Black Bear Pass in a…Power Wagon?!

After driving Imogene a couple weeks ago, I’ve been looking at other trails to do next time we go out to CO. I will officially say DO NOT DO THIS TRAIL IN A FULL SIZE TRUCK. Your width, wheelbase, and turning radius will work against you. And if your foot slips off the brake while you’re pointed (very steeply) downhill at one of the switchbacks, there may be no stopping your truck from accelerating all the way down. That said, here is a guy driving it in a Power Wagon. He says emphatically several times that he is an idiot:

Seems very similar to Imogene Pass, except a bit narrower in places and with tighter switchbacks. I think I only did a multipoint turn at one or two switchbacks on Imogene. I don’t believe I ever had a tire hanging over open air. This Power Wagon’s rear tire is hanging over open air in a couple spots on BBP.

ALL of these trails require all of your attention.

 

This is a full size Ram that attempted Black Bear last Friday. Pics courtesy of San Miguel County Sheriff. One more 1/4 roll and they’re gone.

 

Yikes! Too many close calls

 

Yup. Lots of people roll in that spot, even in Jeeps. Looks like this guy got very lucky. The farther you try to get away from the ledge the worse your truck leans, and your center of gravity will get out from under you.

 

So, Black Bear pass is a no go for a Tundra? I have a buddy that wants to do it toward the end of summer, so I've started to look and see if it's OK in a Tundra.

What would be something similar-ish that a Tundra can do?

 

I guess I should clarify that my Tundra is essentially stock. Just slightly larger tires (275/70R18) on +25 wheels. Full skids and sliders from RCI.

 

Everything I read said it is very tight in a Tacoma and in no way recommended for a 2nd or 3rd gen Tundra. I did Imogene Pass instead which was epic.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/trails-in-sw-co.82467/#post-2330927

 

For us East Coasters, what's the deal with Black Bear Pass? I know the pics don't do it justice but I keep seeing people flip. Is it just inexperience and not paying attention? The spot that doge flipped doesn't look that bad.

 

Black Bear Pass is no comparison to Imogene.

 

Very narrow steep switchbacks that would be like a 7-point turn for a Tundra. The problem is it’s so steep once a vehicle tips there is a good chance it rolls down multiple switchbacks and ends up towards the bottom looking like this -

 

I did both Imogene and Black Bear a few days apart in my FJ when I was out in Ouray for the FJ summit. There is no way in hell I would try it in my Tundra. The guy in front of me going down had a Tacoma and he had me nervous in some places.

 

I would start with Imogene. Unlike BBP, you can go both directions. I started from Ouray. The one or two spots that made me nervous were closer to the beginning. I think it’s quite a bit steeper on the Ouray side. Nothing my truck couldn’t handle in a severe downpour. After that, it’s all sightseeing. My family loved it.

If you go the same way I did, get a meal afterwards in Telluride, and talk to the locals about BBP. I bet they see more trucks than we’d expect. All of the full-size trucks I’ve seen do it have longer wheelbases and larger turning radii than the Tundra. For example the Power Wagon above has a 48.2’ turning diameter and a wheelbase of 149” vs 44’ and 145.7” for the Tundra. It also weighs 1k lbs more stock.

It seems most people fall into one of two camps: “there’s no way I’d ever do that” or “it’s really not that bad if you have lots of experience and a spotter”. I haven’t fully ruled it out, but I don’t think I’d take my family with me.

Here’s another full size on BBP. 6speed manual (!!) Ram 2500 diesel w/ open diffs (limited slip in the rear). He acts like it is no big deal at all:

 

I'm pretty sure I won't do that on my mountain bike... lol

 

It's absolutely inexperience. There are no impassable parts of that trail. It's a public county road.

But if you have no awareness of your vehicle or its center of gravity, and have no idea how to pick a line, you very well could have problems. Most people who flop over or roll down the switchbacks do it in Jeeps.

 

About a month ago the local news covered a story about a box truck making a delivery and finally had to stop. Couldn't go any further. I think it was Imogene but don't quote me on that. Total chaos for a while. Apparently followed Map Quest......ha!
Maybe @ColoradoTJ can recall....

 

Back in July of 1979 when I was stationed here at LowryAFB for metrology school, a fellow jarhead's mom flew out from Rumfort, Maine to visit. She bought him a brand new red FJ43! What a gift! Anyways, we had a long 4th weekend and hit up BBP. Totally stock 43 but we had no issues. I did a lot of spotting in a few places. Wasn't as crazy up there back then. Everyone knows about BBP now it seems. 42 years ago. Dang....Switchbacks still there of course and the bad spots seem to be a bit worse now with all the traffic. Track may have changed over the years. I wouldn't take a fullsize truck up there. Not even back then. No room for error and no mulligans back then or now.....

 

It was Ophir which is a cake walk in comparison. Based on the streak of oil it looks like he broke down.

 

"but my GPS said I could go this way"!!

 

Kuul...ha! Still nutz!

 

I want to know wtf they were delivering up there!

 

Waze was trying to save him 10 min...

 

I hope he marked every pothole for the next guy!

 

The folks up there hate Waze too...damn idiots taking shortcuts....folks up there = mountain goats and Big Horn sheep.....

 

at least he didn't end up in the hood like it happens so often here...

 

Don't you know having a 4X4 and/or CDL can get you anywhere! Heh...heh....

 

Sometimes when wheeling it's best to stop and smell the wildflowers and turn around....er backup a long ways. Of course I never have made that mistake..........

 

Who cleaned up the oil spill!