Gillespie Gulch
We always get a big group when we do this trail, and this time there were 12 vehicles when we finally got to the trail at noon. No one broke or dented anything and Brian even did Nugget Hill. We even managed to make it off the trail before the sun went down, which rarely happens with a group that big.
It started off pretty mellow and by the time we got to the Black Rose Mine everyone was hungry so we ate in the sunshine. The dogs played and the kids ran around and everyone was ready to get on the rocks. There was a lot of running water on the trail so we were expecting mud in the shady areas.
When we got to the hill before the cabin there were a few who tried the big rock on the left and a few who weaved around the rocks. Jesse had a challenging time with the steepness of the hill because he couldn't keep his Bronco running (no fuel injection). He messed with it and managed to make it through to the cabin.
When we hit the Chutes Monica went through without too much trouble. It ended up being completely dry without any snow or mud. It was a bummer for some but it was good that everyone made it through. No one had any trouble at all until it was Jesse's turn.
The Bronco (with new, beefier tires) was having a lot of trouble because of the hill. It wouldn't stay running and then it was hard to start. It wouldn't crawl the hill so Kendall had a different approach when it was his turn to try. He floored it and made it up the hill in record time, cracking everyone up. The Bronco is indestructible!
We weaved our way to the top where the flat meadow is and the intersection to Slaughterhouse and Nugget Hill. We all walked Nugget Hill and just when we thought there were no takers Brian came over the top in his Cherokee.
He inched his way down, flexing like crazy and being really careful. He came around the corner and was on the last leg of it when his back end was really coming up. Everyone piled on the back of his Jeep and kept his end down while he inched his way down to the other side. The turn-around at the bottom wasn't that big of a challenge and he went back up Nugget Hill making it look easy. It was very impressive!
We all went up Slaughterhouse, playing in the whoopdeedoos there. Kendall, Kyle and Ladd all got good wheelstands. A few people played on the hill just before the top, and Brian pulled off some nice flexing.
At the top everyone was hanging out and suddenly Mike's truck started to roll -- with his son in the truck. It had slipped out of gear. Aaron dove for the bumper as Mike jumped in and stopped the truck after it had gone about 15 feet toward the serious downhill slope. It was a big scare but everything worked out just fine. Mike won't be forgetting this trip!
We made it down to the bottom in record time without any issues. As usual, a lot of us went to Murphy's and had some beers and burgers. Even with the sun down it was still gorgeous outside and we all enjoyed the cool air on sunburns as we made our way home.
Reports from Other Days: 4
Use the arrows or dots to flip through the previews of the other reports for Gillespie Gulch. Click one of them to read more and see all of the photos from that day.
