There were only a few minor mishaps involving ATVs riding people instead of people riding ATVs. Everybody still has ten fingers and ten toes, one head and all the other parts of their anatomy.

We deviated from the schedule a little. My (Bruce's) group found out on Monday that Gunsite Pass was still blocked with snow just below timberline. Both groups rode Paradise Divide/Scholfield/Crystal/Lead King/Sheep Mountain on Tuesday. Dan's group took a tour through the Pitkin area instead of going to Gunsite on Wednesday and took a tour of Mt. Antero. Peral/Montezuma Basin was breathtaking as usual on Thursday. There was a thunderstorm brewing over Antero on Friday so we switched to Plan B. Dan took the group on a tour of some of the mines east of St. Elmo. Lloyd and I proved that Iron Chest CAN be ridden by Arctic Cat 400s. I rode a 400 automatic FIS and Lloyd rode a 400 manual ACT. The FIS was far superior to the ACT on this trail. There is not a square inch of our tires or underbellies that do not have marks on them.

Marmot on American Flag Mountain

Lloyd going up Iron Chest

Lloyd coming down Iron Chest

Iron Chest Mine at top

Waterfall near old townsite of Scholfield

Devil's Punchbowl/Crystal River Canyon
This is the difficult section. It is much steeper than it looks.

North view from American Flag Mountain
Independence Pass to Aspen in the distance.

View from Sheep Mountain - Notice trails below.

North side of Pearl Pass

Maroon Bells Wilderness from Pearl Pass Road

Montezuma Basin

Emerald Lake

Paradise Divide/Gunsite Pass in background
Photos by Bruce Branson