Ouray Trip - High Mountain Flash Floods

[Arkarch]

I am in Ouray Colorado / San Juans this week. We had one hell of an experience today..

Today we headed up Engineers Pass up to Engineers Mountain - then back down. At the Y some went onward to Animas Forks and our group decided to run Engineers Pass back to Highway 550. On the way back we made a detour to run a section of Poughkeepsie up to the climb. On exit of Poughkeepsie, a storm was just beginning to show its violence.

From the branch back to the Breen Mine rain was heavy - and then as we transversed the canyon shelf road the rain came down in buckets. I was lead, baja'ing down into the lower switchbacks less than a mile from the main road. At the first switch I saw a firehose of mud rolling across the turn - but still driveable. By the time my tailgunner passed the location he yelled that the mountain was coming down - and to roll fast. I got around the next switch and came up on the section below. There a torrent of mud water was racing across the trail. I may have decided to gun it - but the mountain was exploding so fast. Large boulders and trees appeared in the flash flood and it was all I could do to back up. The mountain was coming down.... in several sections.

We did the right thing - made sure the group was safe. We had water and food and clothing. We had others in our group from the Animas Forks side who heard the frantic radio calls and rallied vehicles to get us back to town. We'll get the vehicles tomorrow once Colorado DOT recovers the road. Engineers Pass is a mess tonight. As a note, one of the Animas Forks group did have rocks fall from the cliffs and damage his rig as he made is way back to Ouray on the 550 - he said it was raining rock.

For reference - http://tinyurl.com/2damxzh A: Where the flooding was first noticed - B: Where the mountain fell... and at several other places.

So there - a note to everyone - stay safe - and remember - you can always recover, repair, replace your vehicle. Dont push it.

[xtatik]

I don't believe you Karl...........I want pictures dammit!












Kidding......sounds harrowing, but wow, what an experience, eh?
Keep sharp, and keep safe.

[Chazz Layne]

Don't take this the wrong way: That's awesome! I'm kind of a weather nut and would love to see something like this up close... I'm envious.

I'm glad everyone made it out safe, and hope the vehicles make it through the night unharmed.

[Arkarch]

Here are two videos - First is from (A) and the second from (B)

You could see me in the lead (Gray Touareg without the basket tire) Video from the LR3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z1eRETwIfM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfT97f1t8Bk

[ssc]

Ark,
I am glad all is OK. I know the weather can come in quick. In 2007, the wife and I were wheeling in Ouray and I was going up Imogene when a wicked storm came in. Rain was heavy and visibility was down to less than ten feet. We made it to the summit and tried to wait it out. At the first break we went back down and it started again. Water and mud and rocks were terrible as the road was washing out in places. Met another FJ on the way and we got out of there but it was tough going and the trail was washed out inplaces which made it near impossible to cross. We probably shouldn't have but did go through the wash out areas, but it was quite nerve-racking. Attached is a picture of the sign at the Imogene summit.

Regards, Steve

Ouray 07 131 (Medium).jpg (21.29 KiB) Viewed 2526 times

[OLLIE]

A very good lesson to all of us Karl. Thanks for sharing. It's just good that you all got out OK. Material things are secondary.

[Arkarch]

I suppose a better choice would have been not to explore Poughkeepsie on the way back, giving us time to get off the mountain. There was already rain in the area. Or we could have rode the storm out in a safer spot. But the weather seemed stable at the time. Storms happen fast.

Another point well taken was that we had communications. One of the guys in the other group down at the bottom of the hill is a Ham operator (Matt who had a Blue Touareg in other reports here) and used his training to work reports back to Ourary Fire and Rescue. From his ability to communicate with us, he was able to give them an assessment of who was on the mountain, the status, that there were two dozen other vehicles on the mountain, and so on.

We also did not take additional risks. Sure, we could have tried to take our vehicles down that night. But running 5500 lb rigs over fresh mud slides we a huge risk; a rock crawler passed us and nearly slid down a fresh slide into a washed out 100' deep hole.

Here are some photos of the entire week. I hope to have more as they become available from others.

My site
http://picasaweb.google.com/KF6VOM/Colo ... 8834913170

Others
http://gallery.me.com/rvdub#100255/IMG_ ... olor=black
http://gallery.me.com/rvdub#100255/IMG_ ... olor=black
http://gallery.me.com/rvdub#100255/IMG_ ... olor=black
(and scroll left/right to other shots)

Touareg Forum Reports
http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f75/2 ... 42018.html

[OLLIE]

Looks like a great trip sir. I love that area, no matter the conditions.

[cruiserlarry]

Mud and/or ice definitely turn the nerve factor up a notch when running inclines, whether going up or down...

[Arkarch]

Some additional photos to post...

On the way back from the San Juans of Colorado, we took the southern route through Durango - Gallup - I-40 to Kingman. For anyone traveling the region, here are a few sidetrips..

La Posada in Winslow Arizona – Once the hideaway to the 30’s – 50’s Hollywood elite, this 1930 Fred Harvey (Harvey House) / Mary Jane Colter creation was recently restored after 40 years of neglect. Its an awesome little oasis if you are ever on Interstate 40 - a new hideaway in the middle of old Winslow next to the Santa Fe Railroad/Amtrak station. It even has some lawn chairs to watch the trains go by this very active main. http://www.laposada.org/ for the main site. Here are my photos…
http://picasaweb.google.com/KF6VOM/LaPo ... 4797847618

Durango and Silverton Narrow Guage RR Museum – Durango is the southern entry into the San Juans, famous for Narrow Guage Railroading where 3-4 daily steam trains still make the trek up some of the most awesome railroad scenery. http://www.durangotrain.com/ for the rail trips. Here are my photos of the newly dedicated museum.
http://picasaweb.google.com/KF6VOM/Dura ... 8760318002

Grand Canyon – A quick detour to the canyon. We first met it with thick fog and a downpour. Finally got a decent view by the hotel.
http://picasaweb.google.com/KF6VOM/Gran ... 4220786210