Iron Chest
Iron Chest was the first trail for the day, and we had a big group. The drive out was sunny with patches of fog and clouds. It did not look like it was going to clear up much, but as we got closer to the trailhead, the sun came out and the skies cleared. We could see the surrounding high mountains covered with fresh snow.
We all aired down at the parking area for trailers just before the turn to Hancock Road. The parking area had some parts covered in snow.
After airing down, we went to the start of Iron Chest, and we saw immediately that the Rock Garden also had about 2.5 inches of snow.
The Rock Garden was slow going with the snow-covered rocks, as it was slippery and harder to see the obstacles. We had a hard time making our way through, because most of us had to take different ways through the Rock Garden. Walt was the only one that needed a little pull with a winch cable from Jason when he got a big rock stuck between his rear tire and his exhaust skid plate.
After we all got through the Rock Garden in one piece, we stopped for a short break. We all had a great time even though it took so long.
For some time, we drove through Aspen groves. Matt had to stop and move downed Aspen trees off the trail here and there. A few of the trees still fully in leaves could not take the weight of the snow and had fallen over across the trail.
The shelf road part of Iron Chest was easy going and the sun was melting the snow, so the tires on the Jeeps got pretty good traction on the rocks under the thinning snow. When we reached the top and end of the trail, we stopped for lunch and enjoyed the wintery views of Iron Chest.
After lunch, we started making our way back down Iron Chest. We all thought that we were going to slide around a lot going downhill, but it was better than expected without any slipping or sliding until the Rock Garden. It was not as hard as it was going up the Rock Garden, but it was definitely fun with just the right amount of challenge.
At the end of the Iron Chest, we all went to run Pomeroy Lakes except for Walt. He said that after Iron Chest and all the bouncing around he had all the fun he could take for one day. He went and aired up to return home while the rest of us went to the second trail.
Reports from Other Days: 7
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