Chili Run 2013

Chili Run 2013

By Jerry Smith

December 8, 2013

The Grand Mesa Jeep Club Chili Run for 2013 is in the books.  For those who attended, it’s highly unlikely you will forget this trip any time soon.  For the non-attending… well, even though you don’t know what you missed, come along for an imaginary ride.

Just short of the official 9 AM start from the Orchard Mesa City Market parking lot, we had 12-very cold looking rigs lined up for the obligatory photos.  With single digit temps and snow predicted for later in the day, we all looked like Eskimos wrapped in various cold weather gear.

12 rigs waiting for the 9 AM start

At 9, we gladly loaded up into our warm vehicles and followed Cody up Hwy 141 toward the Cactus Park turnoff.

Along the way in Unaweep Canyon, we were treated to seeing several of our resident Desert Big Horn Sheep and some wild turkeys making their living in the snow and cold. 

Turning off at the Cactus Park road, we stopped just long enough for those brave enough to air down and then headed directly into the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area.

Cody led us down snow-covered roads that were difficult to see.  Between the totally white ground and the light gray skies with a light snow coming down, the visual world was a glaring wonderland with no shadows.

Filling the parking lot of a "pit stop".

The extreme white of the snow hid most of the frozen bumps below making the ride a bit rough.  Surprise holes and ruts had a tendency to “sneak up” on you making for a somewhat dangerous trek.

As the tail gunner, I witnessed a couple of rigs slip into the ditch.  Luckily, the snow had plenty of traction and there was little hesitation in driving back onto the road.

The traction was such that most of the day, Happy Trails stayed in 2wd as we plowed through the deeper snow on the sides of the road out of the “beaten path” of all ahead.

Traction became an issue as Cody was unable to climb the steep-sided Horse Mesa.  Previous driving on the hill had polished the snow under the newer snow to an icy condition and his Grand Cherokee couldn’t find the footing needed to pull its way to the top.

Knowing when to say “when” comes from experience, and Cody has that experience.  As a trip leader, he knows that putting others in a precarious place simply to achieve a goal is not smart.

After getting Cody backed down the hill, we all retreated to the highway and headed for the Divide Road to circumnavigate Horse Mesa.  Sometimes, knowing the country is very beneficial.

Climbing the Divide Road seemed to be no problem.  We turned left onto the Dominguez Road back into the NCA and found the road drifted and drifting.  A stiff wind from the southwest was carrying new snow and picking up more from the ground and trees and leaving drifts in every low spot.

CB talk made the decision to see what the road down into the Dominguez Campground looked like.  If we could get down it and back up, we could use the campground tables rather than our folding tables and down in the deep canyon be sheltered from most of the wind.

At the turn where the road begins its descent, it was obvious that this idea was not wise unless the rest of the day was to be used winching everyone out.

We set up “camp” not far from that turn among some large Juniper trees that helped slow the winds.  Using Travis’ big blue Chevy Suburban as a further windbreak, tables were “set” with several versions of chili, corn bread, cookies, and other edibles.

Hot Chili on a very cold day warmed the inside and the cold hands

Some ate because of hunger whiles others just wanted something warm in their hands.  The stiff wind, which was picking up speed, had a nasty bone-chilling bite that numbed exposed skin in just moments. 

No bashfulness was exhibited

As the eating subsided, Jeff called his last meeting as club President to order promising a short one because of the biting cold.

Jeff Bates (left) Outgoing GMJC President and Colorado 4-Wheeler of the Year 2013 conducting his last meeting and Jerry Smith, new GMJC VP

Some of the most important announcements had to do with the election of club officers for 2014.  Running unopposed, Cody Lange is our new President.  In what was described as a tight race, Jerry Smith was elected to Vice President.  Board of Directors will be Jeff Bates (as Past President), Cody Houtchens, Roy Joseph, and Dane Murphy.

New President Cody Lange (left) and BoD Dane Murphy (next to Cody) 

As a personal note, please allow me to give a major vote of thanks to the 2013 GMJC Officers.  They carried a lot of freight to make this club the “Colorado Club of the Year” and deserve a mighty big show of appreciation.

Instigating the massive showing of community disagreement with the BLMs Resource Management Plan (RMP) was nothing short of a miracle.  Over 800 written comments were handed in by the club.

The successes of the Rock Junction and Off Road Show events along with the cleanups of everything from a .22 cartridge to entire vehicles were something to be very proud of.

Installation of post and cable in Bangs and Billings Canyons and the reopening of the Coon Hollow Jeep Road were some other significant achievements.

Added to all that are all of the great trips this club provided members and potential members.  The amount of country, roads, and trails members of this club are familiar with is nothing short of incredible.

This leaves some very big shoes to fill.

Further announcements were made and the hasty breakdown of our little picnic commenced.  In what seemed like seconds we were packed and absorbing the warmth from our vehicle heaters as we headed back toward the Divide Road and town.

As many of the participants of this run had “vehicle decorating” to do for the Grand Junction Parade of Lights, they took off with a destination and time in mind.  Having donated my power inverter and lights to a Girl Scout troop wanting to participate in the parade, we had no hurry to get back to town.

Though hard to see, there is drifted snow out there. 

Dane and Travis stopped along the way to cut Christmas trees while Cody and Jerry stopped to wait for them at the Divide Rd. intersection.  Leaving trip participants behind, especially in that weather, is not something we felt was neither wise nor prudent.

Soon they caught up and we proceeded down the mountain.  Along the way, one small car traveling uphill took his half of the road directly out of the middle and Travis ended up in the ditch for a bit.

After watching him struggle for a while, I pulled around and was just getting out to get out my tow strap when he pulled alongside smiling.  Guess my hoping he could get out worked.

We split up at Hwy 141 as I like to take my time looking for wild game and other sights.  

Nearing the end of the Unaweep Canyon, I caught up as they were sitting in the road watching some beautiful Desert Bighorn Sheep just east of where several wild turkeys were feeding before going to roost for the night.  Just the topping needed for another great day in the Great American BackCountry.

One last thought; When you come to a fork in the road… take it!

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