Excellent video, I've lived in Colorado since 1950, but never got "up that way", It always amazes me the determination and effort it took to conquer the Rockies "back in the day". Your video was almost as good as being there for an old timer whose exploring days now are spent on You Tube and Google Earth, thanks for "bringing me along".
That was great, Justin. What scenery! It is so weird to see these remote abandoned settlements and realize how much more remote these would have been when they were in habited! What a history lesson! Thanks for the ride-along!
Though the scenery was beautiful going and coming back and the moose was great to see, IMO the Alpine Station footage made this video. Thanks for taking us along!
I remember doing Hancock, Tomichi and the Alpine Tunnel from St Elmo in the mid nineties. I was alone and just a few Kodachrome slides and ran out of film, just when you needed it most. Brings back all the memories, the drone shots were just phenomenal. I think the turntable must have been fixed more recently since I don't really recall seeing it then. I remember reading about it after I had done the trip, wish I had read up before visiting the west portal. Thanks for bringing it all back!
My God thank you we haven’t been up that way in 20 years. And we we’re from Cotopaxi. Do to my health I’ll never be back so thank you. We’ve got a lot of good memories over there.
I was up there in the early 1970s. The west portal had a long timber snow shed protecting the rails from the opening towards the telegraph office. That had collapsed by the 1990s, and I see no remnants of it any more. I've always wondered about Williams Pass, so thanks for the insight. Jeeps were also narrower back in the day!
The Alpine Station was cool. Can you imagine narrow gauge steam engine trains chugging over the top of that? That must have been something to see. Great explore. 😎👍
Hancock pass is open! It is not closed due to the avalanche damage at the palisades. The palisades are part of the Alpine Tunnel trail that splits off of Hancock pass. One can also run Tomichi pass that turns off of Hancock pass as well. The closure is between Hancock Pass and where Williams Pass rejoins the Alpine Tunnel trail. I grew up in Gunnison and back in the 1960's one could enter the tunnel and make most of the way through to the St Elmo side. It has caved in since then.
Thanks for the views up Williams Pass. Wondered what the scenery looked like up there. Worked on a volunteer crew with the Colorado Trail Foundation in that area in 2016 but didn't venture up that road but did do Hancock Pass on our off day.
Darn! Sorry to hear (and see) the damage to the Palisades. I have been up to the Alpine Tunnel twice, once back in the '80s, and agaIn back about 6 or 7 years ago. The last time in a beat up 1990 Ford Festive. Those darn little things could go just about anywhere if you didn't mind banging the bottom on stuff. I am planning to go to Taylor Park in about a week, with the Alpine tunnel and Station being one of my destinations. Looks like I may be doing some walking. Thanks for the video tour. I now have crossed Williams Pass off my itinerary.🙂 Taking a 1990 Ford half ton pickup, so I am just going to be going on the easier trails this time around.
In July 1973 my then wife and I drove up from the highway east of St Elmo to see it. The road paralleled the old RR right of way. Drove my 72 Chev Kingswood Estate Wagon! Didn't have a clue...but enjoyed it immensely! Thank you for the trip down memory lane
Thankyou for showing this .Seems a long time ago as a young man I ventured into the far west above tree line . Remember it was hard to boil water, nights got cold and i missed trees. LOL There is some place for everyone and ill stay in my mountains ;let those places for others now.
Sittin on my couch just knowing what you guys were gonna run into as you went up the trail. Lol. Bummer that nobody has cleared any of it out. Went to the tunnel from the gunnison side this spring.
That rockfall at 8:31 was not there when I went through there on 8/15/21. There was one small rockfall past the washout. The drone shots of Alpine Tunnel were amazing!
Amazing where the old timers pushed the rail through, then as time passed there was often not enough passengers to keep the old lines going so they ripped them out. Imagine the tourism possibilities today. Thanks for sharing.
I love your videos! Your channel is exactly what I was looking for....An average guy doing real world trails and reviews with his RUBICON! Keep the great footage coming!
Wow you did a great job on this video! It was truly a great experience watching your video and reliving some of my past in that area. I have not been to the Alpine tunnel West portal in over 15 years. I have not been over Williams pass in 40 years ( and that was on a motorcycle ) . Always seems to be closed every time I’m there. Back in the early 80s I got a chance to drive all the way to the Eastern portal! Even back then it was difficult to get around various rock slides and erosion. I was very sad to see that that is no longer an option these days as the road is closed off and has become just a walking path . Also sad to see the state of the building along the side of the road at Romley . It has always been a crazy looking building but now it truly does appear to be falling apart completely. Again thank you so much for your wonderful video as it now has sparked the desire in me to head up into that area again , probably next summer!
