Camping on Saxon Mt.

August 7th & 8th, 2004
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Saxon Mountain is a trail most of our members have enjoyed for years.  It offers some excellent scenery, some good 4 wheeling opportunities, and lots of history!  While we have been to the trail as a group numerous times, and have even recently adopted the trail, one thing we had never done as a group was go camping!  So August 7th-8th we did just that.

Dom and Jen had arrived the previous night and picked us out a nice camping spot with some excellent views.  Many of the rest of us met up in Idaho Springs and headed up mid-morning. A few quick stops for issues with Cory's Bronco and an occasional history lesson, and we met up around noon with Dom in the Highland Hills area and proceeded on to the campsite, where we were set up in no time (well, relatively no time).

Dave, Jeff, Cory, and Dom went out exploring the trail by truck.  Four wheeling on the main Saxon Mt. trail is pretty tame.  As Jeff found out some of the side trails can reach out and grab you.  Jeff got high centered twice requiring the assistance of Dave, Cory, and Dom.  After jacking the back end of the truck up and piling rocks underneath the back tires.  Cory gave a tug with his Bronco to get Jeff moving again. 

Meanwhile Matt and Chris and Maggie took off, exploring on foot and picking up trash along the way. We all met back up for some "pot-luck" dinner and dessert of smores by the campfire!  Naturally, some good stories were shared and enjoying each others companies was a priority!

The chilly night made it painfully obvious that some people hadn't been camping in a while, but that's what the experience was all about.  A warming fire, some healthy breakfast, and we were on our way back to civilization!

The trail ride home was uneventful.  The group split into two as Jeff and Cory got an early start heading back.  With Cory leading the way back, he and Jeff got lost for a short time.  While lost they did come across some more 4 wheeling, but shortly found there way back onto the main trail.  With a quick stop for gas in Idaho Springs they were also on there way home.

Written by: Matt Adams and Jeff Bakke
Photos by: Dave Nicholson and Jeff Bakke