Posted by Lyle Van Wert on January 31, 2000 at 08:26:01:
In Reply to: What is this? Tell me more? posted by lynn on January 31, 2000 at 01:15:46:
The first one was held in a back yard in Denver. For several years after that it was held on a ranch near the Rampart Mountain Range west of Castle Rock CO. People came with Power Wagons had a good time. Swapped parts, trucks and tall tails around a camp fire under the Western skys. The nucleus and authentic historical Power Wagon guru of it was the mysterious and slightly reclusive Fred Coldwell. A short trail ride was added. Pretty soon a bigger trail ride into the Rampart Range. From WC 1/2 tons to 6x6 M37 conversion to a 6x6 Power Wagon motor home that had been to Africa and South America and every concevable Power Wagon variation in between. Shear beauty to see these old trucks climbing through the pines. After about 3 years on the ranch the old trucks wanted new territory. The Power Wagon God Powwag came to Fred in a dream one night and told him to take the faithful out into a different place in the mountains each year for the gathering. It lead to places like Como (in the now fabled South Park where the TV series was modeled), Fairplay, Taylor Park Reservoir (where at least one machine walked on the water), Tincup (later came out as a movie), St. Elmo (home of the eternal St. Elmos Fire), Lake City, Leadville, Durango, Telluride and Ouray. The trails were diverse over easy passes for the faint of heart like Georgia, Hurricane, Engineers, Mosquito (over 13,400 feet), Yankee Boy Basin and into true tests for the not so faint at heart like Birds Eye Gulch, the Italian Shelves, Wheeler Lake, Black Bear Pass and Poukeepsie Gulch. Powwag told Fred "Moab in the Millenium". Some people stay for a week, some come only for a day or two. They still bring parts to trade. Many camp out, some choose to stay in near by motel accomodations and eat at the restaurants. Usually at least one restaurant makes box lunches available for the long day on the trail. Powwag calls for trucks to be very well maintained and strong for a faithfull followers life may depend upon it. The Moab trails to be used are ones that an experienced person has reccomended and then are actually traversed by Carl Buckingham in advance with his full sized rig to make sure the vintage iron can negotiate it. BS you say, don't take my word for it. E-mail Drew Reed. Powwag has spoken to him. He will tell you. (I think Powwag told him to ditch the Ford tow rig). Sign up and accomidation info will follow.