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Recently took a trip out to Colorado to put the Gladiator on some fun mountain climbs. We stayed in Buena Vista and did the Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest, St. Elmo to Tin Cup, Holy Cross and Red Cone trails. What an amazing trip! The Gladiator did awesome, drove it all the way out from Chicago, flogged it on 5 trails and put 2507 miles and over 62 hours of seat time over 6 days. What a gorgeous state, got to stop in a bunch of really cool small towns. I will be back soon for sure. Holy Cross was the most technical, Iron Chest the most scenic and Red Cone the must but clenching with the 24% downgrade on really narrow ridgeline.





Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup Holy Cross Rock.00_01_04_12.Still002
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 242999794_10219863837041453_2526015617914171637_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 242988811_10219863843681619_2691697749126709870_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 243321559_10219873128633737_5367782905256568142_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 243637905_10219873129433757_5363086670497468457_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 242962310_10219863842521590_5024772996974628483_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 242986111_10219863842121580_2776328805675996715_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 242978399_10219863838601492_1386344095322368022_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 240982324_10219858164539644_3698087971464142427_n
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Nice! All good trails...glad you got to see Colorado and run some of the best. I love all those trails and BV makes for a good base camp for those trails.
 

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Red Cone is fun for sure! Preps you for Ophir, Imogene, Black Bear, and Engineer!!


Recently took a trip out to Colorado to put the Gladiator on some fun mountain climbs. We stayed in Buena Vista and did the Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest, St. Elmo to Tin Cup, Holy Cross and Red Cone trails. What an amazing trip! The Gladiator did awesome, drove it all the way out from Chicago, flogged it on 5 trails and put 2507 miles and over 62 hours of seat time over 6 days. What a gorgeous state, got to stop in a bunch of really cool small towns. I will be back soon for sure. Holy Cross was the most technical, Iron Chest the most scenic and Red Cone the must but clenching with the 24% downgrade on really narrow ridgeline.





Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 240982324_10219858164539644_3698087971464142427_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 240982324_10219858164539644_3698087971464142427_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 240982324_10219858164539644_3698087971464142427_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 240982324_10219858164539644_3698087971464142427_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 240982324_10219858164539644_3698087971464142427_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 240982324_10219858164539644_3698087971464142427_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 240982324_10219858164539644_3698087971464142427_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 240982324_10219858164539644_3698087971464142427_n
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 240982324_10219858164539644_3698087971464142427_n
 
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Nice! All good trails...glad you got to see Colorado and run some of the best. I love all those trails and BV makes for a good base camp for those trails.
Was a great area, able to go to some other towns for the evening after running trails. Salida was cool and hit up Breckenridge after doing Holy Cross. The drives between them are just amazing.
 

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Red Cone is fun for sure! Preps you for Ophir, Imogene, Black Bear, and Engineer!!
A lot of butt clenching on Red Cone, started to snow when we were at the peak. Friend was out there just 2 days later and they had to turn back because the peak was snow covered. Want to try those trails next year.

Buddies Jeep was leaking out of a bad axle seal the morning of Red Cone and found a missing brake caliper bolt. Definitely need to do a once over before some of these trails. I am amazed he was so calm being a passenger.
 
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DocMike

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Red Cone is rough. My JT freaked out and locked up the rear brakes. I was able to use the e brake to get them free, then service 4wd and limp more happened. I finished the ascent and then descent in limp. Had to reset with taser.


A lot of but clenching on Red Cone, started to snow when we were at the peak. Friend was out there just 2 days later and they had to turn back because the peak was snow covered. Want to try those trails next year.

Buddies Jeep was leaking out of a bad axle seal the morning of Red Cone and found a missing brake caliper bolt. Definitely need to do a once over before some of these trails. I am amazed he was so calm being a passenger.
 

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Looks like fun! Love that area and the trails!
 

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Awesome scenery. Thanks for sharing. Need to make it there some time.
 

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Red Cone is rough. My JT freaked out and locked up the rear brakes. I was able to use the e brake to get them free, then service 4wd and limp more happened. I finished the ascent and then descent in limp. Had to reset with taser.
I would NOT want to do the descent in anything but the best conditions. Limp mode would just add a lot of extra stress on me as the driver.
 
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Awesome scenery. Thanks for sharing. Need to make it there some time.
It is worth it. Just driving the roads between the towns is worth it. The roads to the trails are scenic as well. I found I had my camera in my hand taking photos out the window all the time. Every time I would put it down I would see something new to take a photo of.

Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 6L2A2250.JPG
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 6L2A2926.JPG
Jeep Gladiator Colorado Trip- Holy Cross, Red Cone, Chinaman Gulch, Iron Chest and St. Elmo to Tin Cup 6L2A3261.JPG
 

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Oddly after Imogene and Ophir......
Descent was cake. The climb was intense for me. :CWL:


I would NOT want to do the descent in anything but the best conditions. Limp mode would just add a lot of extra stress on me as the driver.
IMG_5374.jpg


IMG_5377.jpg


IMG_5376.jpg
 
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Oddly after Imogene and Ophir......
Descent was cake. The climb was intense for me. :CWL:
I guess it started sleeting when we were at the peak. My Gladiator was a bit heavy with all my gear to go home as we tacked this trail on. The 25% downslope after the peak caused us to slide every time we were moving. That second peak on the descent that you go over on the ridge was the scariest for me. There were parts that had eroded away and only a tire width to the edge. The switchback road wasn't bad except an area that had a slide and the trail was actually partially washed away. Getting across dipped very hard to the shelf side. Not a particularly far fall at that point but probably the most dangerous. Unfortunately my gopro died on the descent when you start the switchbacks. I hope to hit those two trails soon. My neighbor was out there and tried to do it 2 days later and they had to turn back before getting to the peak because of snow cover.
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