That would be a pretty skinny trail for the power wagon lol!! Once they get the Palisades repaired you should be able to get to it via Hancock pass no problem.
Very pretty country and neat history up there for sure. As far as driving rocky trails like those, Paul at Fab Rats could give your Jeeps a little more ground clearance and suspension travel and articulation. Paul and his friend Matt (of Matt's Off Road Recovery) repair, rescue and recover broken and stuck Jeeps on nasty trails in Utah regularly...how they set their trail rigs up is the game changer. ;)
i live in Idaho and I never run 4ply tires especially on rocks. after ruining several tires, i went to 10 plies. load range "E". At least your rocks are rounded, ours tend to be very angular and sharp.
Doesn’t matter if you meet someone going up. Uphill traffic has the right away in Colorado. Alpine tunnel is a lot better on the sleds. Tin cup pass, Antero, an if you go up to twin lakes an no the secret little mining Road you can climb up elbert in the summer.
to a point yes. it also makes sense if you are the solo uphill traffic and meet a group of 5 going downhill to get out of their way. less resource damage.
Tried to go to alpine tunnel in august from pitkin side road was closed, this Williams pass does it come in from st Elmo side? Be nice if Colorado would take some of that weed tax money and put together a few teams to fix these roads/trails.
The same is happening in canada as well. I was bummed when they cut of jenny creek year's ago, but they introduced more cutt's up stream. So at least the fishing is solid. Be well
I do indeed have the mopar 2 inch lift, and i am still on toyo 35 inch MTRs. they are holding up good. i can tell the lift has sagged a tiny bit but not much, everything is holding up real good.
Excellent video, I've lived in Colorado since 1950, but never got "up that way", It always amazes me the determination and effort it took to conquer the Rockies "back in the day". Your video was almost as good as being there for an old timer whose exploring days now are spent on You Tube and Google Earth, thanks for "bringing me along".
That was great, Justin. What scenery! It is so weird to see these remote abandoned settlements and realize how much more remote these would have been when they were in habited! What a history lesson! Thanks for the ride-along!
Though the scenery was beautiful going and coming back and the moose was great to see, IMO the Alpine Station footage made this video. Thanks for taking us along!
Thanks a bunch!! Trying to incorporate more drone use when I can.
The best part about being an off-roaders is the amazing places and sight's that not all of us are capable of hiking to. Thanks Justin
I remember doing Hancock, Tomichi and the Alpine Tunnel from St Elmo in the mid nineties. I was alone and just a few Kodachrome slides and ran out of film, just when you needed it most. Brings back all the memories, the drone shots were just phenomenal. I think the turntable must have been fixed more recently since I don't really recall seeing it then.
I remember reading about it after I had done the trip, wish I had read up before visiting the west portal. Thanks for bringing it all back!
My God thank you we haven’t been up that way in 20 years. And we we’re from Cotopaxi. Do to my health I’ll never be back so thank you. We’ve got a lot of good memories over there.
I was up there in the early 1970s. The west portal had a long timber snow shed protecting the rails from the opening towards the telegraph office. That had collapsed by the 1990s, and I see no remnants of it any more. I've always wondered about Williams Pass, so thanks for the insight. Jeeps were also narrower back in the day!
Alpine Station was in better shape than when I was there some 20 plus years ago. Props to the group that maintains it.
The Alpine Station was cool. Can you imagine narrow gauge steam engine trains chugging over the top of that? That must have been something to see. Great explore. 😎👍
would have been a wild time to be alive!
Hancock pass is open! It is not closed due to the avalanche damage at the palisades. The palisades are part of the Alpine Tunnel trail that splits off of Hancock pass. One can also run Tomichi pass that turns off of Hancock pass as well.
The closure is between Hancock Pass and where Williams Pass rejoins the Alpine Tunnel trail.
I grew up in Gunnison and back in the 1960's one could enter the tunnel and make most of the way through to the St Elmo side. It has caved in since then.
oh good point!! it's only the alpine tunnel road that is damaged.
Alpine station was really good, great drone shots. What a piece of history, well worth the trip. Thanks.
I'm 67 in Iowa. My dad is alive, 92. He grew up in Fort Scott, Kansas in a little shack on a bluff above the slab that once was the Round House.
