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I'm coming out for my 2nd trip to the San Jauns next week and we are really looking forward to it. We make it out to CO quite a bit but on most short trips it's hard to rationalize the drive. Our general plan is to drive from DIA to Ouray on Tuesday morning, spend one night, do the short standard route on Sneffels and then drive to Telluride. We will only have a 2 wheel drive but it will be a rental so that might make it a 3 wheel drive in some minds. My first question is, can we make the back way from Ouray to Telluride? I think I will be able to make the lower TH on Sneffels without much of a problem. The next day, Thurs. I'm looking at doing the traverse on El Deinte/Mt. Wilson and was wondering about route options. Seems that ED to Wilson is the most common. Any advice? This plan also leaves me Friday open as we don't leave DIA until 3 p.m. on Saturday. Part of me wants to stay in the area and part of me wants to get closer, so I'm torn. I have rooms booked for Ouray and 2 nights in Telluride, on Friday I have nothing booked yet. How does my plan look? Maybe boring to you CO studs
Thanks,

Edit: Weather depending, but what about a later start on something in the Southern Sawatch on Friday? We would then stay in BV. TH's, 2 wheel drive and route length probably become a factor.

Tonka wrote:can we make the back way from Ouray to Telluride?

There are three "back roads from Ouray to T'ride. Imogen Pass, Ophir Pass, and the Last Dollar Rd from the top of Dallas Divide. Your 3WD should manage Last Dollar, don't even consider the first two. Even if your had the traction, the lack of ground clearance will leave you hanging. If time matters, stay on the pavement.

I'm looking at doing the traverse on El Deinte/Mt. Wilson and was wondering about route options. Seems that ED to Wilson is the most common. Any advice?

Your 3WD will do the Dunton Rd south of ED-Wilson. Then take Kilpacker Ck/ Trail to the base of ED and use the red gulley to gain the ridge ~14K. Scroll down to Fourteeners on this page to see the route on a map. Lots of exposure, I assume that's what you're looking for.

Edit: Weather depending, but what about a later start on something in the Southern Sawatch on Friday? We would then stay in BV. TH's, 2 wheel drive and route length probably become a factor.

BV is my back yard, since you seem 14er centric, all late afternoon hikes will have you at 14K, what can I say?

Bring your sunscreen, else you'll look like a lobster faced tourist outbound at DIA.