Colorado Mineshafts & Axleshafts

129 1101 Colorado Mineshafts And Axleshafts Trail Signs

The folks at the Mile-Hi Jeep Club of Colorado know how to throw a party. For the past 44 years, they've been hosting the incredible All-4-Fun event, and it has become one of the very best events in the wheeling world.

The Mile-Hi Jeep Club was formed in 1956 and currently has about 190 members. The first official All-4-Fun began in 1967 in Golden, Colorado, and it has continued annually without a misfire. One of the things that make All-4-Fun very unique is that it rotates to a different location in Colorado each year. Over the years it has been held in wheeling hotspots like Leadville, Fairplay, Ouray, Gunnison, and Montrose. Since 1994, the event boomerangs back to Silverton every four years. Why? Well, in case you don't know, the Silverton area is a wheeling mecca. There's a mind-boggling number of legendary, fascinating trails just a short distance from town and the scenery is unrivaled.

Over the years, All-4-Fun has grown to a weeklong event, and 2010 was no exception. The event returned to the amazing mountain-ringed town of Silverton, home to only one paved road. Trailrides were on tap each day except for Vendor Day. On that day, there was a huge parade of Jeeps through the town of Silverton, followed by a host of activities at All-4-Fun base camp that included a truck show and a collection of over 40 aftermarket companies displaying, and answering questions about, their wares.

The Mile-Hi Jeep Club packs All-4-Fun with incredible value. We were stunned at the amount of free stuff that awaited participants. Take food and drink, for example. All total, there were six free meals for participants, most of which included drinks. There was even an ice cream social. Food and beverage sponsors included Bestop, Big O Tires, Clemson 4Wheel Center, Colorado Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc., Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition, Dave's Customs Unlimited, Daystar, Mile-Hi Jeep Club, Poison Spyder Customs, Stay the Trail Colorado, and Warn Industries. When you mix these perks with a massive raffle, free camping, knowledgeable trail guides, and the relaxed vibe of fellow wheelers, it's pretty clear why All-4-Fun is so successful. Heck, there's even an on-site repair shop staffed by Bob Schleppy and his crew from 4x4 Offroad & Used Parts in Fort Collins. Schleppy and his crew have been a fixture at All-4-Fun since '89, and he takes pride in keeping participants on the trail. Schleppy says the most common repairs are axleshafts and U-joints.

Planning has already begun for All-4-Fun 2011, which will be held in Salida, Colorado, July 30 through August 6. By the time you read this, registration will be underway and you can get more info at www.mhjc.org. For now, check out some of the action and scenery from All-4-Fun 2010.

Wheeling the Colorado High Country
High-altitude Colorado wheeling on trails such as these poses challenges to your rig that you won't typically find in lower elevations. As an example, running Black Bear and Imogene in one day means your rig will be in 4-Lo for approximately 30 miles. Naturally, you'll want to make sure your rig's transfer case is in good working order and full of oil. Do the same for the transmission. It's common to climb long, steep grades for extended periods of time, so make sure your engine's cooling system is in top-notch working order also. Remember, there's less oxygen at high altitude, so your engine will be working harder to compensate.

Giving Back
This year, the folks at Mile-Hi Jeep Club donated $10,000 to The Children's Hospital Burn Camps Program. This program was created in 1983 to meet the psychological and rehabilitation needs of the child and family following a burn injury. Mile-Hi has donated close to $150,000 through the years to The Children's Hospital in the Denver area.

