Keeping busy - Old Flowers Rd, CO

SubaCool

SubaCool

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May 23, 2009
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414
Location
Brighton, Colorado
Ok, a week late, but here's the report :raspberry:

Last week's wednesday, we took a little road trip from Brighton to Ft Collins and back through the mountains. Here's the route as I've planned it from Ft Collins to Loveland. Basically, we went up Poudre Canyon to Gateway Park (where we got married 6yrs ago), then turned onto Stove Prairie Rd to Old Flowers Rd, then back via Buckhorn Rd and down on to Loveland and then Brighton. What I thought was gonna take us max of 6hrs ended up taking us 12. We've left home at 9:30am and got back at 9:30pm! I have included Old Flowers Rd in the plan as I've thought it was gonna be an easy trail (according to C. Wells' book :confused: ). Wrong! Just shows that no matter what, one always needs to do his/her homework. Traildamage rates it a 3, so a mild moderate trail. We've spent about 4hrs on the trail and then additional 1.5hrs to get back via Buckhorn rd to Stove Prairie rd. The trail itself wasn't all that bad - after all, by now we're veterans in this kind of stuff :lol: - but it was long and we've spent a ton of time gathering pictures and video. We didn't count on it being challenging, otherwise we would have gone through the day faster. But at the end, it was worth it!

We've had a great time, especially on the trail. Lisa got to try her hand in off-roading her Subie for the first time, and she did pretty good. We've got some great footage and had no damage (although, the hitch took a few hits, but that's normal now :iconwink: ). But, onto the videos:

Disclaimer: As always, these videos don't do justice to some of the hills. In real life, the hills are a lot steeper! :biggrin:​

Drive up Stove Prairie Rd - Roof mounted camera, 2x speed:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb34cOc-r1Y"]YouTube - Stove Prairie rd[/ame]​

Getting artsy with a cattle guard crossing on Old Flowers Rd:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fteLJ23I7vM"]YouTube - Cattle guard Xing[/ame]​

Lisa driving along a wooden fence:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8I0IT_o5NU"]YouTube - Along a fence[/ame]​

Lisa hitting a small puddle:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5cY5sfL_v0"]YouTube - Lisa driving[/ame]​

Lisa's first major obstacle, and me walking her through it:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaKPq0NNQuY"]YouTube - Lisa offroading[/ame]​

Lisa going up a rough patch (first part sped up):
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wktqn6p-Uo8"]YouTube - Lisa up the trail[/ame]​

Driving through the forest (on the first part, check out what a rear sway bar delete does to wheel travel on an Outback!):
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7sgguVLrFw"]YouTube - On the trail[/ame]​

Just another drive-by:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUUmEwfeJOA"]YouTube - Another driveby[/ame]​

>>>​
 
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This hill was much steeper than it looks and at the top there was a nasty mogul that required some momentum. Lisa had decided to give it a try, even after nearly running over a biker that apparently didn't know about the uphill right of way (or was too shocked when he saw us). She had tried it total of four times while I was spotting for her, but each time she chickened out at the top and lifted off the throttle, slowing down. She couldn't see what was at the top and she didn't walk it, but she did great. She has tried it 4x and had to back down the hill 4x, but without damage or without freaking out. She had even tried it from a dead stop once:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iea0XdF7Ldo"]YouTube - Lisa Trying a Hill[/ame]

Lisa had enough after the fourth time so I've taken over. I had no problems, but I credit that to spotting for her. I've had enough time to see what I was gonna be driving over. When cresting the mogul, the car just needed enough momentum to transfer the LF wheel over and lift the rear end up quickly before loosing traction. Notice the RR tire lifting up into the air. That's at least 2ft above the dip bellow it :rock:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPrGaTiEJr0"]YouTube - Kubo Trying a Hill[/ame]

Gotta love the drivebys:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rT8T98fRkI"]YouTube - Aspen Meadow Driveby[/ame]

Came up to a rutted muddy section, so I've ordered Lisa (the camera-woman) out:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8KGCRLY7OA"]YouTube - Muddy Ruts, p1[/ame]

Part 2 of muddy ruts:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lYc865PDZk"]YouTube - Muddy Ruts, p2[/ame]

Who says I've got no clearance? :biggrin: Dropping down into a stream:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9DpdeBBWFY"]YouTube - Sharp Drop into a Stream[/ame]

And who says it can't climb hills? :raspberry: Here's one with some moguls on it, even got briefly "stuck" at the top (sorry, Lisa had lost track of where I was for a moment, but I made it over the top without having to take a second run at it!):
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi-l06RzPEs"]YouTube - Climbing a Hill w Moguls[/ame]​
 
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Few teasers:

Gateway Mountain Park entry in Poudre Canyon:
2931576230101960247S425x425Q85.jpg


A rock tunnel on Hwy 14:
2194893880101960247S425x425Q85.jpg


Up the trail on Old Flowers Rd:
2904407050101960247S425x425Q85.jpg


Into the stream on OFR:
2368520090101960247S425x425Q85.jpg


Pano shot on Buckhorn Rd:
2438347130101960247S500x500Q85.jpg


​

Here's the slideshow: https://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/574799368ZUNbbX
 
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Great vids SubaCool :biggrin:
Those rutts in "Muddy Rutts pt2" look nice & deep. :eek:
Watching you drive through them was brilliant. Well done mate :)

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
See, you did it again. :rolleyessarcastic: Now I have to post something to subscribe to the thread so I can come back later when I have time to watch all your videos. Jeez folks....:iconwink::lol:
 
Thanks Turbo! Those ruts made me a bit uncomfortable at first, but then I just went for it. I did drag a$$ through it a bit though, when the rear tires went in. I could have taken a different line through it, but whan fun would have that been :p Good soft mud, no damage to the bumper (I've barely touched it...)

Carl, I'm sorry :raspberry: NOT!!! :biggrin:
 
Fresh cup 'o coffee, ready to begin watching all these dang-doodily-darned videos and slide show. start the timer....:raspberry:
 
...20 mins.!!!:ebiggrin: Awesome, I just give y'all a hard time cause I'm jealous.:biggrin: Beautiful out there. Grasshopper shot gave me a good chuckle.:lol: Someday I'm gonna' get out there to hang/wheel with you and Smash...someday...:)
 
carljwnc said:
...20 mins.!!!:ebiggrin: Awesome, I just give y'all a hard time cause I'm jealous.:biggrin: Beautiful out there. Grasshopper shot gave me a good chuckle. Someday I'm gonna' get out there to hang/wheel with you and Smash...someday...:)
Click to expand...
:lol: Start planning for next year! I hear something might be going on in July :iconwink:
 
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