Parking @ Jones Pass?

[mannix]

Hey all - went for a short hike at Jones this morning. Found the dirt road, went up to the obvious-ish parking area on the left, where the road enters the trees/the signs are. Parked there, hiked up a fair bit.

Question: Can you park down in the open area by the Henderson entrance, or do you HAVE to drive up the road a bit to that (awfully small looking) parking area?

I tried to envision the area with snowbanks. Not sure how that's going to work out; my trailer is pretty big (although no bigger than a 4-place sled trailer/enclosed monster - and I don't see an F350 crew cab with 4-place/enclosed turning around up there).

What am I missing? I just did not see a ton of parking opportunities up there.

Thanks!



Iain (king of dawn patrol, I'll get a spot - but my van/trailer will take up a LOT of the available space on the dirt section....)

 

[CO_MapMaker]

You can park down below near Henderson Operations but not usually nessesary unless the lot is full which can make it hard to turn around. Henderson clears the lot pretty well after snow.

 

[mannix]

Excellent, thanks!


Iain

 

[highstick]

Watch out for the Greenies

I had to back truck and trailer all the way back down from that lot on the weekend because it was full of xcountry skiers that parked in middle of the lot. Just as easy to park below if you're coming in late. Also the lot gets icy.

 

[highstick]

Jone Pass South Side

anybody tried riding up the other road, I think it's called Butler Gultch? It splits off to the left at Henderson.

 

[mannix]

anybody tried riding up the other road, I think it's called Butler Gultch? It splits off to the left at Henderson.

Butler Gulch (~1/4 mile past the parking lot on the left) is a no-motor area; it is pretty poorly marked - the wood sign at the fork in the road does have the "no snowmobiles" sign there, and the Henderson Mine people have put one up at the gate itself (which gets buried).

I've seen sled tracks up there while backcountry skiing - they do make good skin-tracks, makes the up-part a whole lot faster - but we're not supposed to go back there.



Iain

 

[mannix]

I had to back truck and trailer all the way back down from that lot on the weekend because it was full of xcountry skiers that parked in middle of the lot. Just as easy to park below if you're coming in late. Also the lot gets icy.

Yeah, I think I'll probably park down low, just in case. 2wd van, relatively big trailer, studded snows and chains if needed, but riding the snowmobile up the road (assuming it has snow on it) is a whole lot easier than the brain damage I envisioned walking around up there a few weeks ago.

It was not a problem parking there with a Subaru WRX/no trailer, but, ehhh. We'll see.

Looks like snow is in the forecast. Finally. I'm not TOUCHING the sled until enough falls to ride - I'm way ahead of the curve right now, and I think that's jinxing me.



Iain

 

[BackCountryBob]

It would probably be a good idea to get some miles under your track else where before you tackle Jones Pass in early season. Lots of rocks, off camber and very few riders to help out if you have a problem. Riding a mountain sled is alot harder than you think.

BCB

 

[mannix]

Gotit. Admittedly, I'm not seeing it, but I'll take your word for it. I don't assume that I'll get on and be able to outride Burandt, but I can't imagine not being able to make it move from point A to point B.

Jones is appealing because it is close, although I expect that if Jones has enough snow, so will Rollins Pass Road on the east side. First time out, I just want to ride the darned thing around, figure out what's going to break, figure stuff out.

Dunno. I'm guessing it'll be a reality check when I get it into 2' of snow for the first time.

Looking forward to it.


Iain

 

[BackCountryBob]

Most of the guys I ride with do a test and tune ride at Grand Lake. You never know what to expect the firet ride out after a summer lay away. We reserve Jone for later season riding after the base has set-up.

The dealers parts department get might busy in November/December.

BCB

 

[coloradoman25]

Gotit. Admittedly, I'm not seeing it, but I'll take your word for it. I don't assume that I'll get on and be able to outride Burandt, but I can't imagine not being able to make it move from point A to point B.

Jones is appealing because it is close, although I expect that if Jones has enough snow, so will Rollins Pass Road on the east side. First time out, I just want to ride the darned thing around, figure out what's going to break, figure stuff out.

Dunno. I'm guessing it'll be a reality check when I get it into 2' of snow for the first time.

Looking forward to it.


Iain

2'? Wait till you hit 5' 6' 10' drifts lol I thought I could ride till I moved here. Trust me you will get a reality check. I was a flatlander for years. About the first 10 minutes I sunk DEEEEEEEEEEEEEp.

 

[mannix]

I was a flatlander for years. About the first 10 minutes I sunk DEEEEEEEEEEEEEp.

Heh, this is going to be funny - I've never really been a flatlander, but you can count the time I've spent on a sled in minutes.

Literally, like 30-45. On hard snow.

Don't care - it is going to be a lot of fun either way, will certainly update this thread as it goes on.

Grand Lake is just a long drive for a test-day; Jones is SOOOO much closer.

Dunno. We need snow before I worry about _where_, because "where" is a REALLY long drive right now!


Iain

 

[backcountryislife]

The best rule of thumb if you have a trailer at jones seems to be, if there's fresh snow on the upper road, park down low. between the freeheelers & the DB sledders that feel the need to block a whole section of the lot off, it'll be better. If the road is dry, head up.