Hey Guys!
I'm excited to share more details about our upcoming overnight run before registration opens this Saturday the 24th. It’s going to be an unforgettable adventure! We’ll kick things off with a Sunday morning journey over Medano Pass into the breathtaking Great Sand Dunes National Park, enjoy an overnight camp in Salida, and then continue our trek to Silverton on Monday morning.
Here’s the game plan: We’ll gather in Walsenburg on Sunday morning to fuel up. Once we’re ready, we’ll likely split into two groups to navigate Medano Pass. This trail is easy, picturesque, and rewarding, with no vehicle requirements—your trusty stock Cruiser will do just fine! We’ll air down at the trailhead and then air up once inside the park.
If you haven’t visited the Great Sand Dunes National Park yet, you’re in for a real treat! The view is absolutely stunning, especially as you first glimpse the dunes emerging from Medano. We’ll take a break in the park, giving everyone a chance to explore the dunes and perhaps even hike up if you’re up for the challenge.
After our park visit, we’ll head to our campsite near Salida. It’s about a 1.5-hour drive on pavement, so we’ll air up before departing the park. Don’t worry if you don’t have a compressor; there’s an air station at the park, and we’ll have plenty of compressors among us to ensure everyone is covered.
Once we reach Salida, we’ll decide whether to refuel before heading to the campsite. If everyone’s good on fuel, we might opt to refuel the next morning before setting off for Silverton.
Our camp is primitive—no water, electricity, or hookups—just a place to park and pitch your tent. We’ll be a few miles from civilization, but we should have cell service. Tim from Gamiviti, along with some friends, has generously offered to cook dinner for everyone on Sunday night. It’ll be a delicious camp meal, so bring a chair for seating. We’ll also provide beer and soft drinks for all to enjoy.
After dinner, if there’s no fire ban, we’ll gather around a bonfire for some good times. It’s going to be a blast, but remember, we have an early start the next morning
On Monday morning, we’ll break camp and hit the road by 8 a.m. It’s a long, scenic journey to Silverton, with 95% of it off pavement, which is perfect for your stock Cruiser. We aim to reach Crockies 2 HQ and Camp in Silverton by around 4 p.m., allowing time for errands, setting up camp, and joining the Welcome Party.
We’ll maintain a steady pace to keep on schedule, with minimal stops. I've done this run many times, and it’s super fun and beautiful, even at a brisk pace. Tim and I will lead at our natural speed, which isn’t overly fast but is quicker than some. If you prefer a slower pace below 10-15 mph off-road, this might not be the ideal run for you.
As we near the end of the run, we’ll choose between Cinnamon Pass or Engineer Pass to reach Silverton. We’ll decide which route to take as we go.
Fuel won’t be an issue; we’ll top off Sunday morning in Walsenburg and again before heading to Silverton on Monday. We’ll provide dinner on Sunday night, but please prepare for your own lunches, snacks, and breakfast.
Registration opens at 12 p.m. EDT on Saturday, with spots for 14 drivers. Each registration covers one truck and however many guests you can fit in. COTR4 attendees get first dibs, followed by Cruisers on the Rockies 1 attendees on Sunday at 12 p.m. EDT. If any spots remain, they’ll be available to Cruisers on the Rockies 2 attendees on Monday at 12 p.m. EDT.
This run is a special reward for our East Coast adventurers, and I’m also planning something exciting for our West Coast friends at COTR5 in Tennessee. Get ready for an amazing journey!
Oh, one more thing: You’ll be responsible for your National Park Pass. Each pass covers the driver and everyone in the vehicle and is valid for 7 days at any National Park. Plus, we’ll be offering a day trip from Silverton to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park during the event, so your pass will also be good there if you decide to join in.
See you soon!
Lee