The Ford Barn

Old Henry · 03-06-2023, 05:46 PM

Gentlemen, Pursuant to several recent requests, I submit my report of my 1,100 mile road trip in Old Henry through the Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak a month ago while my wife was at a quilting retreat. Here is the map of the trip:

This trip was during the coldest and snowiest weather that northern Utah and Colorado has had for years. Because of that, I didn't stop to take as many pictures as usual. Most of the time the snow came right up to the travel lane such that there was no shoulder to stop for a photo. And, it was mighty cold.

How cold was it? During the first night between Vernal, UT and Craig, CO is was -20°F outside. Usually the fresh air heater of Old Henry could keep up but not then. It got down to 50° inside. It wasn't 'till we got to Craig that I investigated and found that the cable to the air damper in the heater duct had come off on a real bumpy section of the old highway allowing the damper to fall and block the airflow to the heater. After fixing that, we stayed toasty warm inside from then on.

After the first night in Craig, CO we continued on old US 40 and 24, Colorado 9, and US 285 to Buena Vista, CO for the next night. Although we had record snow and cold prior, it never snowed a drop the whole trip. Everything was so beautiful covered in white with the glorious sun beaming down on it. Just before Buena Vista we hit a couple of high points: Hoosier Pass over the Continental Divide at 11,539 ft. elevation and Alma, CO the highest incorporated city in North America at 10,578 ft. elevation:

I had no plan to climb Pike's Peak in the middle of the winter as I'd done it in Old Henry twice before in the summer. But, when I woke up on the third day I decided to do it. So we did. Here's the video: https://youtu.be/5BOnvLqGBtQ

A turnout view point on the way up:

Arriving at the top where I bumped into one of the big boulders shown in this photo looking down on Colorado Springs creasing my previously perfect bumper:

That night we stayed in the Monarch Ski Lodge just before Monarch Ski Resort. Next day we headed home over another high pass:

All in all, a wonderful 4 day road trip through the gorgeous Colorado Rockies in mid-winter.

Previous road trips:

Great Plains April 2018 https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245122

Yosemite, King's Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks in September 2017: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229907

Pacific coast from San Francisco to the Olympic Peninsula in July 2017: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224808

Southern Utah and Northern Arizona in March 2017: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216069

Western Utah Desert in the snow in December 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211692

Mt. Whitney and Death Valley in November 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=209009

Teton National Park in September 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205574

Alaska in May 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196219

Moki Dugway in April 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=193764

Four rivers in Idaho and Montana in March 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=190776

Red Canyon, Utah February 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=188740

California Highway 1 November 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182600

Great Basin National Park and City of Rocks October 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181134

Pike's Peak September 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=179372

Uinta Mountain Range, Utah, August 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173539

Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower, July 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173539

Pony Express Trail in April 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166241

Mexico and around in February 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162633

Ghost towns of Modena, UT and Pioche, NV in November 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155331

Million Dollar Highway, Durango to Montrose, Colorado in June 2014 https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142975

Transcontinental Railway Grade in May 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139471

City of Rocks, Idaho in April 2014:https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137684

Capitol Reef National Park in March 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133018

Grouse Creek and the AAA garage in February 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130966

Grand Canyon in January 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128820

Moab, UT in December 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127222

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument November 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123694

Across Nevada on US 50, "The Loneliest Road in the Country", October 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120098

Mount Evans (the highest paved road in North America) August 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115013

Canada in June 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109872

Monument Valley in March 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99523

Bryce Canyon in February 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97822

Milford, Utah in December 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93137

Nevada and Idaho in November 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89080

Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966

Yellowstone National Park in May 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72864

Death Valley in February 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62705

Pike's Peak in July 2011: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19141

Route 66 in April 2010: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57511 [/COLOR]

cas3 · 03-06-2023, 05:54 PM

Where's the "like" button ?

