You can drive all the way to Ouray on pavement if you like, but it won't be as much fun.

Take that picture up there if you will, that's Old Chinaman's Gulch. Without rock sliders most of that trail will damage your body and doors. Stock step rails will be gone within a quarter mile of the parking lot.

I've had too many complaints that GOX is easy (even though people break shit every year), so this year it's going to be a bit more challenging. It's not going to be a hardcore rock-crawling event because I don't want to spend a week fixing trucks, and the Xterra simply isn't capable of the tough trails Colorado has.

Old Chinaman will be optional though as we will be camping near by. Some may skip it and set up camp and explore the St. Elmo area, and others may try Iron Chest if it has been reopened.

It will be a very enjoyable week of trails that make you think, trails that use your skills and trails that make you pucker, and the best scenery Colorado has to offer.