IntrepidXJ's Adventure Weblog

Those were the words a prospector shouted two miles upstream from Bonanza. That’s how the town got it’s name….and Bonanza would be my destination for the second day of my adventure. This town’s population jumped quickly to around 5,000 in 1880, and those people left just as fast in 1890. I would be exploring the roads that they once traveled and would stop to check out the old mining relics along the way.

Before I could get to Bonanza, I would have to head out from camp. I followed a loop from the side road I had camped along to make my way back to the highway.

When I reached CO 114, I headed southeast to Saguache and filled up my fuel tank. From there I continued on to Villa Grove and then took a left onto the main road that heads into Bonanza along Kerber Creek.

Pretty soon I had reached my destination.

Unfortunately, Bonanza is all private property, so you can’t really do much exploring of the old buildings in town. I did snap a few photos from along the road.

You can check out this cabin at the townsite of Exchequer, which is a few miles north of Bonanza.

Soon I turned off the main road to check out the Slaughterhouse / Kerber Creek loop trail.

Cocomongo Mine and Mill

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Last Wednesday I headed out on my Colorado Adventure. While I didn’t make a set itinerary for the trip this year, there were a few areas that I wanted to explore further, and I tried to connect them into a big loop. From Grand Junction I headed south to Montrose and continued on US 50 towards Gunnison. After a quick side-trip on Blue Mesa and then topping off my gas tank in Gunnison I continued on to CO 114 and my first destination; The Cochetopa Hills. I had driven through this area quickly a few years ago when I took Los Pinos Pass over into the San Juans, and I was itching to get back and explore some more.

Pretty soon I had spotted a side road named Camp Kettle Gulch Road. I figured that it was a good time to get off the pavement and get the real trip started. I was greeted by some nice scenery.

Hardened lava along the road

I didn’t consult a map before heading down this road, so I wasn’t sure if I would be turning back around or finding another way out, but as luck would have it, this road ended up connecting to the Table Top Road and bringing me back to the highway right near the start of Los Pinos Pass…..and right where I wanted to be!

While making my way towards Los Pinos Pass, I passed a sign that I don’t remember from my last trip down this road.

I love checking out historic routes, so I just had to follow this section of the Saguache – San Juan Toll Road constructed by Otto Mears and Enos T. Hotchkiss in 1874.

Much of it was in the trees.

Then I ran into a traffic jam. They were slow to get out of my way….

Two-tracking out of the trees

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I’ve been thinking about picking up a new tent for myself when I am camping alone without Amanda and was looking for something that is very quick and easy to setup. After doing some research I have decided to give the Kamp-Rite Oversize TentCot a try. It meets all the criteria that I was looking for. It can be setup in just a minute or two and it will keep me up off the ground and more comfortable. The oversize model is plenty long for someone my height (6′5″) and the domed roof allows me to sit up inside.

I’m looking forward to trying it out on my Colorado Adventure in just a few weeks

This weekend Amanda and I headed up into the Flat Tops to explore an area we hadn’t been to yet. We started in Dotsero and headed up Coffee Pot Road, following a number of side roads to see where they went. We made a large loop that brought us next to the Flat Tops Wilderness area and to Adam’s Lake, before making our way back to Heart Lake. We setup camp on the shore of Bison Lake for the night. The next morning we checked out the Grizzly Jeep Trail and then made our way down to Glenwood Springs via the Transfer Trail. Here’s a few photos from the weekend.

Headed to the Deep Creek Overlook

View over Deep Creek

Following the little used Coffee Pot Corral Road

Big storm cloud rolling it. It rained for a little bit until this cloud blew over

Ten Mile Park

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I picked up a JetBoil PCS today, just in time for our Moab trip this weekend. We were looking for a quick and easy way to make some meals when we were out camping (especially for a trip I am planning in August….more on that in the future). Plus, it’s an easy way for us to make some hot chocolate out in the field (neither of us drinks coffee).

I really liked the small size and the fact that everything fits nicely inside the cup. It also is supposed to boil water very fast. I guess we ill find out this weekend when we are able to test it in the field

Setup

Packed up

I got a new piece of camping gear from Cabela’s today. The Trekker Fold-A-Privy.

We set it up in our living room and it took only 5 seconds to pop up. Very easy I have heard that some people have had trouble when taking it back down. On my first try it only took about 30 seconds to take back down. It was very simple. Now to try it out in the field!

We got to use our new Kelty Grand Mesa 4 tent this weekend for the first time, and both Amanda and I agree, that we made a good decision with this tent.

We did not have a chance to test setting it up before leaving on our trip this weekend, so our very first time setting it up was at Comb Wash campground in the dark. Even with the darkness, we managed to get the tent setup in approximately 5 minutes. We were looking for a tent that was easy to setup, and I think we found it.

Also, it poured on us all night the first night we were there, and the tent did an excellent job of keeping us dry. There was plenty of room for the both of us with some of our gear inside, and entering/exiting the tent is very easy with the large door opening on the front.

After our last trip to Moab, the old Eddie Bauer tent I have started to really fall apart. I actually bought that tent for my first trip to Moab in 2003, so I guess it’s only fitting that it had it’s demise there as well.

After looking at some tents at the local outdoors stores, we ended up purchasing a Kelty Grand Mesa 4 tent from Amazon.com. It just arrived today, just in time to use this weekend on our trip to the Cedar Mesa area in South Eastern Utah. I should have a review of the tent when I get back