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August 5, 2023
Argentine Pass Attempt - Take 2
So, today it wasn't raining, so I figured I'd make another attempt at Argentine Pass. I had already tried it in the Jeep, but turned back before the summit as it seemed a little steep/dicey. (I don't like the feeling of the Jeep sliding backwards down the continental divide, as it doesn't have ABS.)
Argentine Pass, at 13207', is the highest named vehicle-accessible pass in Colorado.
So today, I figured I'd go see if I could make it up Argentine Pass in the ATV instead of the Jeep. Loaded the Honda Rancher ATV into the M101-A1 Army Trailer pulled by the Chevy Tahoe, and stopped by B&B cycles to update my OHV sticker on the ATV. At some point, they asked to see my driver's license, at which point I realized I couldn't find my driver's license. This is a bad feeling. So, we got that done, and they told me to watch the mail for the new sticker, and I headed off for Argentine Pass.
Headed west on I-70. Traffic not as bad as it has been since it's Saturday (not Friday afternoon). Some major festival going on in Idaho Springs. Go through Georgetown, and start up Guanella Pass. Just as I come to the point where people unloaded their vehicles to tackle Argentine Pass, there are move vehicles than I've ever seen at the base of Argentine Pass. As I pull up, it starts raining and hailing hard. Just my luck. So, not only can I not locate my driver's license, not only is the trail completely packed with OHV's - Jeeps, Motorcycles, ATV's, you name it, but now it's also raining and hailing.
So I decided to wrap it up. Turn around, and head back down towards Georgetown. I'm not happy that I can't find my driver's license. That's not a good feeling. Fortunately, I do have my passport on me, at least. I decide that I'll have to remove weekends from my riding schedule, as it's just too busy with all of these other people on the trails. Like...I just rode up these roads a few days ago in the Jeep Wrangler TJ, and I did not pass another single soul on the way in or out. And, I'd like to try Argentine Pass with the ATV, but it's not like I want to pass 50 Jeeps on the way up, as this road is very narrow. I'm not clear how two vehicles would pass along this route.
Get back home, unload the ATV, stick it in the garage. Unhook the trailer. Park it in the cul-de-sac. Put the Jeep in the driveway. Then, I head over to Mark & Brenda's place to meet the new cats. At some point, I hand buttercup my wallet, and she finds my driver's license in the wallet. So, it looks like I'll get to keep riding after all. But I'm not going to try Argentine Pass again unless it's a week day.
Update: Looks like the Rapidgrass Bluegrass Fest 2023 is what was going on in Idaho Springs.
Posted by Rob Kiser on August 5, 2023 at 8:23 PM
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