The FMCA 4 Wheelers rating on this road is 4.5 out of 5. It probably is the most difficult road I will ever be on. My host driver was Steve James from the Phoenix area. We found a lot of things in common to talk about on the all day run. There were 10 Jeep Wranglers in the run, mostly 2 door. Steve referred to the 4 door models as “busses” as they were not as nimble in going through the many obstacles. All of his driveline behind the transmission is after market heavy duty (transfer case, differentials, axles etc.), plus the suspension parts and 40” tires. He estimated that the cost of “building“ his Jeep new would be $60,000. As with most rock crawlers, he pulls it behind his motor home on a trailer. His engine and transmission are the same as in our Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Here Steve is airing down, reducing tire pressure to 12 lbs. for better traction and ride.
Here are two of three signs warning drivers of the challenges of the road and suggesting minimum Jeep specifications to do the trail. The one below warns that towing charges on the road beyond that point are at least $500.
The first few hundred yards of the road are very rocky, discouraging the faint of heart or ill-equipped drivers. Steve tells me that condition is called a “gatekeeper”.
The most significant obstacles on the road are named: Notch, Slab,Steep Rock,Tippy Tree, and Cleveland Rock. The last was beyond Holy Cross City and a few Jeeps tried it, none successfully.
Below are a series of pictures illustrating some of the obstacles in the road. There are about half of the ones I took.
Here the road crosses French Creek. The obstacle is about 50 yards long and requires two 90 deg. turns. Spotters direct drivers where to place their tires. Although all of the Jeeps were equipped with winches, none had to be used.
It takes some time to get all the Jeeps through it, so passengers find spots from which to take pictures of the Jeeps as they go through, as below.
Near the end of the road are components of boilers used at the mine or mill. One marvels at how they were brought up, probably by horses and wagons.
Here is the group having lunch at Holy Cross City, el. 11,500 ft. A couple of buildings survive.
The shots below are going back down the trail we just came up.
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