Kurt, thought you'd be interested in this...

[Greg]

I came across this Ride Report on AdvRider.com by Bruce (Gaspipe on Advrider.com), one of the guys I ran into in the Swell, riding the Trans-American Trail. Bruce grew up in this area and he has some great knowledge of the land around Western CO. There's some great history behind the Baxter Pass and it's a gorgeous area.

Here's the thread- http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375932

And this specific post that caught my interest- http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7689144&postcount=29

You can take Baxter Pass from Mack, CO to Bonanza, UT. Apparently there's a few ghost towns up there, Rainbow, Watson & Dragon. I rode up to the Baxter Pass this August and didn't realize that it was an old RR grade. I rode up to the summit and it was amazing, felt like I was in Oregon with the huge pine trees, moist ground and rolling mountains. Might want to add this area to your list of places to see!

It would be cool to see this area on motorcycle, there's lots of land to cross and some remote roads. Here's some pics from my ride-

 

[Greg]

Holy crap, funny story about Leadville-

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7728093&postcount=111

 

[Herzog]

Those photos are awesome! There are some ghost towns around Carbon County that I'd like to get out and see again soon. Maybe an expedition trip is in order this next spring.

 

[Greg]

Those photos are awesome! There are some ghost towns around Carbon County that I'd like to get out and see again soon. Maybe an expedition trip is in order this next spring.

Yeah they are. That road up the Baxter Pass is insane... I wish I could see them operating the RR on that pass, it's steep just on a bike! Bruce mentioned in his ride report that the steepest grade was as much as 7.5 degrees! That's HUGE! On the UPRR our steepest grade is about 3 degrees, IIRC.

If there's cool stuff to see in your old neck of the woods, let's put a trip together! That XJ would be perfect for stuff like that!

 

[Greg]

Awesome Uintah Railway Co page-

http://home.bresnan.net/~bpratt15/

 

[Greg]

 

[Tacoma]

Bonanza is kind of neat, though most of it seems to be owned by a mining company. I keep meaning to ask if they'll let me poke around. There is a huge... Gilsonite? trench there.

I'd like to drive south out of there and see Dragon and Rainbow.

You definitely want to get your directions straight out there, you are quite far from ANYTHING.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Ah, why does it have to snow... a trip to these places will likely have to happen late next year for me. One more place added to my hitlist, thanks

Love the bar story

 

[Thursty]

Awesome pics and very cool website.

 

[SAMI]

too cool

 

[Greg]

Long version of the history of the Uintah Railway-

The Uintah Railway, The Crookedest Railroad in the West

RAILS OVER BAXTER PASS - The railroad that did the impossible

http://home.bresnan.net/~bpratt15/a_longer_history.htm

 

[Greg]

This building...

Is the same as this building-

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Reminds me of the small rig that used to head up Little Cottonwood Canyon to the mines in the early days. There are also a handful of neat setups like that in Ridgeway, CO

 

[Greg]

Reminds me of the small rig that used to head up Little Cottonwood Canyon to the mines in the early days. There are also a handful of neat setups like that in Ridgeway, CO

That one is a Ford Model T, not sure what year, but looks to be early 20's. Yeah, the Galloping Goose! IIRC one of them was a Postal Delivery setup.

There's one on display in a park in Ouray, too.

 

[Thursty]

That one is a Ford Model T, not sure what year, but looks to be early 20's. Yeah, the Galloping Goose! IIRC one of them was a Postal Delivery setup.

There's one on display in a park in Ouray, too.

They have/had one of these at Knott's Berry Farm.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

The "Jitney" that took folks up/down Little Cottonwood Canyon was a convertible setup