4runnerguy, thanks for an awesome post! I appreciate your thoughts and your time.
1. Typically, I am a "reservation" kind of a guy. I just get concerned trying to pull off a 41 day trip staying on schedule that tight. We are a very good family at staying on schedule though. My purpose was not to keep flexibility as much as it was knowing that Murphy has lots of room to show up. :)
2. We are morning people, so it fits perfect in our schedule to be ready to roll at sunrise. When we do day hikes around here (Appalachians), we often hike until mid day and then find a spot to lay around for lunch/nap, etc. before finishing off the trail.
With so many things to plan on this trip, I don't know how involved I can get in sun/shade patterns, but we will certainly have an awareness and do the best we can. Narrows during the middle of the day is an example! Thanks.
By cooling off in the evening, are you implying that A/C is probably not needed while sleeping? I ask, because we would like to have some boon docking experiences. I do have a generator. We prefer being away from people if possible.
3. Great Sand Dunes only interested us because of the photo on the website. We know nothing about it otherwise. You are correct, we have no interest in sand beyond a quick look at the vista. We wouldn't care to hike in it more than an hour.
Based on your comments, we'd be happy to remove it from the itinerary, especially if it meant fitting more time elsewhere.
4. The reason Colorado Springs is on the list is that it would include a day for Pike's Peak and it sets us up to hit the interstate for the drive home. We have no interest in the town itself.
The Salida/Buena Vista area sounds worth checking into. Although, we prefer being alone in the woods to doing "tourist" activities. We are not one to stop at roadside attractions. Sure, a few are needed to break up the trip, but it isn't like we're searching them out. Even our boys are happy to sit on a rock looking out over a vista and eating a picnic lunch.
5. Done. But I didn't have 3 nights designated there. I think only one.
6. That's a great tip. I was thinking that Mesa Verde was a day trip only and we could save towing the trailer there by having base camp at Durango. But, based on my comments about not being an "attraction" family, sounds like Durango is a pass through and we should just spend more time at MV.
Also wanted to mention, we have a new 4x4 truck and want to spend a good deal of time trail riding. We aren't looking for off road challenges, but more of an off road site seeing experience. We would much prefer a day in Ourey on some old mining roads than a day in downtown eating fudge!
We have allowed plenty of time for trail riding in the desert, but not much for the mountains. I'd like to change that. Maybe Great Sand Dunes and Colorado Springs are eliminated and that buys us 4 days to use around Ourey?
Thanks again. Lots to chew on!
