Elephant Ride, from Grant, Colorado, to the top of Guenella Pass.  February, 2007.

This report was originated on ADVRider.com, 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.  Martin is the report initiator and is identified here as SgtMarty.

Also, ADVRider.com stopped hosting its own photos some time ago, so those photo links have been dead for quite a while.  Sorry.

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SgtMarty wrote:  Since I was camping in the SUV, I trailed the KLR up Saturday evening. The usual campground was snowed in, and no one was around, so I decided to drive on up and find a place to camp. As it turned out, several others had already set up camp in the meadows area in a trailhead parking lot. Woo hoo!
The campout is much of the fun of the Elephant Ride, and there were about a dozen fun folks to hang out with. The weather was great, a bit cool but not very windy. Mostly clear, and we did some star gazing and astronomy.
Tramontana and The Incredible Julie had a great camp setup, and along with others who came prepared, there was plenty of food and company. My case of Guiness was a meager contribution.

Ethan (right) lingers near the food


Veteran Elephant Riders


Tramontana supervises Chef Julie as she works her magic


Julie's stew and camp biscuits. Merely wonderful.


Chef Julie earned her reward


There was a bit of night riding on the meadow road, which was mostly clear



Stampede!


The Kamp Kommisar Dave kept things in order.


Next morning, I rode down to see if there were any riders gathering. None yet. This is where the usual campground was still snowed in.


There's a pond there, somewhere.


I started back up, but had a goofy spill on some ice. I decided to stop and air the tires down more, but I aired them down too much and ripped the valve stem off as I rode onward. No rim lock. Dead flat tire. And (for the first time ever) I forgot to bring spare tubes, so my ride was already over. Tramontana and Kommisar Dave hauled me back to camp where I became a worker bee for the rest of the day.


Julie and I got to be spectators. I ran my Pathfinder up and down the road many time, helping people pick up their bikes, playing shuttle bus, and generally hanging out watching others have all the fun.


This was a common turn-around point. A bit of clear road between deep snow sections. It got much worse ahead. Many continued, many called it a day here.


All in all, despite my disappointment at having killed my mount (and not even in battle!), I had a great time. See everyone next time.

 

blackbirdzach wrote:  Crimany, I wish we got more snow in GA.
That stew looks great, btw. I always have to comment on the camp food.

 

ere109 wrote:  Good meeting you Marty. Keep the pics coming. I'm still waiting to see Tramontana's shots.

 

Tramontana wrote:  Well my second Elephant ride was again quite an awesome time.

SgtMarty nailed it on the head, when he stated that the campout is half the fun of the event. I had a GREAT time (and drank a bit?)

The weather is here, wish you were nice...

...or something like that?

Ere109 wasn't too keen on riding his newly overhauled Honda all the way out from Stapleton, so what was a guy to do but trailer him up,and tow my bike in the process while I was at it?

The ride up would have been nice on Saturday, but then again it would have been rather difficult to bring up Julie, her (now) famous stew and the dutch ovens for biscuits.

The campout was great, and the campfire brought warmth and cheer to the fellow comrades on wheels.

I present to you our humble basecamp for the Elephant 2007;

I got off track a bit early...
 ...and managed to bury my DR on what looked like a perfectly suitable snowmobile track. SgtMarty to the rescue (pre-flat);

Let the mayhem begin...
Pre-running a vintage bike;

Nope, didn't get too far... But +1 for trying!

I'm sure the newer stuff will do better... not much though!

Stopping to regather our forces... Left to right; Warfman, Ere109, me and SgtMarty. Smile for the camera boys!

Kudo's to this rider... Julie visited with this guy, and I guess he's been doing this ride for 15 years or so. Good onya mate!  This sorta sums it up......them ruts were tough going!

We're really moving now... 100 yards at a time, then stop and gasp for breath...
...or pick up your DR if you happen to ride like me?!

Colorado is just filled with this kinda stuff, err...  I mean, "There's nothing to see here, move along!"

Howdy Esteban... It was great seeing you again. Sorry I'm a puss and turned around early, but man I was beat when you guys caught me. Here I am, back to our happy Elephant base camp!

I helped these guys turn around... they made it well up into the snow. It was awesome to see a family of four on a bike together. I asked the wife and kids if when dad asked "you wanna go for a ride"... did he explain about all the pushing?

Bench racing afterwards? Ere109 and I hadn't had quite enough yet;

And I can't say thank you enough!!! To my wonderful wife Julie. She did the grocery shopping, roasted vegetables for a home cooked and incredible beef stew w/ tenderloin instead of stew meat. Scratch baked biscuits in a dutch oven, and s'mores (w/ Bulleit Bourbon) for dessert! I am truly not worthy! Thanks baby!

 

judjonzz wrote:  Hey Marty, and all you other guys. Looks like you managed to have some fun even w/o the usual amenities. You are right, the campout is at least half the fun. It was cool to see a couple of DT Yamahas out. I think I spotted a pic of Kurt Denn, too, on the cream colored BMW/Steib rig.

 

Hayduke wrote:  Just found this thread. Nice work, Marty and Tramontana (and everyone else) Wish I could have made it, but the bike, she dont run... Next year for sure, and the camping looks fun!