Shortcut to Crested Butte
Labor Day weekend started out quiet enough. CJ and his family, Mike from CS, my two boys
and I all met at our usual spot in Johnson’s Village. We used Cottonwood Pass to get into Taylor
Park. That pass is more like a
superhighway than a backroad. From there we zipped on over to Taylor Pass.
Mike had some problems with getting his truck up the rocky
road, but nothing serious happened. We
reached Taylor Lake early in the afternoon and set up camp. Mike immediately proved his fishing talents
by taking the lead in catching brook trout for dinner. CJ and I took his Jeep up Taylor Hill. That is the final climb to the crest of the
pass and it is a challenge. His Jeep
made the trip with no problems at all.
There is a bypass for anyone unable to make the climb.
The next day, Sunday, I tried three times to get my Bronco up the
near-vertical hill, but each time I slipped off into ruts left by other vehicles
that didn’t make it either. All I could
do was back down. Rick and I chose to
explore some other trails while Mike and Kathy fished. The kids panned for gold.
We spent several hours watching other 4wheelers attempt to climb the big hill.
Its sides are gravel and are so steep, it is difficult to walk up with
falling. Everyone ended up on the bypass. By late afternoon, I decided my
Bronco was going up that hill and took off with renewed determination. I found the secret. The way I got through had nothing to do with
staying out of the ruts. It’s all in the
speed of the attempt. After that, I was
going up and down the hill as easily as cruising down a highway.
Later
Sunday, Nissan Leader arrived with his son just in time for a
good fish dinner.
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