Alberta Land Rover Enthusiasts Club Forum
General => Events => Topic started by: Matt H on January 10, 2019, 08:54 PM
The Solihull Society is have having it's Land Rover National Rally (LRNR) in Ouray Colorado this year. Close to many iconic US trails this is an opportunity to travel and meet like minded folks in a relaxed atmosphere.
The dates for the rally are set for 23rd to the 27th of July 2019.
Joy and I are planning on attending. Likely we will rent a cabin or holiday let/house of some sort.
If you are interested you can check out the Solihull Society on the web or Facebook. Alternatively you can post up here and I will relay what I know.
Excited about tackling some truly epic trails and visiting some spectacular locations.
Not sure where this is relative to where you're going, but it might be a nice add-on to the trip.
https://rockymountainoverlandrally.com/?fbclid=IwAR32NM8FFt1gdOxqM-KQFKkl6W4-oIB5uglRLgaWYwqHFRYK2oIOdVknn_8 (https://rockymountainoverlandrally.com/?fbclid=IwAR32NM8FFt1gdOxqM-KQFKkl6W4-oIB5uglRLgaWYwqHFRYK2oIOdVknn_8)
From what I understand they rotate the annual events between Colorado and Moab.....I've always wanted to go on the Colorado trip, but I don't know if I can make it this year.
Hey Matt, shall we make it the first trip added to the 2019 calendar???? ;D
This one might work for me Matt. I haven't been down to the rally in CO yet, beautiful area though with some great wheeling. I have some business to do down in that area this summer. Pretty good chance I can tie this together.
Hope you can make it! The group at Moab last year were a fun bunch. It will be nice to catch up. Thinking about taking the Mighty Range Rover this time?
Really looking forward to trails like Black bear pass, Engineer pass & Imogene Pass.
I've read about these trails countless times in magazines etc and the scenery at those elevations looks breathtaking.
Yes, there's some really iconic trails down in that area. The Rangie would be a good choice this time! I'll have the Disco along.
One thing I will look into is the oxygen kits they sell down there now. I guess you can buy canisters at any service station consisting of O2 and a mask. Us low landers in Alberta aren't used to the high altitudes of that area. I know the last time I wheeled there back in 2011 I suffered some nasty altitude sickness doing Mosquito Pass. We don't see anything close to 10,000+ ft here, whereas pretty much every trail there gets you that high....or higher.
This has potential. Have to see which vehicle can do the trip.
As for oxygen, altitude sickness would be new to me for sure. Good way to clean the lungs
The truck should be doing all the work....you shouldn't have too much trouble with the altitude. ;D
Some members of the Solihull Society are planning on camping at the KOA site I believe?
That may be an option for those not wanting/needing cabin type accommodation. From what I can tell the details are still being worked out.
I'd not considered possible issues with the altitude.
Here you go...easy remedy for altitude sickness ;D
Quote from: binch on January 11, 2019, 12:12 AM
From what I understand they rotate the annual events between Colorado and Moab.....I've always wanted to go on the Colorado trip, but I don't know if I can make it this year.
Hey Matt, shall we make it the first trip added to the 2019 calendar???? ;D
Best TG special EVER! Not least because the Mighty Range Rover's Bolivian cousin steals the show.
It looks like an amazing area Bill, hope you can swing it?. I've never been to that area either so it will be good to go with a group with lots local experience.
Feel free to add it to the club calendar!
Quote from: Matt H on January 12, 2019, 08:29 AM
I'd not considered possible issues with the altitude.
It wasn't a lot of fun. The first night we camped at Vail, right along I70. It's about 8000 ft. Had some drinks, felt fine that evening. Next morning felt a little woozy already from the altitude, but not bad...and had not realized what was happening yet. Once we hit the trail it became progressivley worse. While on the Mosquito Pass trail we ended up climbing a dead-end segment of the trail to over 10k feet. Had to do some winching to get Rob's RRS up that portion, and that little bit of grunt work pretty much finished me off.
From that point on I felt really crappy, light headed, upset stomach...like a really bad hang-over but a lot more light headed.
Once we figured out what was wrong we changed our plans. We were going to camp at Grizzly Lake that night but since it was at fairlly high altitude as well (about 7 - 8k again) we decided to head for lower ground and got a motel room for the night. Heck, even at "low altitudes" in some of those areas you're still higher than anywhere you will wheel or camp in AB. Our motel was about 6000 ft iirc...that'sw about what Ruby Lake is at.
