Engineer's Pass Ascent Oct 12-15, 2020

[L60Boerne]

Greetings to all,

Just a reminder that we are now confident in both of my Patrols and I may bring up Santa's Sleigh if I can get the carb fixed in time.

Sept & October are the busiest months for our cabin because the leave change then so I can predict if we will have rooms in our cabin but I can predict there will be plenty of low cost hotel rooms and the ascent is on.

Please try to plant to join us.

Patrolling when possible,
L60Boerne

[L60Boerne]

Greetings Patrollees Worldwide,

I will type slow so everyone will catch the new dates. Oct 12-15, 2020

The dates for our epic ascent to the rarified air of Engineer's Pass have changed. The new dates are Oct 12-15. Peter is coming up from Australia as those dates work better for him. He will fly into Crested Butte or Montrose so ground travel will be in place. Montrose 2 hrs away, Crested Butte 1 1/4 hrs from Lake City with dry roads. If our cabin is full with Texans then rooms in town are about $100/night.

The trails should still be open and the throngs of like minded, but less enlightened, will be gone.

Phoenix Patrol is now in the hands of Eddy the Eagle at his lair on Indian Point. He will glue, bolt or otherwise afix all the parts you have sent me in recent weeks in order to get it mountain ready. We really need to know in advance how many drivers and Patrols we might have so we can indulge the brave accordingly. If I don't need them all then some will stay in Texas.

In terms of Patrols please note:
Plateaucal - 67 hard top with heater, locally known as "the nice one", front & rear seats
Presidio Patrol - 65 no top, dress warm it will be freezing, front seats only, though heater works
Command and Control Vehicle #5 (CCV5) - 63 soft top with heater, front & rear seats
Phoenix Patrol - 66 no top, front seats only, heater should be working by then
Santa's Sleigh - 65 no top, front seats only, might get heater working if time permits
Coyote Patrol - custom ute...maybe?

I will have 2-4 drivers as I have two couples from TX coming up, plus Ready with the Wrench Rene, the best mechanic in CO will be with us. However, only the best Patrol drivers will be drivers. No rookie drivers, I hope you understand, Driving mistakes due to gearing and braking can easily be fatal. Last death last year was with a Willy's driver who lost control because he wasn't able downshift and got caught between gears.

If I keep Santa's Sleigh up there past the 4th of July parade, which will feature a red, white and blue Patrol, over the summer then we will have two good winches. Providing it is not one of them over the cliff then there is a 15% chance we can recover the Patrol.

Anyone else?

Plan now, play later, as we Patrol to Paradise,

L60Boerne

[plateaucal]

Sounds sketchy. All those Texans and no interpreter. I think I would rather camp in your back yard and guard the keg you'll have out there by the fire pit.

[plateaucal]

Dang, elk season is 10/10 to 10/14.

[mdawg4x4]

Sounds sketchy. All those Texans and no interpreter....

[plateaucal]

Well, I didn't get my elk draw this year. So, if the party is still on.....let me know.

[L60Boerne]

Plateaucal...the ascent is still on. 4th of July has been cancelled by the City. We may move the ascent up a week if we can as the leaves will be better and the chance of the alpine roads still being open are better.

This really depends on Peter's trip up from Australia. Peter...what is your schedule looking like?

I have a feeling El Bondo might be there as well.

Patrolling to the pinnacle,
L60Boerne

[Peter60]

Greetings all. I haven't been very active on the forum at late for various reasons.

We have been in self isolation for about 4 months, even though the number of active virus cases are low. There has been travel restrictions between states, but boarders are now reopening. I have spent a fair bit of time working on my Patrols

Australian boarders are closed. We can't leave Australia and if we come back we need to isolate for two weeks. I suspect the boarder will be closed for months.

So unfortunately I need to pull out of the trip. I was looking forward to catching up with a few American Patrolers and seeing a bit of your magnificent country.

Hopefully there will be another time.

[L60Boerne]

Thanks Peter,

I understand. It is hard to sit in a tube for 15 hours with 350 people with COVID still hanging around. COVID just sucks the life out of travel. Who knows you might get here and the State of CO might shut down Lake City if COVID cases develop.

We will reboot for next year.

We will likely make the loop and send you the pictures with an invitation for next year.

Patrolling towards the pinnacle,
L60Boerne

[L60Boerne]

Greetings,

I have no pull except that which an L60 generates but Overland Journal to gauge their interest in covering the ascent. We will see. I've promised 3-4 vintage Patrols. Plateaucal's might even break out his show Patrol for the rumble? I can see fielding six pretty easy with El Bondo being in service by then as well.

While reading "The Journal" one article captured my imagination. It appears the L60 can do one thing the FJ will never be able to do. What is that?

Power a floating pontoon boat of course. Just extend the PTO output shaft another ten feet, brace it and attach a propeller. Done...forward and reverse. Steering by tiller of course. How about that for fording slow meandering rivers?

Just thinking while not Patrolling this week.

L60Boerne