FS 78 ... San Isabel NF

Forest Service Road 78 ... It's CO 78 until it enters the San Isabel NF ... then it turns into FS78.  There are 6 designated "dispersed" (i.e. primitive , no water, toilet, etc...) camping areas.  The first one , 78A, has sites for about 5 or 6 campers.  It is a big loop.

I'm staying at 78C..  It's only got one fire-ring, so that generally means it's for one camper, or family, group...

It's at 8000 feet, a little bit warmer, and very flat.  Good sun access for my solar panel.

Spotty cell-phone and wifi access.

About 27 miles to Pueblo.

Greenhorn Mountain Road ... San Isabel National Forest

Below is a review of where I went to after Woodland Park.  It was pretty decent.  The road runs for 22 miles, and there are plenty of camping spots along the way.    I only stayed there for 4 nights, because it was SO FAR from any kind of store!  And I did not stock up properly for a place that far away from retail establishments!  :)

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I'm in San Isabel NF.  I arrived here Saturday, 9/9/2017 .  I started out on Ophir Creek Road, which ends about 3 miles in.  If you continue on the road to the left (there IS a FS road that continues straight.  I don't know where that goes), the road then becomes called Greenhorn Mountain Road.  This is very helpful because it eventually ends at the base of Greenhorn Mountain at a trailhead. 

Greenhorn Mountain is fairly recognizable from the East side of this Mountain Range.  On I25, just as you are passing the exit for Colorado City, it is directly to the West. 

I initially followed the road to the base of Greenhorn Mountain.  That was a 22 mile drive.  There are plenty of camping spots there, you just pull off of the road.

WARNING to those with trailers:  there are lots of rocks there, and they might rip the bottom out of your trailer; unless you have a trailer with high clearance. 

After parking, and starting to set up, I realized that the surrounding terrain was a very large and pretty meadow.   Then I realized it reminded me of a wind tunnel.

It was at almost 12,000 feet elevation,  2:30 pm, it was 46 degrees F, and the wind was blowing then.  I elected to  forego the wind rocking and rolling my trailer all night long and moved down the hill and in some trees. 

I am now staying at milepost 10, about 11k feet elevation.  It does get cold at night, but very little wind.  It was 45 F this morning.  I stayed in the trailer most of yesterday afternoon, because it was raining off and on all evening. 

I like this spot, but have to remember in the future to stock up well.  It is 41 miles to the closest town with a gas station.  It is 47 miles to a town with many stores.  Canon City.

I might move closer to a bigger town today.  I have a lot of water bottles that need cleaning.  I'm thinking about checking out 78A outside of Beulah.  Closer to Peublo.

Oh, no cell phone or wifi where I'm at. 

Finally out of Camp at Woodland Park!

Wow!  How do I always do this?  I end up with more stuff than I brought. Toward 5pm (after 11 hours of work) , I just started tossing stuff in my trailer.  I stayed in a Motel 6 last night, I was too tired to do anything else.  

Taking a shower with "unlimited" water was like staying in the Taj Mahal.  But man, I was dirty! I'm going to take another shower this morning.  Wow!

I have a lot to do today.  I may stay another day here.

Kicked out on Labor Day!

A forest ranger guy came by today and told me I have to leave.  That I've exceeded the 14 day limit.  Then he issued me a ticket for $105 !  I can't argue , because I have exceeded the 14 day limit.  Actually , by about a week.  And he was nice enough to give me 2 days to get out.  I've heard of LEO's standing there while you pack.

I was fooled by the fact that I haven't seen one.  But apparently, he saw me.  He marked me as arriving on August 18.

First time I've heard of getting a ticket.

He also quizzed me a lot about where I'm going next , do I have a home, where is my home. I've been told to never admit to a ranger that you live in your vehicle.  So, I danced as much as I could without lying.

Anyway, I guess it's "Goodbye to Hollywood"... or , in this case, Rampart Range Road, FS 943.  I've come to like this place a lot.