Had a terrible sleep, felt crappy all night, slep in 15 minute spurts basically. It was terrible. Don't want to experience that again, it took about 2 days to fully recover. So I'll definitely be prepared next time.
Everyone is different with altitude effects though. I was packing around extra weight at the time, and my cardio wasn't very good, so I would have definitely been more susceptible to it than someone more fit. or just used to the alts.
When I did the trek to Mt Everest base camp, we always slept lower than the highest level we walked that day. Don't recall any high altitude effects other than less energy the higher we got. Not getting the full measure of oxygen with each breath. Being in my early 20s back then helped a lot. ;D We only had to carry a water bottle and our camera and could not keep up with the porters that were carrying all of the food and equipment. Thought it was strange that going down a hill was harder on the knees than climbing up.
I stumbled upon these reference charts showing the highest roads in Canada, compared to the highest roads in the US. It kinda sets things into perspective and you get a good sense of how really low things are here relative to CO.
Canada...
Mountain pass Elevation Province Surface
Fortress Mountain chairlift 2.303m (7,555ft) Alberta Gravel
Highwood pass 2.206m (7,238ft) Alberta Asphalt
Wolf S3 2.164m (7,099ft) British Columbia Gravel
Snocoach Road 2.120m (6,955ft) Alberta Asphalt
Shunda Mountain 2.090m (6,857ft) Alberta Gravel
Bow pass 2.088m (6,850ft) Alberta Asphalt
Fortress Mountain Resort 2.075m (6,807ft) Alberta Gravel
Grey Creek pass 2.072m (6,800ft) British Columbia Gravel
McBride Peak 2.049m (6,722ft) British Columbia Gravel
Sunwapta pass 2.035m (6,677ft) Alberta Asphalt
Bow Summit 2.027m (6,650ft) Alberta Asphalt
Marmot Basin 1.989m (6,525ft) Alberta Asphalt
Sunwapta Lake 1.960m (6,430ft) Alberta Asphalt
Smith-Dorrien pass 1.905m (6,250ft) Alberta Gravel
Moraine lake 1.885m (6,183ft) Alberta Asphalt
Mount Saint Thomas 1.855m (6,085ft) British Columbia Gravel
Bonanza peak 1.804m (5,918ft) British Columbia Gravel
Kootenay pass 1.775m (5,823ft) British Columbia Asphalt
Mount Edith Cavell 1.767m (5,797ft) Alberta Asphalt
Sunshine Village 1.732m (5,682ft) Alberta Asphalt
Pennask summit 1.728m (5760ft) British Columbia Asphalt
Upper Kananaskis Lake 1.724m (5,656ft) Alberta Asphalt
Mount Norquay 1.720m (5,643ft) Alberta Asphalt
Whitemans Gap 1.715m (5,626ft) Alberta Gravel
Maligne Lake 1.710m (5,610ft) Alberta Asphalt
Vermilion pass 1.680m (5,510ft) AB/BC Asphalt
Kicking Horse pass 1.643m (5,390ft) AB/BC Asphalt
Mount McIntyre 1.567m (5,141ft) Yukon Gravel
Heckman pass 1.524m (5.000ft) British Columbia Gravel
US...
Mountain pass Elevation State County Surface
White Mountain Peak 4.344m (14,252ft) California Mono County Gravel
Mount Bross 4.321m (14,178ft) Colorado Park County Gravel
Mount Evans Byway 4.310m (14,130ft) Colorado Clear Creek County Asphalt
Pikes Peak Highway 4.302m (14,115ft) Colorado El Paso County Asphalt
Mount Lincoln 4.222m (13,854ft) Colorado Park County Gravel
Mauna Kea 4.207m (13,803ft) Hawai'i Hawai'i county Asphalt/Gravel
Mount Antero 4.189m (13,743ft) Colorado Chaffee County Gravel
Kuss Peak 4.136m (13,569ft) Colorado Lake County Gravel
Mosquito Peak 4.127m (13,540ft) Colorado Lake County Gravel
Peak 10 4.082m (13,392ft) Colorado Summit County Gravel
Canada's highest roads are less than half those of the US. Things like the Mosquito Pass are still 4k ft over the 10k mark.
So if you are going on this event keep that in mind. When wheeling in AB you are never at an altitude that one might consider dangerous. When wheeling in CO, however, you are usually never at an altitude that one might consider not dangerous (or close to it) for all of us accustomed to the lower alts. It would be wise to plan accordingly.
