Colorado Toyotas on Schofield
As a part of a Colorado High Pass tour I selected Schofield Pass as the Access from the Roaring Fork Valley to Crested Butte. The trip consisted of 3 Toyota FJ Cruisers with two pulling trailers.
Our group got an early start from Bogen Flats Campground so we would have time to stop and enjoy some of the great views and historic sites on this day. Our first stop was at the historic Yule Mabel Quarry Historic site. The members of our group were very impressed with all the large blocks of crisp white marble waiting to be shipped.
Colorado FJ Toyotas on Schofield Cut just above Punchbowl.
After a short stop at the Marble gift shop we continued on to the Crystal Mill. I love to show people this site. Most have seen photos of the famous mill and it is much better to see it in person. After pictures and a break we continued on up the trail.
After the Crystal Mill the Schofield Pass road become narrow with fewer pullouts. With 4 FJs and 3 pulling trailers I setup a system to help prevent any passing problems. The trailing FJs would wait at a pullout while I would run to the next pullout up the road. Once there I would hold traffic and radio back for the rest of the group to come forward. By using this method downhill vehicles would only have to deal with one FJ and trailer not all 4.
About ¾ of a mile below the Punchbowl Bridge I stopped the group so we could discuss the next section of road. I consider this last section prior to the punch bowl to be the most dangerous. With the loose shale road bed, soft shoulder ad some off camber sections it would be very easy to run into problems. Pulling trailers through adds another level of complexity.
Again clearing the road for the rest of the group I stopped at the Bridge and called the rest of the group forward. The bridge has a good pullout area where we were able to stage for the next section. A group of motor cycles was kind enough to warn any downhill traffic that we would be heading up.
The climb was uneventful for most of us. As I climbed the road I passed instructions back via the radio. We regrouped near the top for some great photos of the FJs and trailers.
Check out the full reports of our “9 Passes” trip over at my website.
