We had another successful trip with our Colorado Crossfire buddies. You can check my gallery and find our pics.

Looking at two more trips this summer.
1. Saturday Aug. 23
a. A trip to St. Elmos and Agness Valle Falls, outside of Buena Vista
2. Saturday Sept. 20 Don't Miss This One!
a. "Color Weekend over Independence Pass to Aspen and Maroon Bells" Come with us to view the changing of the Aspen Leaves in the Colorado Rockies. We will drive to Aspen for lunch and ride the bus in Aspen to Maroon Bells, the most photographed spot in the Colorado Rockies.

If you would like to go drop me a note. Independence Pass closes October 1st for the winter due to inclement weather.

 

I would love to make that climb again to the top of Mt.Evans.
I was up there last in way back in 1986 with a Mercury Cougar.
It was choking badly at that altitude back when cars had a carburetor and no fuel injection technology.

So how do the Crossfires preform at that high altitude ??
PS...Loved looking at the photos to.

 

It runs just fine!

 

Great photos btw! I'll get mine up tomorrow.

 

Cars have come a long way since '86 haven't they? The performance at attlitude is much less, I'm guessing about a 20% loss of power compared to sea level. Still good enough to get you into trouble if you get a little careless on the throttle.
I'm not sure if you remember but there are no guard rails on this road and real tight switchbacks. The road is very unforgiving if you make a mistake, it is a long way down the hill in spots. Plus we constantly are waiting to pass the bicycle riders on the way up and down.
Improved braking of the cars today is another change we sometimes forget. All I can say is it was FUN, FUN, FUN!

I wish you guys lived closer, we would love to run with a large group to Aspen in September. It has to be almost as pretty as the fall Tail of the Dragon.

 

I have uploaded select photos to my gallery.

 

Great pics Evan, stay in touch.

 

Nice pictures RJ, I will post mine soon.

Otis

 

Evan,

Good job with the pictures. Your car always looks like it just got detailed!

It would be cool to get an SRT-6 and paint it red like yours.

RJ and I have to come up with the perfect reason for a second crossfire.

 

I don't need a second reason, just need to work on the misses a little more. I can see an SRT-6 Roadster in my future. maybe the color of yours Otis.

 

Thanks!! I just have this insane need to wash it once a week.

 

Blackberry, I'm not going camping this weekend. Do you want to make another run? Otis???? Any other Colorado XFers?

How about Colorado Springs (Garden of the Gods) to Woodland Park (via 24) over Wilkerson Pass, turn right at Hartsel (hwy 9) and go to Breckenridge and come back down I-70??

How about doing this on Saturday?

 

I first drove the Mt Evans Road in a brand new Chevy Blazer in 1976 (back when they were full-sized). we had just traded in an AMC Gremlin for the Blazer. Needless to say, that was one Hairy ride!

Talk about engine issues - I think a gallon of gas blew out of the tailpipe as black smoke for every one that was burned...

Another cool ride is 285 South into South Park. The overlook at the head of the valley is incredible - in a 4WFD either Mosquito Pass or Weston Pass are great roads to drive - I'd never try it in an X-Fire...

Caught a lot of Trout from a small stream along Weston Pass!

 

Ya guys are killin me !
I envy all of you.
I so much want to drive my Crossfire in the mountains.
I have driven five 1400 mile road trips out there but never in my own car.
If I were there I would never park the car.

Here's some pics from the Durango to Silverton train ride two years ago.

 

Nice pics!! Let us know when you come out! We have some nice windy roads that we like to call "Tail of the South Platte River" run. Lots of curves! We had some wicked curves last weekend. The XF didn't slip once.

 

Just a few more spots we hit along the way on our last road trip

 

Wow, you really did tour the state!

 

Evan, I'm sorry we can't make it Saturday. We took a quick run today from Garden of the Gods up to Cripple Creek, Victor and home with Terry and Pam visiting from Tulsa. I must say Terry made me feel a little old, he pushed that Crossfire down the mountain a little faster than I wanted to go. What a roit!! Two bad they don't live a little closer, they would make a great addition to the group. I will post a few pics of the run.

Terry and Pam if you read this, thanks for letting us tag along, its what memories are all about.

Valk, Love the pics of Durango. That has to be one of my favorite towns to visit in Colorado. If you decide to come out here with your Crossfire, please drop us a note. As you know, there is no comparison to driving high mountain passes in a little sports car. Maybe you guys need to organize a weeks trip to Colorado, I would be glad to help out.

 

Like I said ...1400 miles.
Loved every mile of it !!
I will try to make a Crossfire road trip someday but it can't be this year.

 

My sister worked at the front desk at the Strater Hotel in Durango many many years ago.
Beautiful place but to pricey for my wallet.
We stayed at the Iron Horse by the tracks heading up to Silverton.
It is a very cool town for sure