Ouray Side of Imogene Pass (20110705)





While we were in Ouray with my folks for Independence Day weekend, 2011,
on one of the days, we went up as far as we could get on the Ouray side of Imogene Pass...


I may eventually put up a page about the entire trail run, but for now,
this is just in regard to the water crossings (from this thread on the FJ Forum)


1st water crossing (optional)
This is the one just after turning left from Camp Bird Rd. onto the road to Imogene Pass.




2nd water crossing (mandatory)
Most of the time, when we've gotten to this point of the trail in other years,
it has just been a little bit of a stream going across the trail, if anything.
This year's snow accumulation resulted in much more water this early in July.



 

3rd water crossing (mandatory)
This is the same one where we started a mini ferry line at the FJ Summit later in the month (here).



 

4th water crossing (optional)
There is actually a bridge at this crossing as well as a more challenging way through the water; just to the left.




It's good that this one is optional (for any stock height rigs)...




5th water crossing (mandatory)
During the FJ Summit (a couple weeks later), this one was optional,
but the bypass was blocked by snow on this day. So, we had no choice by to cross here.




Shortly after the last water crossing, we started up the switchbacks of the steep skree slope,
and here's where we had to turn around (obviously intentionally blocked by the bulldozer)...


The water was higher than we've ever seen this far into the season, but with a couple weeks to go till Summit,
I was pretty sure it would be down a ways by then (which it was).
As it was, it was actually plowed further beyond where it was blocked,
but I imagine there weren't any more good turn-around spots at the time. So, they just made us go back here.