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Moon/Gamble Gulch - Aug 4th 2007 |
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From Pathrat:
I am one of the many four-wheelers in Colorado that rely on the trail description book by Charles A. Wells, Colorado Backroads and 4-Wheel Drive Trails (2006; FunTreks, Inc; P.O Box 3127, Monument CO, 80132). This afternoon we did Moon and Gamble Gulch trail, page 105 of Mr. Wells trail guide.
Moon and Gamble Gulch is a fun, short trail close to Denver with enough
challenges to keep your attention.
After turning west off Hwy 119 onto Moon Gulch Road and resetting the
odometer, the directions state that the trail starts on the left at
mile 2.4. The trail actually takes off to the left at about 2.9-3.0,
depending on how quickly you reset. Off to the left of the trail is a
flat spot where I have seen campers set up, and Mr. Wells is correct in
describing the aspens flanking the road. At 2.0, our directions
dictate crossing a small stream and proceeding one tenth of a mile to
make a hard left up a hill. If you don't have a Jeep, you will make at
least a four point turn. Watch out for the thick dead-looking branch
on the right side of the trail just waiting to gouge out your back
windshield. However, you really don't have to do this. At 2.0, on
your left, there is a rock-lined 'trail' that will take you to the same
spot as the pain in the neck left turn at 2.1. If your vehicle cannot
make it up this section of the trail, proceed no further: you will
break or maim something that you value having intact on your ride. At
the top of this section of trail Mr. Wells specifically advises us to
not traverse, you will find the road listed at our directions given
between mile marker 2.1 and 2.6. Cross the little stream by the
shallow pond. The road is to your left and does not look
well-traveled. Also, do not take the steep inclined trail to the right
when the trail forks just past the pond. Going back behind you is the
road coming up from the unnecessary hard left noted at 2.1 miles. The
best advice is to have a GPS unit. Mr. Wells' coordinates were spot
on. We used our GPS and his coordinates to find the route for
ourselves and a few Jeeps behind us.
The trail is listed as moderate, less difficult than the Kingston Peak
trail. I did Kingston last weekend and comparatively, that road is
cake. I will have to disagree. There has been significant weathering
of the trail. Many sections are just rock, no dirt. The rocks can be
sizeable, but nothing like the boulder fields of the more hardcore
trails; just little to not as little pointy rocks waiting to pop your
tires. The descent to Gamble Gulch is difficult. There is a turn
hidden by trees with a sizeable, tippy driver's side hole. I watched
as the Jeep in the lead had to correct. Go around? You can't clear
the trees on the passenger side and the boulder on the driver's side so
you have to maneuver though the dip. I had to head in, back up and
correct my course twice, but it is manageable.
Moon and Gamble Gulch is a fun, short trail close to Denver with enough
challenges to keep your attention. Just be aware as there are side
roads everywhere.
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