We took the 4runner up to the Argentine Basin area on Saturday to help out with the annual Rising Sun 4×4 Argentine Pass Trail Cleanup event. Last year when we went on this run, I was driving my old 4runner (the gold-painted one) and it was my very first club run. After a year of 4x4ing across the western USA and with a much more capable truck, this year I went and did all of the more difficult trails in the basin. I also collected a lot of garbage in the Trasharoo that I won at the raffle. That Trasharoo is the first thing I’ve won as part of Rising Sun!
This is the shelf road on the south side of the creek. The road is closed most of the way up to treeline. There are still some decent views on this trail and there are a couple of places to camp along the way.
We stopped to cook lunch at one of the switchbacks on the shelf road.
Looking north toward the Argentine Central railbed.
A few Toyotas coming down the shelf road as viewed from across the valley.
Splashing through a creek crossing in style. (Thanks to Travis for the photo!)
Another deeper creek crossing (thanks again, Travis!)
In the upper basin near the Waldorf townsite.
At the Waldorf townsite.
Heading over to the old miner’s cabin, we saw a moose out in some tall willows.
The old miner’s cabin has seen better days.
People still occasionally use it although I wouldn’t recommend staying inside for long. The whole building is getting unstable and is starting to collapse.
An old pail left on a tree (photo courtesy of Heather).
Some of the rigs on the run.
Heading through dense willows across a marshy area.
A little original Toyota Hilux pickup in a beautiful place!
After the main cleanup activities were done, several of us went up McLellan Mountain. We encountered a hussy of hummers coming down the trail. Those drivers have some serious skills to fit the very wide hummers up and down some of these tight switchback trails.
At one of the many switchbacks.
Crawling up the old Argentine Central Railroad railbed toward the summit.
A 40 series followed behind me.
Tacomas, Hiluxes, mini trucks, and a 40 series rounded out our little contingent.
Up on top of the overlook to the north of McLellan Mountain.
All of the rigs parked at the end of the road.
Denver is out there somewhere.
Up on McLellan Mountain near the final bit of road we stopped to check out the view and the drop-off (photo courtesy of Heather).
The Honey Badger (this particular Tacoma) was parked right on the edge. On the other side, it falls away for at least 1000 feet before you’d meet anything to slow you down (photo courtesy of Heather).
It’s a long way down!
I think the rail line ran further up the mountain in the past but now the road stops where we stopped. At one point, there were plans for the railroad to go all the way to the top of Grays Peak but that never came to fruition.
This is a really gorgeous place.
Looking toward Grays and Torreys Peaks.
Heading back down off the mountain.
Rigs on a lower switchback.
This must have been an epic line to ride on. It was the highest non-cog railroad in the USA when it was in operation.
After a great day picking up garbage in the Argentine Basin, we camped overnight down along the creek with another member of Rising Sun 4×4. The next morning, we got up, made pancakes, and then got underway to head up Argentine Pass.
Our campsite had a fabulous view of the willows and grass along the creek.
Heading along one of the side roads toward the old town of Waldorf.
The old Santiago Mine site is now closed to the public because it is too heavily contaminated to be safe. Soon the USFS will remove the topsoil to try and get a handle on the situation.
Looking toward the general area of Argentine Pass. It is out of the picture behind the right shoulder of the close mountain.
Heather with the 4runner at the Santiago Mine site.
Up on top of Argentine Pass looking down into the basin on the west side. I need to get out there to explore some of those trails! The little trail in the foreground is the old wagon road that has all but disappeared. Now it is a trail that the CDT follows.
