Tin Cup Pass, CO info?

[Nonstop]

Hey everyone,

Im going to be a new Colorado resident and i really want to get up in them hills. Has anyone ever taken the route from St. Elmos over Tin Cup Pass and to the Reservoir? I know its rocky but the online info has it rated at a 2 and that any stock SUV can make it. I drive a 2005 stock subaru Baja with 8.4 clearance. What do yall think? Any advice or good stories from someone who has been there would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Zach

 

[ericstell]

Ive never done it sorry . but maby u should join up for our full moon trip aug 31 set 1 and 2 we will be doiover webster pass . we have done it two times before .and i had a stock 1995 legacy wagon with about 6 inches of clearence the first time

 

[Darkanion]

From what I have read, it varies year to year, depending on how hard the winter was..

I would suggest hitting some of the Colorado 4x4 websites and see what folks there have to say..

 

[mr turbo]

G'day Nonstop & to ORS.

Unfortunately I can't help or give you any help info about that particular area. However I'm sure others will pop in & be able to help you out

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Darkanion]

Thinking back, I believe I tried Tincup from St Elmo one time in a rented Jeep Grand Cherokee, back on '06.. That year, a little ways up the road (a couple of miles, maybe?), the "road" turned into what my friend and I referred to as "giant bowling balls."

At the time, I didn't have much off-road experience. I tried to pick the lines I thought were best. But, after a couple of "BANG! scraaaaaapes" on the undercarriage, I figured out a probably 10 pt turn-around in a little bit of a creek bed that crossed the road and went back down..

BEAUTIFUL country up there, but I was too afraid of tearing something up. So, we bailed and went somewhere else..

IF I was on the right trail, though, I am very surprised at what TrailDamage.com had to say about it.. So, maybe I took a wrong turn somewhere and was on some other pass/trail out of St Elmo..

 

[Nonstop]

Thanks for all the feedback and greetings. Thats the thing about Tin Cup pass, ive read write ups and looked at websites like traildamage and similar and just cant get a good read on it.

DARKANION: Maybe you turned onto Old Tin Cup? i read that route is much more difficult.

Anyway, as with a lot of things, sometime you just got to man up and check it out for yourself, but like Darkanion, i believe the only thing more important than having the gonads to push yourself, is to have the sense to know when its time to turn back.

ERICSTELL: That sounds awesome! Ive read about Webster and looked at some youtube videos id defintley be interested in joining. I cant commit 100 percent yet but I can let you know closer to the date. Should i just let you know, or is there a group link?

Since were on the topic of conquering passes maybe i can ask this here instead of starting a new thread. Im moving from the east coast of Virginia which is basically at sea level. Is there anything I should know about driving at altitude? Are there any improvements I can make to my Baja that will help it in the thin air? I was thinking of throwing on a K & N air filter, is this just a waste of time and money?

Thanks again to everyone who responded.

Cheers,
Zach

 

[Darkanion]

Maybe so.. We didn't have good maps with us and thought "this could be fun! let's give it a shot!" Like you said, though, more important than pushing yourself to check things out is having sense enough to know when it's time to turn back..

We retreated back to an open / meadow area, had lunch, and settled down some before completing our retreat back to paved roads for most of the rest of the trip..

 

[ericstell]

Let me know when you try this I'd like to try to join .but for now full moon trip over Webster is a must for me cause a few others have planed to make it

 

[mr turbo]

i believe the only thing more important than having the gonads to push yourself, is to have the sense to know when its time to turn back.

Very true & well said.
It's smarter to turn around & be able to tell the tale, than to risk it all & not be able to share that tale.

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Darkanion]

One other thing to add about different levels of competency...

Just because the vehicle is capable of something doesn't mean the loose nut behind the wheel is equally capable.

So, yeah, knowing when to turn around is a very good thing to know...

 

[ericstell]

One other thing to add about different levels of competency...

Just because the vehicle is capable of something doesn't mean the loose nut behind the wheel is equally capable.

So, yeah, knowing when to turn around is a very good thing to know...

I think youre correct . but haveing the know how and drive is very important in a person . or we all would just give up every time we had a worrie in life . i like to at least try my best till i know i cant make it any more .you.should come join us sum time soon dark .