Krylon32 · 03-06-2023, 05:56 PM

Fantastic. Another great trip shared by Old Henry with the BARN. You are a brave man and your old Ford is unbelievable. Many people with a late model would not do what you do. Congratulations.

petehoovie · 03-06-2023, 06:04 PM

Craig - Damn, I'm glad you're back!

flatford8 · 03-06-2023, 06:08 PM

Awesome!!!......happy to see you and O-H back on the road!......safe travels.......Mark

ford38v8 · 03-06-2023, 06:10 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

To those of us that actually put miles on our old Fords, you are an inspiration! Keep 'em coming, we're hanging onto your rear bumper!

cjshaker · 03-06-2023, 10:11 PM

That's excellent! Love to see these things being driven. Thanks for the story, and sorry to see that bumper. Hope you get it straightened out.

bobH · 03-07-2023, 12:22 AM

Craig..... thumbs up !!

Old Henry · 03-07-2023, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cas3

Where's the "like" button ?

It's under the "Rate Thread" tab at the top.

corvette8n · 03-07-2023, 07:41 AM

Great pictures and video, your previous video of Arches National park inspired us to go to Grand Canyon and Arches a few years back thanks.

Bored&Stroked · 03-07-2023, 08:30 AM

Hey Craig - so glad you're back on the Barn and posting a new trip. We've loved your stories and trips and it made me smile to see you taking that trip way up high in the Rockies! Way to go . . . and keep after it!

51504bat · 03-07-2023, 09:40 AM

Great to read about another of your trips. Thanks for including us.

Elmo Rodge · 03-07-2023, 09:55 AM

Good job Craig. I think about my ride in Old Henry often.
Wayno

rotorwrench · 03-07-2023, 09:59 AM

I worked a heli-ski job in Craig back in the 80s. That's the coldest place I've ever worked and I've worked in quite a few high mountain areas. Craig is an inversion valley and it can get to -40 degrees F in there. It was too cold to run the helicopters at times.

Good to see Old Henry back in action.

Zeke3 · 03-07-2023, 10:30 AM

I like the state motto on the 1947 Utah license plates, “This is the place.” Thanks for the trip.

the cooch · 03-07-2023, 11:53 AM

Wow! That’s a dangerous loop any time of year in any car or truck! Of course you are accustomed to the Utah high country and it’s normal hazards. For those that have not been between the front range and western slope believe me, some outrageous driving issues can occur up there. Lightning and hail, rock slides, herds of elk, goats and sheep in the road, ice in the shade in the summer, speeding locals, cyclists everywhere, avalanche danger in May, thousand footers with no guardrail, you name it we’ve got it. Your car must have good, good tires, tons of power, brakes and trans in really good shape and if your defrost is out you’re done! Good fortune, catching that weather window. You could have just as easily had a total white out and boiler plate ice the whole time! The snow up there this time of year is really beautiful (thankfully we’ve had a lot this season) but frequently folks take driving for granted and are really unprepared on our mountain roads. Old Fords prove how well they’re built and designed all the time but I think very few owners are relying on them like you guys. What an Incredible trip, thanks very much for taking time to post on the forum again!
-Chris, in Boulder
Oh, did. You employ tire chains at any point? What tires are those on the car?

GB SISSON · 03-07-2023, 11:58 AM

Your adventures are nothing short of astounding!

Darrell S · 03-07-2023, 12:02 PM

Applause!!! Great to see you back.

TJ · 03-07-2023, 07:32 PM

Craig, you are an inspiration to all of us. Glad you are back to giving us your tours.

al's28/33 · 03-07-2023, 10:07 PM

I have so very much missed your posts and quite equally excited to see this new one. I hope you and your family have stayed well thru these past few years. Safe Travel and God Bless.

