Elephant Ride, from Grant, Colorado, to the top of Guenella Pass.  February 12-13, 2005.

This report was originated on KLR650.net, and is imported here with minor editing for structure (due to the import process).  Typos, etc., have mostly been left as they are, fixed only for clarity in some cases.  Some characters have been identified by their user names on that website.  JudJonzz is the thread initiator.  Sadly, his photos were only recoverable as thumbnail images, so they are low resolution.  Martin is identified here as SgtMarty.

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JudJonzz wrote:  The date has been fixed for the 2005 Elephant Ride: Feb. 12 and 13, Grant, Colorado. The ride goes off at about 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, but to get the most out of this legendary event, you really ought to camp out the night before. KLRs are well suited, and everyone is welcome, but we think it's more fun if you have something like a 106 Gilera or a Jawa Californian.

More information at:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Elephant_Ride_2005/
or contact me off-list.

SgtMarty wrote:  hmmmm..  Doable, definitely doable.  Alas, no odd, cool bike; the KLR will have to do.

JudJonzz wrote:  Remember, eighty-five percent of any enterprise consists in just showing up.

I have an 858 I mounted on the rear. I have one on the front, too, but it's pretty cupped out. They worked fine on the E. ride today, but conditions were pretty easy.

Gonna have to wait on the pics, because I'm in full vacation mode. That means putting a couple of fresh brake rotors on the Soccer Bitch before we go to Arizona tomorrow. I knew I had one that was a little out, but it really showed up pulling four bikes through the mountains.

The Elephant Ride was the usual good party for those who came early and camped out. That included SgtMarty and Brent (Buzzard) from this list, as well as Marty's very bright and charming wife, Laurie, and Brent's son, Glenn. Glenn had a stroke of bad luck when he lost his camera in the process of helping some sidecarists through some deep snow. (I heard that a couple of cameras were lost, and that one had been turned to the Twin Spruce Inn; Glenn's maybe?) We loosened Marty's tongue with a little Overholt, and he proved to be a pretty entertaining raconteur.

The road to the pass was in good condition; just one stretch of deep snow about a hundred yards long. It didn't give much trouble on the way up, but put me off on the way down when the two-way traffic got heavy. The worst part about coming off was the need to do some real physical labor at 11,000 feet. The elevation where I live is 893', and I don't breathe real well up high. There were some icy sections that wanted a delicate touch on the throttle, but didn't create any real excitement.

Brent and Marty got up the pass OK. They reported a few spills, but nobody would have known if they hadn't fessed up. Brent's rear tire was pretty low when he got to the summit, and he had to ride all the way down on the flat.

Rob hadn't been to an Elephant Ride since we trucked out in 1995. Snow kept us from getting very far up the road that time, so this was his first time to the top on a motorbike. Same for Jeffie's son David, who had to wrestle in the state tournament before he could leave for the ride.

"The World's Coldest, Highest, and Dumbest Motorcycle Ride" is really a pretty silly way to spend a weekend, but somehow we manage to enjoy ourselves thoroughly every time

SgtMarty wrote:  I sure had a good time. Jud and the other regulars sure made us all feel welcome. The campout was definately worth it; it was worth as much or more than the ride itself.  The weather was wonderful if a bit windy at times.


The campsite was very nice and cozy. This big central gazebo was a great gathering place, and was right next to the fire pit.


 

It was a hoot to see the diverse bikes. Some got a brief workout before night fell.


 

Campfire chat.  The best it gets (depending on the company).

We solved all the world's problems before midnight.  Alas, forgotten by dawn.


 

That's me hunkered down on the left, Jud on the right. Sure wish I could remember names. These scholars all deserved to be named.


 

Many gathered for breakfast on Sunday. Most showed up only that morning for the ride.


 

Due to the rush (I suppose) breakfast at the Twin Spruce was limited to two choices: biscuits and gravy, or a plate of eggs, potatoes, toast and either sausage or bacon.

And, as you can see, many got lei'd.


 

The lower several miles were mostly clear with a few slushy patches. Above the switchbacks, there was a lot more snow, and an ice patch that bit me (more than once...).

Here, Buzzard stops to see is he's going to get that thing started again. He did, and made it all the way up with no trouble.


 

Before it got tougher, there is a big turnout where many paused to consider the ice ahead.

That's me and Brent, apparently being counseled by the Grim Brown Reaper.


 

The deep snow was the toughest (no photos, sorry). At some point, we all probably helped push someone. I pushed one sidecar about fifty feet and it about wiped me out.

At the top, many stopped to gab and take photos.

I had laid it down a few times on the way up, and once on ice on the descent. Brent had no such trouble.

Evidence that Brent (Buzzard) and I made it to the top:


 

The dual sports, of course, did well. The dirt bikes did better. The one chopper I saw turned around early, and two BMWs never made it past the ice patch. Most riders made it up.

These two had the elephant motif ju-ju working for them.


 

Last photo from me. This was above the midpoint.

All in all, it was easier than I expected. The veterans told me that this was about the best it's been, weather-wise.

Ghostrider wrote:  Great pics!

Weather looks decent, and some sun too. No one looked "comfortably numb".

KLRTim wrote:  Nice pics, Marty. Thanks for the report. I was really hopin' to make this ride, but I just couldn't get my schedule worked out. Looks like ya'll had a blast. Maybe next year.
Thanks again. 

SgtMarty wrote:  Jud, Jud, Jud. It wasn't the Overholt. I just get more chatty as the night wears on and the company gets more familiar.

But thanks for the lesson on rye whisky and store-bought ice. 

JudJonzz wrote:  I finally got around to resizing my pics from last month's Colorado/Arizona trip. Might as well pick up with some E-ride fotos. First off, here's proof that SgtMarty made the summit:


 

This Triumph has been there before.


 

Kurt Denn's R69S is another regular.


 

David Ecker has been here before, but this is his first time to ride up.


 

Just up from this turnout is an icy patch that turned back a couple of GS riders. No trouble for the KLRs, though.


 

Here's a shot of some bikes coming down past the ice.


 

The only tricky riding came in a stretch of drifted snow near the top. This Yamaha rider in his late '60s breezed through, but others weren't so lucky.

Note the flame job on Jesse Cunningham's Titan at lower left.