Land Rover National Rally
June, 2011
Breckenridge, Colorado
Having finished our visit at Yellowstone National Park, we packed up and drove one last time south through Yellowstone. But this time it was with the motorhome and trailer. Below Yellowstone is Grand Teton National Park, so we passed through it on our way to Jackson, Wyoming, with Steamboat Springs and other unique towns along the way to Breckenridge.
Horse outfitters working inside Yellowstone.
Some Towns and sights on the way to Breckenridge
Our Place in Breckenridge
Trail Runs Of The 2011 National Rally
Officially, there were only three trail run days for the rally, but it was a four day rally. The non-trail day was for exploring the town, other site seeing, and for the vendor event where those who sponsored the rally could show their wares, and network with the attendees.
It was at this vendor event where we met the guys who were building superchargers for Defenders. We did eventually buy one of these superchargers, and it did add some power to the engine, but they neglected to inform us that we would have combustion detonation problems if we didn't run super high octane gas. You know, the type that can not be bought at the gas station. So not practical or useful for regular vehicle use, and a waste of $5,000.00.
Since the town was quite small, it certainly didn't need a whole day to take it all in. What we did instead was get together with some of the other members of the Arizona Land Rover Owners club, and go on our own trail run for the day. It was actually two different trails, but both were easy to string together and made for a great day.
Boreas Pass – Private Trail Run
Red Cone – Private Trail Run, With Mountain Goats!
Chihuahua Gulch – Rally Trail Run
Our first official trail run of the rally, the Chihuahua Gulch trail didn't go to the same high elevation as the other trails, and because of this we spent the time in the trees and lush green foliage. The gulch, or rather the pristine valley in which the trail meanders through, was rich in rock rubble and rushing water. Small snow patches still lingered on the mountain tops, and this provided the source for the flow. The trail run for the day finished at an old abandoned mine before we headed back to Breckenridge.
North Fork – Rally Trail Run, with Mountain goats!
The North Fork trail was particularly special because of the group of mountain goats that we came across once we got up onto the ridge line. Like the goats we encountered on the Red Cone trail two days earlier, they were fairly unaffected by our presence. These animals, who were shedding their winter coats, simply moved a short distance away onto the side of the embankment where they knew we couldn't follow. To get these shots of them I had to scramble down the bank onto my own rock out cropping, and then use a long lens to bring them close in.
Peak 10 – Rally Trail Run
This trail run was a very easy and convenient one. Unlike the others where some driving on the highways was necessary to reach the trail head, Peak 10 started right from the staging area in the parking lot of the ski lift. From there we just drove up the ski hill service road until we got above the lifts. From there the trail got a bit rougher, but since it was still a service road for a microwave tower that was virtually at the top of our trail, it was still easily driven. We couldn't drive right to the summit, so about half the group elected to climb the last 200 vertical feet up the bolder pile to reach it. The 360º view from the top was fantastic.
