Re: Anybody gone over Blk.Bear Pass Co. in H2?
I had no problem with taking the H2, but with some of the drop offs and REALLY SHARP switchbacks, you'll wish you were in something narrower and shorter. I have been told that it has been done in an H1 before, but you would definitely need a fulltime spotter for anything wider than an H2. You are going to have to backup at the switchbacks but there is a lot of room at most of them. Yes, you'll do a lot of backing up at almost every switch back and this is where I was REALLY GLAD I had an aftermarket rear vision camera. I STRONGLY recommend taking someone along to spot for you at the switchbacks. It goes without saying that if you have tubular assist steps, take them off before you start, they would be a problem at the step part of the trail.
The San Juan County part of the trail you could do in a Malibu. Then it gets interesting and you find yourself at Ingram falls - make sure to pull over at the turn out and take some time to enjoy Ingram Lake. The view of the valley and of Telluride is breath taking. The trail is very well marked, and I had the advantage of having my son along, who's done it several times. There's plenty of parking there and the veterans will be there to give you tips.
Sometimes after rains, they have slides and they close the trail for a few days and manicure it with the two small dozers you will see parked by the trail. I was disappointed to see the trail littered with plastic water bottles near the summit, where you really can't get out to pick anything up because the trail is so narrow in that stretch. There was also some defacing of the Jeeps only signs, but I didn't see any Hummer names scratched or spray painted on them - says a lot about the class of Hummer owners. This is not a beginner trail and if you don't scare yourself two or three times, you're a better man than me.
|