Feeler: SUMMER 2010 Bighorn Canyon Run, As discussed in the UNITED STATES MEET THREAD Options

[lilgreenyoda]

Ok ladies and gentlemen. As was mentioned in the United States Meet thread, some of our more western members have expressed that the drive to get to and from meets like the dragon can be quite unsavory. Thus a more central meet was proposed. That thread got too long for me, but I feel like I have a solution. It's tough to say that many roads in the midwest are in any way comparable to the dragon as most of them are entirely too straight and boring (like in Kansas or Nebraska). Which is why I propose a 55 mile stretch of US Highway 50 between Canon City and Salida Colorado, AKA: Bighorn Canyon. Here is a link to the mapped route ---> http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Canon+City...alida&2s=CO

This road can be quite treacherous in the winter, thus I propose it in the summer, and it was mentioned that some prefered the summer as well. Plus its not as touristy in the summer (Ski resorts in the area). Which means there are plenty of hotels in the area for people to stay in, as well as good restaraunts to get your munch on. And being as a summer run would not be in tourist season, I'm sure the places up there would love a big group, as long as the group is behaved.

The road itself follows the path of the Arkansas River, so there's plenty of sick twisties. There are also plenty of cool places to go for photographic reasons. Now I figure if we run the route "backwards" from Salida to Canon City, we could top the run off with a trip up Skyline Drive. That would NOT be on the list of places to take pictures, and it is not for the faint of heart. That would be a place to pay attention, absorb the AMAZING view, but still DRIVE as you have cliff straight up on the left, and cliff straight down on the right the entire drive.

Right now this is just a feeler, however if it is successful, I feel like it could become an annual gig much like the Dragon. SO. What say you all? A simple yay or nay will give me an idea as to if I should continue with planning and development.

Regards
-MCcelica/lilgreenyoda

This post has been edited by lilgreenyoda: Nov 17, 2009 - 3:55 PM

[lilgreenyoda]

Ay, I'm legit on putting this together. I love the route, and the start stop points are beauiful. All that I'd really be waiting for is to see how many people are down, and I also gotta get back to get specific plans together. IE: Which restaraunts/hotels are still open, etc as some of those things change from year to year. I have a couple places in mind that are capable of accomodating larger groups, yet are still locally owned and operated.

I am thinking later on in the summer so as to not conflict with other meets, people's school schedules, while still keeping the weather warm thus making the road safer. That will also allow myself and others plenty of time to plan around it. I'm thinking a weekend long event. 2-3 days to go to the really cool picture points, as well as do the actual run around mid-August if that works. Day 1 being meet and greet and pictures. Day two being the run. And day 3 being "hanging out and watching people take off to go back home" type deal.