03-06-2023, 05:46 PM	#1
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,762	Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Gentlemen, Pursuant to several recent requests, I submit my report of my 1,100 mile road trip in Old Henry through the Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak a month ago while my wife was at a quilting retreat. Here is the map of the trip: This trip was during the coldest and snowiest weather that northern Utah and Colorado has had for years. Because of that, I didn't stop to take as many pictures as usual. Most of the time the snow came right up to the travel lane such that there was no shoulder to stop for a photo. And, it was mighty cold. How cold was it? During the first night between Vernal, UT and Craig, CO is was -20°F outside. Usually the fresh air heater of Old Henry could keep up but not then. It got down to 50° inside. It wasn't 'till we got to Craig that I investigated and found that the cable to the air damper in the heater duct had come off on a real bumpy section of the old highway allowing the damper to fall and block the airflow to the heater. After fixing that, we stayed toasty warm inside from then on. After the first night in Craig, CO we continued on old US 40 and 24, Colorado 9, and US 285 to Buena Vista, CO for the next night. Although we had record snow and cold prior, it never snowed a drop the whole trip. Everything was so beautiful covered in white with the glorious sun beaming down on it. Just before Buena Vista we hit a couple of high points: Hoosier Pass over the Continental Divide at 11,539 ft. elevation and Alma, CO the highest incorporated city in North America at 10,578 ft. elevation: I had no plan to climb Pike's Peak in the middle of the winter as I'd done it in Old Henry twice before in the summer. But, when I woke up on the third day I decided to do it. So we did. Here's the video: https://youtu.be/5BOnvLqGBtQ A turnout view point on the way up: Arriving at the top where I bumped into one of the big boulders shown in this photo looking down on Colorado Springs creasing my previously perfect bumper: That night we stayed in the Monarch Ski Lodge just before Monarch Ski Resort. Next day we headed home over another high pass: All in all, a wonderful 4 day road trip through the gorgeous Colorado Rockies in mid-winter. Previous road trips: Great Plains April 2018 https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245122 Yosemite, King's Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks in September 2017: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229907 Pacific coast from San Francisco to the Olympic Peninsula in July 2017: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224808 Southern Utah and Northern Arizona in March 2017: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216069 Western Utah Desert in the snow in December 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211692 Mt. Whitney and Death Valley in November 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=209009 Teton National Park in September 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205574 Alaska in May 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196219 Moki Dugway in April 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=193764 Four rivers in Idaho and Montana in March 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=190776 Red Canyon, Utah February 2016: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=188740 California Highway 1 November 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182600 Great Basin National Park and City of Rocks October 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181134 Pike's Peak September 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=179372 Uinta Mountain Range, Utah, August 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173539 Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower, July 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173539 Pony Express Trail in April 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166241 Mexico and around in February 2015: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162633 Ghost towns of Modena, UT and Pioche, NV in November 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155331 Million Dollar Highway, Durango to Montrose, Colorado in June 2014 https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142975 Transcontinental Railway Grade in May 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139471 City of Rocks, Idaho in April 2014:https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137684 Capitol Reef National Park in March 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133018 Grouse Creek and the AAA garage in February 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130966 Grand Canyon in January 2014: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128820 Moab, UT in December 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127222 Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument November 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123694 Across Nevada on US 50, "The Loneliest Road in the Country", October 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120098 Mount Evans (the highest paved road in North America) August 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115013 Canada in June 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109872 Monument Valley in March 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99523 Bryce Canyon in February 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97822 Milford, Utah in December 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93137 Nevada and Idaho in November 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89080 Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966 Yellowstone National Park in May 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72864 Death Valley in February 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62705 Pike's Peak in July 2011: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19141 Route 66 in April 2010: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57511 [/COLOR] __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness Last edited by Old Henry; 03-07-2023 at 01:05 AM.*

03-06-2023, 05:54 PM	#2
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,577	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Where's the "like" button ?

03-06-2023, 05:56 PM	#3
Krylon32 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,484	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Fantastic. Another great trip shared by Old Henry with the BARN. You are a brave man and your old Ford is unbelievable. Many people with a late model would not do what you do. Congratulations.

