventures... post them on Infectious... and then post the infectious link to other forums I find interesting... get us more traffic!!!

B-Rad is already making himself known on the CO JKO Forum... posted up today talking about how there should be some IOR Chapters in CO! He's a good guy... miss having him around the Forum!