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PAGE 3 OF THE SECOND ISSUE OF CAMPFIRE TALES
In the beginning, Campfire Tales had no pictures.  Just the story.  Keep in mind this story was written in 1985.  The trails have changed a lot since that time.

This issue includes
Taylor Pass

Pearl Pass.

PEARL PASS  -  ANOTHER OF THE MANY ADVENTURES OF PASS PATROL

The sharp rocks on Pearl Pass were taking their toll.  With the slippery surface of the trail, the vehicles were sliding sideways and hitting the sidewall on the sharp points.  Our sidewalls were taking more abuse than they could handle.

A little farther down the road, the Bronco slid off one rock and high centered on another.  CJ winched me off the rock but it had already taken out another of my tires.  The count was three.  Mother Nature was not letting up on the rain so everything was soaking wet and slippery.  The point where the Bronco was sitting was so steep, just holding it in place was tricky.  It was still a few hundred feet to a level area.  It would be nearly impossible to get back up once we went down, but at the bottom of the steep rocky incline was a grassy spot between some pines.  My only hope was to get to the bottom before the tire went completely flat.  With a mighty “Hi ho Silver!” I charged down the mountain.  The tire didn’t make it.  It went completely flat and came off the rim.

We were at about 11,000 feet with three trucks and four flat tires.  The Bronco made it to the grassy area running on the rim but that would be the end of its travels on that day.  It had to be left behind.  We took three of its wheels and crowded into the Jeep and the Nissan pickup.  Talk about cozy.

We continued down the trail for another two hours before we saw pavement.  There were no tires big enough for a Bronco in Crested Butte so we went to Gunnison.  No tires to fit a Bronco there either.

At about 7pm, (a long time since breakfast) we ate at a Pizza Hut.  There was only one thing to do.  CJ headed home to Colorado Springs.  My kids and I went to Grand Junction with Nissan Leader.

Tuesday, September 3, we bought five tires.  (One for the Nissan and four for the Bronco.)  After Nissan Leader handled a few service calls, we headed for Crested Butte.  We arrived late afternoon and found CJ waiting for us to tackle Pearl Pass from the bottom up.