Ophir Pass, the First Ascent

We took off as a family for the mountains around Silverton, Telluride, and Ouray yesterday.  We towed the CJ up to Silverton, over Molas Pass, and then took off for the 4X4 road over Ophir pass (11,814ft above sea level).  This was our first real Jeep adventure and we chose a pass that was easy, with a small section of moderate.  The moderate scared me to death, so much so there are few pictures as it was so bumpy they are all blurry and I was busy holding on to the bar in front of me and the car seat in the back.

Maxwell though didn't seem bothered, he slept the whole way up AND down, with Dexter sleeping right after we came off the moderate section.

Molas Pass

Starting up the east side

View behind us

Me and the kids

Sharp drop off on the side

The summit is in view!

Um, yes...should read, barely a one lane road on shifty gravel rock

Here we go, over the top and down the west side!

The "road"

Land Rover LR3 creeping, like barely moving, down the side

Sander looking at the scenery.  I told him to stop looking and drive.

Off the moderate and back to the "easy" trail

The kids sleeping on the way down.  How, I have no idea.  They don't sleep at home, but do bouncing around on a 4X4 road

HOORAY! WE MADE IT!

Tiny town of Ophir

As we finished the pass the rain moved in so we ended up taking the highway around to Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton instead of going back up the way we came.  It was one of the most beautiful drives I have ever been on in my life.