Thanks for the ride. I love all the history you showed us. Be safe and have fun
Thanks for the views up Williams Pass. Wondered what the scenery looked like up there. Worked on a volunteer crew with the Colorado Trail Foundation in that area in 2016 but didn't venture up that road but did do Hancock Pass on our off day.
Darn! Sorry to hear (and see) the damage to the Palisades.
I have been up to the Alpine Tunnel twice, once back in the '80s, and agaIn back about 6 or 7 years ago. The last time in a beat up 1990 Ford Festive. Those darn little things could go just about anywhere if you didn't mind banging the bottom on stuff.
I am planning to go to Taylor Park in about a week, with the Alpine tunnel and Station being one of my destinations. Looks like I may be doing some walking.
Thanks for the video tour. I now have crossed Williams Pass off my itinerary.🙂
Taking a 1990 Ford half ton pickup, so I am just going to be going on the easier trails this time around.
In July 1973 my then wife and I drove up from the highway east of St Elmo to see it. The road paralleled the old RR right of way. Drove my 72 Chev Kingswood Estate Wagon! Didn't have a clue...but enjoyed it immensely! Thank you for the trip down memory lane
Very nice video Justin. Thanks for sharing the video it is nice to see these places I may never get to my self. Stay safe and healthy.
Your video negotiating the rocks and the road wash out remind me if traveling on the main highway in the mountains of Haiti.
Outstanding shots of the old rail line. Thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks for stopping by!!
Thankyou for showing this .Seems a long time ago as a young man I ventured into the far west above tree line . Remember it was hard to boil water, nights got cold and i missed trees. LOL There is some place for everyone and ill stay in my mountains ;let those places for others now.
Thank you! Have never been able to see the Alpine Tunnel up there..!!
👍😎👍
whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! You guys can't do that, it looks like fun. We'll have to put a stop to that.
Great video again and a nice piece of history, glad your able to get out and about again!!
it's been a weird summer that didn't pan out ANYTHING like I hoped it would. still gonna try a few more weekend adventures before the snow flies.
Thank you for sharing your video with us. I like the moose. That was so kool.
Well, that was my summer vacation adventure. Thank you!
👍👍
Sittin on my couch just knowing what you guys were gonna run into as you went up the trail. Lol. Bummer that nobody has cleared any of it out. Went to the tunnel from the gunnison side this spring.
Awesome video Justin! Great history lesson. Glad you had the drone and great shots from that! Thanks as always for sharing your adventures! 😃
drone was interesting to fly with a cracked ipad screen lol! but it worked!
Some pretty gnarly trails. Nice footage.
That rockfall at 8:31 was not there when I went through there on 8/15/21. There was one small rockfall past the washout. The drone shots of Alpine Tunnel were amazing!
Thank you!!!………for NOT using the term “sketchy”.
Amazing where the old timers pushed the rail through, then as time passed there was often not enough passengers to keep the old lines going so they ripped them out. Imagine the tourism possibilities today. Thanks for sharing.
would be amazing to take a train through there today.
That drone footage rocked!
Very cool Justin. Thanks for sharing as more than likely, I’ll never get there in person...
if you ever get the chance, alpine stations totally worth it!
Very enjoyable, cheers 👍👍👍
Thanks Justin.
That was awesome
Thanks!
I love your videos! Your channel is exactly what I was looking for....An average guy doing real world trails and reviews with his RUBICON! Keep the great footage coming!
Welcome aboard haha!! It's not as wild as the others, but it's no BS real stuff lol!
Wow you did a great job on this video! It was truly a great experience watching your video and reliving some of my past in that area. I have not been to the Alpine tunnel West portal in over 15 years. I have not been over Williams pass in 40 years ( and that was on a motorcycle ) . Always seems to be closed every time I’m there. Back in the early 80s I got a chance to drive all the way to the Eastern portal! Even back then it was difficult to get around various rock slides and erosion. I was very sad to see that that is no longer an option these days as the road is closed off and has become just a walking path . Also sad to see the state of the building along the side of the road at Romley . It has always been a crazy looking building but now it truly does appear to be falling apart completely. Again thank you so much for your wonderful video as it now has sparked the desire in me to head up into that area again , probably next summer!
Great video Justin don't you hate it when the gravel roads with 3 foot minus gravel
Three foot minus! Hahaha!
Neat trip, thanks for sharing.
