Camp Hale, Colorado

Holy Cross Trail On Saturday August 27, 2005. The Holy Cross Jeep trail is south of Minturn. To get there take highway 24 south to FS 703, go west and follow the signs to Blodgett Campground continue for about 8 miles till you get to the trail entrance F.S. 759. The road on the way to the trail is severely washboarded, so air down early to make the ride a bit more bearable.

There were quite a few Jeeps for the run this year, the entire club and invited guests totaling 22 Jeeps for the trail. Here is the 1st part of the line-up at Camp Hale getting ready...

with most of the 2nd part of the group, hard to fit 22 Jeeps into 2 pictures.

Once on the trail it gets down to business rapidly. The inital start is moderate to difficult and we lost our first Jeep to mechanical problems on this part, the rear axle gave out on Bryan Armstrong's YJ.

The trail is rated as an 8 and becomes extreme at French Creek and above.

As the posted sign advises, BE PREPARED!

Here is Mark n Sherri going over one of the few optional obstacles,

and then going up the slightly easier right side of a mandatory obstacle.

Followed by Dan and Rachel. Good flex there Dan.

Then Dan going up the more difficult line on the left side of the mandatory obstacle.

Followed by Jeff and Kim, on the optional obstacle,

and then the harder left line. Seems to be a pattern here.

and next Ryan's Jeep,

followed by Loren Nelson in his Jeep Scrambler,

then Todd Dunbar in his Cherokee XJ,

then Dean,

then Sam,

Then Ben & Jan,

Then Jeff,

and in the tailgunner position was Craig, spotted by Roy. The only damage at this first major obstacle was a broken right rear shock on Doug Landin's Rubicon, broke the top mount and had to remove the shock.

Now it was time to move on to the French Creek obstacles. Everybody walked up to inspect and check on the lines for crossing the boulders. This obstacle was going to require teamwork and good spotting skills.

With the Jeeps lined up at the beginning of the French Creek crossing.

Mark starting up the creek, negotiating the nasty diff catching boulders,

and Mark decides to take the left line over the end of the boulder obstacles, navigates it without too many problems and with some good spotting by Dan...

Mark is Up and Over the easier left line.

Then it was Dan's turn, without too much of a problem (got to love those front lockers).

Jeff decides to try the harder center line, with Ryan spotting, but...

after several attempts, ended up backing up and taking the left line. Unfortunately he wasn't able to get lined up for this angle after starting from the center line and ended up getting caught on one of those dagnabbed diff catching boulders.

So with some human power from the group, he got spun around it, just enough to get up.

Next was Don Geiser's turn in his TombRaider Edition Rubicon.

Then Todd makes it in his Cherokee,

Next Loren decides to take the hardest line, up and over the waterfalls on the right side,

making it look too easy in his Scrambler. Got to love the 35"s and V-8 w/automatic.

And with a final spin on the T-Case skid, Loren rotates over the top boulder and is up.

Gregg getting over the boulders, then gets caught up against a big boulder and slips his rear tires off of the back boulders...

and has to get strapped and use his winch to get back on line. All in a days trail running.

Then it was Sam's turn negotiating the creek,

Oooooppps, slipped to the right, off the rock on the drivers side and found a BIG diff catcher, Or TIE ROD BENDER!?

then after some finagling and finesse, Sam's across the creek.

Then it was Dean's turn, but by now the rocks were getting pretty wet and slick,

and again the slip monster got another one, so out came the winch cable...

only this time he was wedged into the rocks on the right and Dean and son got a special treat,

TIPPY TIME... After reconnecting to a tree (using a tree protector strap and snatch block) we got him straightened out and then reconnecting to Sam's jeep, he was pulled up and over the obstacle.

Next was Doug's turn, but by now it was really getting slick as an afternoon shower had come through and he too slipped off and hi-centered, so...

out came a strap and with a little tug, he was off and up.

Then finally Craig and Darla bring up the rear and again with some good spotting...

They are up and over. Next it was on to the "Roots Of Evil" just below Holy Cross City.

Mark n Sherri taking a left line at the roots,

followed by Jeff,

then Gary and Susan's son Michael Sheets,

and next was Steve,

then Don,

followed by Dan,

and next was Sam, not a good choice with the recent rainshower, but he made it up with a little determination.

Next was Dean, going back to the left line,

and then Chris makes it over the obstacle.