7/14/2002

    Originally today was scheduled to be Red Cone but due to the Hayman fire and the Pike forest being closed we decided to head a little further southwest and try our luck with Iron Chest. We all knew that it was a difficult trail so we bumped up the usual meeting time of 8:00 by and hour to allow for a longer drive. We were pretty much on time and pulled away from 285 & C-470 meeting spot just after 7:00. We had a good-sized group of nine vehicles and luckily all of them were well equipped for the trail. After a 2-hour drive, we made a quick stop in Johnston Park just south of Buena Vista for a quick top off of the gas tanks and it was on to the trailhead. Once at the trail,  it was time to air down and prepare for the carnage. Everything I had read about Iron Chest being tough is right on. The trail throws it at you right away. It is nothing but boulder after boulder, for the first quarter mile. Most of us had at least 33” tires and we were still bangin’ axles to get through.

            It took us a good hour or so to get through this section, then the trail lets up a bit an allows you to take a more respectable pace. There were still several rock piles that required some careful maneuvering (Unless you have 37” or bigger tires) and then we came upon a slightly washed out off camber section. Nobody had any real problems; it just gives you kind of an uncomfortable feeling as you go up.

             After that you traverse a couple of switchbacks as you get higher and higher. We took a quick break at the first old cabin to regroup as we had started to get spread out on the trail. We continued on up the mountain, through an open section that made you feel like a mountain goat and finally to the town of Iron Chest. Once at the top we ate some lunch and explored all the different mining buildings and equipment that has been left there.

    While up top an afternoon thunderstorm started to move in quickly, and at 12,000 feet that lighting was just a little to close for comfort, so we headed downhill quick. Going back down the trail presented a whole new and more difficult challenge, with the rain covered rocks. But we all survived and made it back to the trailhead with only minor damage. We had one blown tire, a few bent steering rods, and a little body damage but other wise no major break downs. With that it had been a long day and we headed for home, returning to Denver around 7:00pm. It was a great day and a great trail. Iron Chest lives up to its rating as a 9.

 GPS Coordinates & Map (98K)