Love those 18 point turns 🤣🤣🤣🤣 great video guys ❤
Good luck with anymore treks up the pass in future you could try and push some of them boulders off the cliff edge
The Rockies. Awesome place 👍
I drove a full size van up there 30 years ago from the other way. Palisades were in good shape though.
I haven’t been up to the tunnel in years I thought about going when I did Tincup pass a couple days ago
The drone footage was really cool!!! I would love to visit there , but looks a little skinny for a wagon . Thanks for the video!!
That would be a pretty skinny trail for the power wagon lol!! Once they get the Palisades repaired you should be able to get to it via Hancock pass no problem.
Very pretty country and neat history up there for sure. As far as driving rocky trails like those, Paul at Fab Rats could give your Jeeps a little more ground clearance and suspension travel and articulation. Paul and his friend Matt (of Matt's Off Road Recovery) repair, rescue and recover broken and stuck Jeeps on nasty trails in Utah regularly...how they set their trail rigs up is the game changer. ;)
That was epic.
Job well done.
interesting !! Thanks !! Amazing views !!
Great video, every part that went into making this video was professional!
Thanks!!
Awesome video!
Wow, that ore bin at Romely has really fallen apart since I saw it last (think 26 years ago).
i live in Idaho and I never run 4ply tires especially on rocks. after ruining several tires, i went to 10 plies. load range "E". At least your rocks are rounded, ours tend to be very angular and sharp.
Weird thing is those were E rated tires too, that must have been a dang sharp rock
Great video!!!!!
Great video thank you!
Doesn’t matter if you meet someone going up. Uphill traffic has the right away in Colorado. Alpine tunnel is a lot better on the sleds. Tin cup pass, Antero, an if you go up to twin lakes an no the secret little mining Road you can climb up elbert in the summer.
to a point yes. it also makes sense if you are the solo uphill traffic and meet a group of 5 going downhill to get out of their way. less resource damage.
@@JustinKingOffroad
I agree, uphill may technically have the right away, but common sense and courtesy should be the rule.
8:56 .....The loneliest traffic cone in the world.
excellent history.
Sweet. Love history.
Tried to go to alpine tunnel in august from pitkin side road was closed, this Williams pass does it come in from st Elmo side? Be nice if Colorado would take some of that weed tax money and put together a few teams to fix these roads/trails.
yep saint elmo side!
I was up there a few years ago! I signed the book!
I crossed your name out. You were never there.
The same is happening in canada as well. I was bummed when they cut of jenny creek year's ago, but they introduced more cutt's up stream. So at least the fishing is solid.
Be well
I'm a big railroad geek.id give my right arm to see this place
favorite saying on here "wow thats neat!" lol
Surprised the tweeker haven’t destroyed everything, how many miles from pavement?
this is a LOOOONG ways back in there.
Very cool 👍
Do you have the mopar 2 inch lift? Would you recommend the lift you have n what tires are you running?
I do indeed have the mopar 2 inch lift, and i am still on toyo 35 inch MTRs. they are holding up good. i can tell the lift has sagged a tiny bit but not much, everything is holding up real good.
What do you use for on trail communication?
mixture of CB and Ham Radio. if we get too far apart for CB, we'll switch over to a ham simplex freq.
wouldn’t it be nice if someone made a pass with a D10 ?
That’s a huge hole at that closed road.
EXCELLENT!!
Sure are a lot of snags standing. Bark beetles?
Pine beetle has been rough on Colorado forests
What with all dead trees ?
Rocky mountain pine beetle! Little buggers are nasty.
Robin Williams made it in “R-V” .
Kind of a bummer to see how many trees were taken out by bettle kill
yeah it's really bad in colorado.
You need to nearest the film after you're done an remove this sounds in the back ground too. Oh love the drone footage.
What are you two using to communicate between the two Jeeps?
Mixture of Ham radio and cb
@@JustinKingOffroad
Thanks
most of that stuff they keep cleared for fire access.
Where is this, I’m not familiar
a little southwest of Buena Vista, Colorado.
In the 80s us army built fire engine routes threw there
Some cool history up there driving around
@@JustinKingOffroad im sure I've been throw there in my 5ton..
i diddent see many places to pass would suck if you got groups coming and going
yeah, that would get really interesting.
tame enough for my daily driver.
😎👍
Would be fun on a bike
So many dead trees…
Yeah the pine beetle has been hard on Colorado
In South Africa this place would have been looted long ago . . .
sad but true lol
Dont get to close or you will have something brown in your pants.
Dead trees
yeah it's bad here... really bad.