Thinking of heading there tomorrow. Anyone been up there? How is it?
Anybody been on Rabbit Ears/Buff. Pass
- Thread starter jeff6054
- Start date
Thanks for the update. Might giver a couple more weeks.
Good idea. I'm gonna hold off as well. Generally don't even start till mid December.
Head on out. The riding at Buffalo Pass is pretty good for this early in the year. Got up to the radio tower and the depth there was 3 feet. Found plenty of meadows over the 4 foot depth mark. There was also a good base with some fresh snow on top. Boondocked in the meadows and trees all day and did some hillclimbing. We carved up a bunch of meadows and didn't hit anything worthwile. Bounced over a few stumps and rocks a couple times but you could do the same thing come Jan too. Still got to a little careful but we had a good day overall. We were the only trailer in the parking lot and came across another 2 riders all day other than the forest service guys that were adding some trail markers.
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insomniac62
Well-known member
Rabbit Ears conditions / Hotel ideas
Planning on heading there this friday, Dec 2nd. Can anyone give me a more recent update? would greatly appreciate it!!!
also....any heads up on where to stay? never ridin here...plan on riding a few days then dropping sleds off in kremmling to get turboed....
any info would be great! Thanks!
Planning on heading there this friday, Dec 2nd. Can anyone give me a more recent update? would greatly appreciate it!!!
also....any heads up on where to stay? never ridin here...plan on riding a few days then dropping sleds off in kremmling to get turboed....
any info would be great! Thanks!
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insomniac62
Well-known member
Having never ridin the area....anyone got any detailed directions on how to get to an unloading area? suggestions?
anything at all would be great, thanks in advance all
anything at all would be great, thanks in advance all
Which direction are you coming from?
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insomniac62
Well-known member
coming from aberdeen, SD.....I-70 then up through kremmling....
If you are staying in Kremmling, I suggest the Allington. They have a nice place and offer some pretty good sledder discounts. You just have to ask.
Also, head up Highway 40 until you pass the Walden turnoff, keep going and your first parking area will be on the left. It's at the bottom of the Pass and is pretty isolated from the sun. So, it's colder but you have less mud. If you continue up a couple miles, you come up on a "split" parking area alongside the Highway. Great for in and out parking but you fall victim to poor parking by others and gravel slinging from the CDOT plow trucks. Then go another 1/2 mile and the next parking area is the Muddy Creek lot. It is on the right (north) side and is a drive in lot that sees the sun, but is protected from major wind and is a pretty good lot with waste facilities. Parking can be a nightmare at times, mostly when the snow conditions are ideal. If that lot is full, then you can go West approx. two miles and you come upon the Dumont lot, which is also right off the highway. Conditions there can be downright miserable on a snowy and very windy day as there is zero wind protection. This is the last lot you can park in.
Hope this helps.
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P Money
Well-known member
Jeeze one would think you've been there a time or two, ha!
I would definitely suggest staying north on 80 at least and going through Laramie then hwy 230 to Walden!! 70 blows and there are sled shops in Laramie if you need anything on the way, I guess getting a sticker for CO might be an issue... But I think I'd rather risk a ticket then come all the way down to 70, through Denver, through the foothills BS and then back up to RE...
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I would suggest the Walden Route as well. I have purchased a permit in Walden at the city office deal that the police and every other city departments are located. Here is a full list of places to purchase permits.
http://www.parks.state.co.us/SiteCo...rams/Registrations/Agent Locations - Snow.xls
Call ahead to make sure they are not out of them. I had to go on a wild goose chase to get one a couple weeks ago.
http://www.parks.state.co.us/SiteCo...rams/Registrations/Agent Locations - Snow.xls
Call ahead to make sure they are not out of them. I had to go on a wild goose chase to get one a couple weeks ago.
You can get the tags online.
As for the Walden route, I have done it and if the weather is snowy, windy and cold, you will wish you were on I70, where if something bad happened, emergency services could be with you fast. The Walden route, you never know. Guess it depends on how many volunteers are available to respond.
As for the Walden route, I have done it and if the weather is snowy, windy and cold, you will wish you were on I70, where if something bad happened, emergency services could be with you fast. The Walden route, you never know. Guess it depends on how many volunteers are available to respond.
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BackCountryBob
Well-known member
If there are ground blizzards they shut the road down--best to go to NOAA or CDOT and check weather/road conditions.
BCB
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snowplow
New member
im from the east side of SD and we go out on hwy 44 to mission, down to valentine to north platte and out to larimie and then to walden. we stay at north park inns and suites. talk to dave and he will help you with every thing from soup to nuts and parking lot routes. walden is a fun town full of good people. now the snow is better on the east side of the mountain as we just got home sunday.
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insomniac62
Well-known member
thanks for all the great information, everyone! Its greatly appreciated!
In town Steam Boat worked great for my group last year, forgot what hotel we stayed at now but it was pretty reasonable tho, good night life too after riding for the day.