Bring a 2.5n/a diesel along as a safety vehicle. It won't go where you're going to have problems! It'll have an asthma attack instead hahahahhahahah
Quote from: binch on January 25, 2019, 04:17 PM
Bring a 2.5n/a diesel along as a safety vehicle. It won't go where you're going to have problems! It'll have an asthma attack instead hahahahhahahah
Lol, yep, that would work too.
Quote from: camo388 on January 13, 2019, 08:24 PM
When I did the trek to Mt Everest base camp
Ok, it was several years ago that you and Bill stayed with us Bruce but I don't remember this ever coming up? Mt Everest! Wow. Some stories to be shared here I'm sure???
After some preliminary reading it would seem that the altitudes we may encounter in the area may present some (maybe serious) issues. That's a good reference Trevor.
I will need to work on my cardio a little bit but more importantly I should want to remember to take things slowly when at the higher elevations.
I've always held that when heading into new areas it makes sense to travel with those with more local experience than yourself and learn what you can from them. The LRNR is great opertunity to experience these areas with Land Rover folks that live with these trails on their doorstep.
You are right Matt. Training for this is essential. I am already doing my medical checks and increasing my excessive levels to see if I can handle the trip. Few runs to Jasper should close my readiness levels.
Quote from: Matt H on January 25, 2019, 11:42 PM
Quote from: camo388 on January 13, 2019, 08:24 PM
When I did the trek to Mt Everest base camp
Ok, it was several years ago that you and Bill stayed with us Bruce but I don't remember this ever coming up? Mt Everest! Wow. Some stories to be shared here I'm sure???
Well basically I went overland from London to Katmandu, public transport from Bangkok to Singapore, then down through Indonesia to Bali and flew on to Darwin. That was first 6 months. Worked and traveled by Triumph motorcycle in Central and East Coast Australia, next 8 months. 6 months working and travelling New Zealand. Return to Australia to earn money for trip to South Africa and Rhodesia. Finally back to England before flying to Halifax and taking train right across Canada to Victoria. Settled in Edmonton after spending 2 1/2 years away. Over the following years many other trips out of Canada though seldom over 1 month as married by then. Only other lengthy trip was shortly after oldest son was born when we traveled to New Zealand and Australia for 6 months trying to decide which country to live in. Settled in Canada because we thought we could always afford to travel back to NZ but from NZ less chance to return to Canada. Australia was just too hot for us.
I doubt the same overland trip could be done today as too much unrest in Middle East and recently have seen pictures where smog hid the Taj Mahal. How sad.
Going down hill in the Khyber Pass we were passed by a '55 Chevy. 4 heads front seat, 4 heads back seat and 4 people in the open boot! Could easily add a few more children to that as they would be below window height. Suspension none, seat belts never used!
Sounds like an epic adventure. I had no idea you are so widely traveled Bruce? I'm insanely jealous, especially this time of year when I'm looking out over bald ass prairie and suffering from a serious case of cabin fever!
As it turns out I have to be down in Grand Junction, CO for business meetings on July 26, so I am going to work the LRNR into that trip. I'm going to take the Camel down this time, should be fun.
Sadly Joy has an unexpected surgery earlier this year and I don't think she will be up to bouncing along any trails yet so I'm not going this time. Perhaps sometime in the future? Hope so. It looks like an epic adventure.
The USA team Camel Trophy is bound to be a big hit Trevor! Such a cool unit and the Yanks will go crazy for the pukka US team Defender 110!
The rally was a lot of fun. There was a writer from LRO International magazine covering the event this year, so you'll be able to read all about it on the October issue.
Colorado had a lot of snow last winter...200% --> 600% more than average. In the Ouray area this has caused delays in opening many of the passes. The iconic trails like Imogene and Black Bear are snowed in. Imogene we ran and were able to get almost to the top before being forced back. Black Bear was a no go and they don't expect to have it open until perhaps October...just in time for the new snows :).
Altitude is definitely a consideration. I had several O2 canisters with me at all times. They sell them at every service station, simple inhaler type setup. Very handy, and a requirement for us low landers who never see meaningful altitudes. Each trail I was on was 10k minimum, a couple were 12.5k (would have beenn 13+ had the passes been open). I found once I started to get near 10k I was feeling the effects. Quick blast of O2...all good!
The trails themselves are far from difficult. They are just ledgy is all, but technically extremely easy imo.
Sounds like the perfect area for Lovejuggs!!!! ROFL ;D
I've been looking at the pictures folks have posted. Amazing! So bummed I had to miss this but fingers crossed for next time.