NASSM '09 Peak to Peak and Beyond Cruise

[Aspenrose]

The ‘Peak to Peak and Beyond Cruise'

Offering up some of the best of the Front Range drives in unsurpassed vistas, and cruising roads, join us on the Peak to Peak and Beyond Cruise.

Cruise group(s) will depart the Omni at 10 am on Friday morning, June 19th. We’ll be running west out of Broomfield, running a canyon drive northwest to hook up with the Peak to Peak Highway.

From the south, the group will run through small towns as we wind our way up to Estes Park, gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.

After a lunch stop in Estes, anyone who wishes to return to the Omni to catch the Poker Run can do so, the rest of the group will go into Rocky Mountain National Park, and get a first hand view from the top of the Rockies.

We’ll cross the Continental Divide on Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous auto road in the country. The air is thin up at 12,000 feet, be warned! Sunscreen is mandatory equipment!

From the top, we’ll cruise down to Lake Irene for a quick break, before descending the switchbacks to the Colorado River valley on the west side of the park.

The group will exit the park at Grand Lake, run along the shore of Lake Granby, where we’ll jump on US 40 to run down to cross the divide again at Berthoud Pass, and hop on I-70 for a short sprint to Idaho Springs. We’ll hop off the 4 lane to run another canyon back to Golden and up to the Omni again.

The ‘Details’:

Full run is 232 miles, going from 5,540 feet in elevation up to 12,188 feet. Please note, this is a ‘cruise’, not a RUN, we will be obeying all speed limits, and enjoying the views and experience.

5 stops are planned:

• 10:40 Nederland for a bio break (literally the only town to stop in from the Omni to Estes)
• 12:00 Estes Park Lunch
• 13:45 Possible photo stop at Hidden Valley Picnic Area in RMNP
• 15:00 Lake Irene bio stop
• 16:15 Frazer - bio stop
• 17:15 Idaho Springs – bio stop
• 18:00 – Omni

RMNP Fees:
Private Non-commercial Vehicle $ 20.00 (Seven Day Pass)
Rocky Mountain Annual Pass $ 35.00 (Good For One Year)

America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – 1 yr from purchase $ 80.00
(all Natl Parks & Fed Fee areas.)
America the Beautiful... (Blind or perm. Disabled) $ Free (Lifetime-all Natl Parks & Fee areas)
America the Beautiful- one time 62+ years young $ 10.00 (Lifetime-all Natl Parks & Fee areas)



Once lunch arrangements are finalized, more details will be posted.

[kkoschnitzke]

Looks like we may be out due to a Graduation! Aahhhh! Do not write us off yet...

[druid-2]

Hey J&C

the "National Park Annual Pass $ 50.00 (Good For All National Parks)"

If I get that for this cruise...will it also get me into YNP on my
long route back excursion?

[Aspenrose]

Originally Posted by druid-2 Hey J&C the "National Park Annual Pass $ 50.00 (Good For All National Parks)" If I get that for this cruise...will it also get me into YNP on my long route back excursion?

Yes, All National parks in 2009. Yellowstone fits that description. The long term passes I might add, can be purchased in advance-will be mucho helpful for anyone who plans to get an annual pass to not do it when we're trying to feed 40-50 cars through the 2-3 park gates that day.

Also, this wasn't up when I looked up the info just a few days ago, the rates have changed, of course, as well as the names:

America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

They can be purchased online

If you have a pass that will not expire until after June 19th, purchased under the old program, there is info on getting it swapped out for the new passes.

[druid-2]

to piggyback on AR (metaphorically , of course)

here is the Wiki list of all US National Parks
List of areas in the United States National Park System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

the reason I put this out there is that some of these (like big Bend in Texas)
or Cuyahoga Valley for us in Ohio.... or Great Smokies NP (for ToTD) are closer to our homes our our Events

If you buy a National Pass you can use it in many places over many trips

[Aspenrose]

Also, the annual is 12 months from date of purchase. I'll order mine closer to June, since I don't plan to hit any parks between now and then, but may during the NASSM trip, and afterwards.

