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Black Bear Pass 040821

August 21, 2004 by Monica

Black Bear Pass

Trail Run on August 21, 2004
Report and photos by Monica I., Trail Leader
View trail information for Black Bear Pass

Brian E.
White 1998 Jeep Wrangler
Mike C.
Red 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Aaron N.
Maroon 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Bob R.
Green 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Jon G.
Khaki 2003 Jeep Wrangler
Monica I.
Red 2010 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Mike S.
Silver 2002 Jeep Wrangler
Bob S.
Green 1997 Jeep Wrangler
Ladd G.
Green 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

We had heard a lot about this trail and we knew someone had just fallen off the trail to their deaths so we were all a little wound up. The weather was also a little misty and rainy so it could be a slick trail. The weather ended up cooperating and it was sunny and dry past the pass so we ended up with a great day and a great trail.

We managed to find the trail without any backtracking, thanks in part to following a truck turned into a tour bus full of tourists. They probably had no idea what they were in for! The driver even backed down some of the switchbacks and ran the trail very quickly.

We got to the pass right away and got out to take lots of pictures. It was windy and pretty chilly so we moved on. The trail goes down to a switchback, then around Ingram Basin. Mike S. stayed on the switchback while the rest of us kept going around to the other side, and we took pictures of each other. What a view!

We could see Telluride really far away down the valley as we started going down again. The switchbacks were fairly mellow and we all thought it wasn't going to be too bad. Then we saw the big rock switchback above Ingram Creek.

When you see it you are really going downhill at a big angle so it's difficult to stop, so you have to keep going. It's narrow, but the big issue is how steep it is. It forces you to look over your hood and straight ahead is Telluride thousands of feet away through the air. If you fell off the trail here there is no way you would survive, so it really gets your heart pumping.

Everyone made it, of course, and we were all pumped up when we got around the corner and the next switchback and ended up at the crossing of Ingram Falls. Everyone took even more pictures and we breathed a sigh of relief.

We'd all read about the "worst" obstacle yet to come, the tight switchback. Mike C. had done the trail before and he told us the worst of it was definitely the switchback we had already done above Ingram Falls.

When we came to the big switchback it was definitely tight and you really had to pay attention, but it was most definitely not as bad or as scary as the other one. Trees would stop you fairly soon if you went off the edge here. Not right away, but soon. It would be difficult in a full-sized vehicle, for sure (but so would the other switchback).

Once we got past the tighter switchbacks it was pretty easy to make our way down. We didn't check out the Powerhouse at Bridal Veil Falls because there were already a lot of vehicles blocking the road. We kept going and ended up at the Pandora Mill at the bottom fairly quickly. You can see the tailings ponds for a long time from the switchbacks, so you can tell where you'll end up eventually.

What an amazing trail! I think it scared each of us from a little to a lot, but it's one you can't pass up.

airing_down
around_ingram_basin
big_view
black_bear_pass
bridal_veil_falls_powerhouse_part_1
bridal_veil_falls_powerhouse_part_2
bridal_veil_falls_powerhouse_part_3
curves
down_from_the_pass
end_of_switchbacks
everyone_at_ingram_basin
everyone_in_rocks
first_look_at_telluride
forever_snow
green_meadow
green_trail
ingram_basin
ingram_creek
ingram_falls_part_1
ingram_falls_part_2
ingram_falls_part_3
ingram_lake
ingram_peak
jon_on_the_trail
ladd_and_jon
ladd_on_the_trail
long_shelf_road
long_trails
looking_back_at_ingram_peak
lower_elevation
marmot
mike_c_at_one-way_sign
mike_c_jon_and_ladd
mike_c_on_the_trail
mike_s_across_ingram_basin
mike_s_at_the_edge
mike_s_far_away
mike_s_on_a_switchback
mike_s_on_the_trail
mine_just_past_ingram_falls
monica_on_the_tightest_switchback
monica_on_the_trail
parked_at_the_pass
puddles
rocky_tundra
rolling_hills
see_for_miles
shelf_road_down
shelf_road
sign_at_trailhead
snow
start_of_the_trail
starting_down_switchbacks
stopped_at_ingram_falls
switchback_at_ingram_basin
telluride_in_the_distance
telluride
tightest_switchback
tour_bus
trail_across_ingram_basin
trail_in_the_distance
trico_peak
up_the_mountain
very_top_of_the_falls

Reports from Other Days: 4

Use the arrows or dots to flip through the previews of the other reports for Black Bear Pass. Click one of them to read more and see all of the photos from that day.

September 5, 2020

Led by Matt K.
It was going to be a nice, warm, and sunny day in early September, and thankfully it was not very smokey or hazy in the area all weekend. We met in Ouray and then drove to the beginning of Black Bear Pass, which was just a few miles off the…
»
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