All-4-Fun 2011 at a Glance
When: July 30-August 6, 2011
Where: Salida, Colorado
Sponsored by: Mile-Hi Jeep Club
More info: www.mhjc.org FW

Black Bear Pass trail is a blast. It's only about 12 miles long, but in that short length it can stir up an array of emotions in drivers and passengers, ranging from awe to sheer terror. As we began our rapid descent toward Telluride, 4,000 feet below, the clouds parted briefly, and we were rewarded with a birds-eye view of the town.
Black Bear Pass trail is a blast. It's only about 12 miles long, but in that short length
Due to the monsoon-like conditions during All-4-Fun, running water was prevalent on some of the trails. This waterfall was near the summit of 12,840-foot Black Bear Pass.
Due to the monsoon-like conditions during All-4-Fun, running water was prevalent on some o
After running Black Bear, we returned to Silverton via Imogene Pass. This trail is about 18 miles long and connects Telluride to Ouray. Water crossings are numerous in the Imogene Basin.
After running Black Bear, we returned to Silverton via Imogene Pass. This trail is about 1

Mining is the reason most of the roads exist in the San Juan Mountains and the area is littered with old mine ruins. The area around Ingram Falls on Black Bear is dotted with everything from old mills to heavy steel cables that were used to transport the ore buckets.
Mining is the reason most of the roads exist in the San Juan Mountains and the area is lit
One of our all-time favorite obstacles is this waterfall on the Imogene Pass trail. Most don't know it exists, as it's a hidden on a spur trail. Not only is it incredibly photogenic, it tests a driver's nerves because it requires a wet-tire climb up off-camber rocks with nothing but a large drop into a waterfall on the passenger-side.
One of our all-time favorite obstacles is this waterfall on the Imogene Pass trail. Most d
This is the easy side of the Poughkeepsie Gulch "Jaws" obstacle, and it was a gooey, slippery mess. To climb it in these conditions required positioning the vehicle over a notch on the rocks (without slipping off in the mud) followed by a hard left turn, and then a hard right turn, coupled with a liberal application of throttle.
This is the easy side of the Poughkeepsie Gulch "Jaws" obstacle, and it was a gooey, slipp

Vendor day was attended by over 40 aftermarket companies and was open to all of All-4-Fun's over 400 participants. Some of the companies in attendance included Bestop, Big O Tires, Clemson 4Wheel Center, Dave's Customs Unlimited, Daystar, 4Wheel Parts, 4x4 Offroad & Used Parts, Goodyear, Nemesis Industries, and Warn.
Vendor day was attended by over 40 aftermarket companies and was open to all of All-4-Fun'
Even the easy trails offer cool surprises in Colorado. This dirt road and its big rock overhang is on the way to Poughkeepsie Gulch, Yankee Boy Basin, and Governor Basin.
Even the easy trails offer cool surprises in Colorado. This dirt road and its big rock ove
No one was complaining about the lunchtime ambiance on the Poughkeepsie Gulch trail. Deep, cold, blue-green Lake Como, at approximately 12,200 feet in altitude, is gorgeous. Within view is Hurricane Pass, which towers to an altitude of 12,407 feet.
No one was complaining about the lunchtime ambiance on the Poughkeepsie Gulch trail. Deep,

This is the shelf trail on Black Bear above Ingram Falls, and while it isn't necessarily difficult, it can be unnerving because of the steep drop on the driver's side.
This is the shelf trail on Black Bear above Ingram Falls, and while it isn't necessarily d
These friendly folks are most of our group from Friday's Yankee Boy Basin/Governor Basin trail ride. They're at the Virginius Mine (which began operation in 1872), far above Governor Basin at about 12,400 feet.
These friendly folks are most of our group from Friday's Yankee Boy Basin/Governor Basin t
Remnants of mining are everywhere in Colorado. During World War II a lot of the metal at the old mines was reclaimed for the war effort, but some metal was just too difficult to remove, so it remains to this day.
Remnants of mining are everywhere in Colorado. During World War II a lot of the metal at t

We ran the Governor Basin trail on Friday. The trail starts in the tree line, among Colorado blue spruce and fir trees, and climbs to altitudes topping 12,000 feet. Here you can see Matt Roberts of Belleview, Nebraska, leading the way in his '03 TJ Rubicon.
We ran the Governor Basin trail on Friday. The trail starts in the tree line, among Colora
Yankee Boy Basin is an easy trail that is very popular. It's about 10 miles in length and offers incredible scenery. We ran this trail on Friday with a group of about 18 vehicles.
Yankee Boy Basin is an easy trail that is very popular. It's about 10 miles in length and