03-06-2023, 06:04 PM	#4
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,151	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Craig - Damn, I'm glad you're back! __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

03-06-2023, 06:08 PM	#5
flatford8 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lyman,ME. Posts: 2,630	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Awesome!!!......happy to see you and O-H back on the road!......safe travels.......Mark __________________ I'm thinkin' about crankin' My ragged ol' truck up and haulin' myself into town. Billy Joe Shaver

03-06-2023, 06:10 PM	#6
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 6,646	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) To those of us that actually put miles on our old Fords, you are an inspiration! Keep 'em coming, we're hanging onto your rear bumper! __________________ Alan

03-06-2023, 10:11 PM	#7
cjshaker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Ada OH Posts: 149	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip That's excellent! Love to see these things being driven. Thanks for the story, and sorry to see that bumper. Hope you get it straightened out.

03-07-2023, 12:22 AM	#8
bobH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: so cal, placerville, vegas Posts: 1,394	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Craig..... thumbs up !!

03-07-2023, 07:41 AM	#10
corvette8n Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY Posts: 2,952	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Great pictures and video, your previous video of Arches National park inspired us to go to Grand Canyon and Arches a few years back thanks.

03-07-2023, 08:30 AM	#11
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,068	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Hey Craig - so glad you're back on the Barn and posting a new trip. We've loved your stories and trips and it made me smile to see you taking that trip way up high in the Rockies! Way to go . . . and keep after it!

03-07-2023, 09:40 AM	#12
51504bat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: SoCal-Redlands Posts: 3,024	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Great to read about another of your trips. Thanks for including us. __________________ Making the simple complicated for over 30 years.

03-07-2023, 09:55 AM	#13
Elmo Rodge Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Salina, Utah Posts: 325	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Good job Craig. I think about my ride in Old Henry often. Wayno __________________ Life is not a spectator sport.

03-07-2023, 09:59 AM	#14
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip I worked a heli-ski job in Craig back in the 80s. That's the coldest place I've ever worked and I've worked in quite a few high mountain areas. Craig is an inversion valley and it can get to -40 degrees F in there. It was too cold to run the helicopters at times. Good to see Old Henry back in action.

03-07-2023, 10:30 AM	#15
Zeke3 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Columbus, IN Posts: 1,407	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip I like the state motto on the 1947 Utah license plates, “This is the place.” Thanks for the trip.

03-07-2023, 11:53 AM	#16
the cooch Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 97	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Wow! That’s a dangerous loop any time of year in any car or truck! Of course you are accustomed to the Utah high country and it’s normal hazards. For those that have not been between the front range and western slope believe me, some outrageous driving issues can occur up there. Lightning and hail, rock slides, herds of elk, goats and sheep in the road, ice in the shade in the summer, speeding locals, cyclists everywhere, avalanche danger in May, thousand footers with no guardrail, you name it we’ve got it. Your car must have good, good tires, tons of power, brakes and trans in really good shape and if your defrost is out you’re done! Good fortune, catching that weather window. You could have just as easily had a total white out and boiler plate ice the whole time! The snow up there this time of year is really beautiful (thankfully we’ve had a lot this season) but frequently folks take driving for granted and are really unprepared on our mountain roads. Old Fords prove how well they’re built and designed all the time but I think very few owners are relying on them like you guys. What an Incredible trip, thanks very much for taking time to post on the forum again! -Chris, in Boulder Oh, did. You employ tire chains at any point? What tires are those on the car?

03-07-2023, 11:58 AM	#17
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 4,940	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Your adventures are nothing short of astounding! __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

03-07-2023, 12:02 PM	#18
Darrell S Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Everett WA Posts: 346	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Applause!!! Great to see you back.

03-07-2023, 07:32 PM	#19
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,037	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip Craig, you are an inspiration to all of us. Glad you are back to giving us your tours.

03-07-2023, 10:07 PM	#20
al's28/33 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 1,591	Re: Colorado Rockies to Pike's Peak Mid-winter Road Trip I have so very much missed your posts and quite equally excited to see this new one. I hope you and your family have stayed well thru these past few years. Safe Travel and God Bless. __________________ 1928 "A" Phaeton (mid year with many early features) 1933 "V8" Closed-Cab Pickup Truck (originally a Model B, 4 Cylinder dating to May, 1933)