Also if you have a National fee area close to home you can buy it there in person as well.

[druid-2]

So I could go to CVNP and get it there...right?

[Aspenrose]

Now, back on track, while I'm sure once whitefang gets the Cruise info up on the site it may be something you can register for, however I need some good data for final planning.
So, if you're planning to do the whole cruise,
shoot me a PM with the info: P2PaB WHOLE, and number in your vehicle.

If you plan to do the first half, then return to the Omni, shoot me a PM with the P2PaB HALF, and the number in your vehicle.

I need the number of bodies to determine lunch arrangements, and I need the info as quickly as I can gather it up.

So: PM to me, with:

P2PaB WHOLE/HALF 1/2

EVEN if you're not 100%, I'd rather be on the high side, than be planning for 30 people and have 60 in reality come June!

[whitefang]

Originally Posted by druid-2 Hey J&C the "National Park Annual Pass $ 50.00 (Good For All National Parks)" If I get that for this cruise...will it also get me into YNP on my long route back excursion?

Anyone going that is at least 62 yrs old you are elegible for a Lifetime Senior Pass $10 one time processing fee

Do you fit that catagory Druid-2?

If you are going to just National Parks the $50 will do but if you are going to other federal fee areas it is the Golden Eagle for $65

Check out this site it has $80 instead of $65 National Park Service - Experience Your America Maybe this is the 2009 price?

I guess the Golden Eagle Pass has been discontinued and is called Annual Pass at this site
America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

[whitefang]

Originally Posted by Aspenrose Yes, All National parks in 2009. Yellowstone fits that description. The long term passes I might add, can be purchased in advance-will be mucho helpful for anyone who plans to get an annual pass to not do it when we're trying to feed 40-50 cars through the 2-3 park gates that day. Also, this wasn't up when I looked up the info just a few days ago, the rates have changed, of course, as well as the names: America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass They can be purchased online If you have a pass that will not expire until after June 19th, purchased under the old program, there is info on getting it swapped out for the new passes.

Sorry AR, I was surfing about this info while you were posting. I guess everyone should get the message that the prices have changed

[Aspenrose]

The Unofficial-Official Count list

WHOLE Cruise:

1. AR: 1 (Lead)
2. jimmyo: 2
3. mikep77: 1
4. Derf: 1
5. druid-2: 2
6. 2091351: 2
7. Popsintx: 2
8. Chemist: 2
9. Sunfun: 2
10. 1KULSOL: 1
11. toyman: 2
12. flyingz: 2
13. Ronzer: 2
14. Go_DRVN: 2
15. Suzy711Q: 2
16. Critterman: interested

HALF Cruise: 0 Cars / 0 peeps

[druid-2]

[quote=whitefang;801325]Anyone going that is at least 62 yrs old you are elegible for a Lifetime Senior Pass $10 one time processing fee

Do you fit that catagory Druid-2?

Both R2 and I will be 62 this year...but not by June 20th

Think they might cut us a little slack?

[druid-2]

Originally Posted by Aspenrose The Unofficial-Official Count list (naming no names yet, just numbers) WHOLE Cruise: 3 Cars / 4 peeps HALF Cruise: 0 Cars / 0 peeps

s/b 4 with 6 peeps now

[GO_DRVN]

Originally Posted by Aspenrose The Unofficial-Official Count list WHOLE Cruise: AR: 1 (Lead) jimmyo: 2 mikep77: 1 Derf: 1 druid-2: 2 2091351: 1?2? Popsintx: 2 Chemist: 2 Sunfun: 2 1KULSOL: 1 toyman: 2 flyingz: 2 Ronzer: 2 Critterman: interested HALF Cruise: 0 Cars / 0 peeps

Add me for 2 with Sherry.

[Suzy711Q]

I registered last weekend. Put me down for the whole cruise! Sounds like fun! My neighbor Jana is coming with me. I'll tell you guys Gary's tale of woe when I seen you for St. Patty's Day.