Engineer Pass

[valleygirl]

Just acquired a 2008 FJ Cruiser and wondered if it would be appropriate for the road between Wetterhorn and Ouray (Engineer Pass)? I don't have much experience and don't want to be too stupid right off the bat.

[Tory Wells]

If you're not fairly experienced in the 4wd scene, Engineer is not a good one to cut your teeth on--particularly the Ouray side. Feel free to do the Lake City side all you want: It is smooth and nicely graded and beautiful. Perfect for your abilities. But the Ouray side is like a totally different road, with some nasty drop offs and good size obstacles. I almost lost a Jeep there several years ago.

Also, it takes about the same amount of time to drive from Lake City to Ouray on Engineer as it does to drive between the same two towns on the highway.

I would recommend Cinnamon Pass up to American Basin as a more doable alternative for you.

[RyGuy]

I've driven the normal Engineer Pass between Silverton and Lake City probably 30+ times and it's not too bad given a good 4WD (Not a Subaru) vehicle.

However, the spur between Ouray and where it joins the main part of the pass is quite a bit tougher. If you aren't pretty experienced and comfortable with your vehicle, I would not take it on that section. I'd gain a good bit of experience and then come back and check it out later.

More info that might be helpful:
Engineer Pass itself: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=300
Spur to Ouray: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=76

-Ryan

[TallGrass]

Yes, it'd be fine.

[XterraRob]

You can start E Pass from Animas Forks to get over to Lake City. If you take the turn off that's closer to the Ouray side, you're in for some adventure lol.

[Tory Wells]

Yes, it'd be fine.

The vehicle *might* be fine, but would an inexperienced driver? I say no.

[denvermikey]

Just to jump on the bandwagon here, I agree with the first replies. The FJ will undoubtedly handle the road. The question is can you?
I have done that road and if your main goal is to do some medium to medium heavy off-roading, it is a good choice for an experienced off-road driver. One thing that I found out - you actually do not save any time doing it that way. Take the route down to Silverton and back up 550 and you will take about the same amount of time, possibly even a tad bit less.
Also, if I remember right, most of the traffic starts from the Ouray side creating a bad passing situation.

[TallGrass]

Yes, it'd be fine.

The vehicle *might* be fine, but would an inexperienced driver? I say no.

He asked about the FJ, not the driver. Pass itself is no problem. How you leave to the West varies between easy-peasy Silverton via Animas Forks, to moderate Mineral Creek to Ouray though a 4-wheeler know their rig and where the wheels/clearances are below and to the sides. I've done those, Cinnamon, Corkscrew, Hurricane, California. You can drive much of Poughkeepsie but plan on doubling back.

[Tory Wells]

From the OP:

I don't have much experience and don't want to be too stupid right off the bat.

Would you direct a newb to Capitol Peak just because they have nice shoes?

[acidchylde]

First off, let's get comfort will shelf roads out of the way. If you are, continue. If you aren't, then all the roads up there are going to cause you problems.

That said, there is ONE spot on the west side of Engineer that can/will give a noob an issue. TallGrass and I have talked about it before in other threads, and I believe he posted a picture. It is an off-camber turn on a slab of rock. You need to know how to pick a line and what happens when your vehicle goes off-camber. Your direction of travel would put you going up it, which in my opinion is a little harder than going down it. You need to be comfortable knowing where your wheels are before they get where they are going, because you will not be able to see over the hood for a good bit right in front of you.

Your direction of travel also impacts how you get up to Engineer. It's already been mentioned, but the first route you come to will be Mineral Creek, and I would not recommend that to the inexperienced. Your second choice is a series of passes starting with Corkscrew. It would take longer than just driving down to Silverton though. If you go through Silverton and up to Animas Forks, you have a choice of Cinnamon or Engineer to get down to Lake City. Obviously the most direct route to Wetterhorn is going to be Engineer. Cinnamon is easier in my opinion, but only because of that one spot mentioned earlier. It does have it's own 'features', but honestly either one are good beginner roads as long as shelves don't bother you. Your vehicle is more than capable of it, depending on what kind of tires are on it.

Also, I will contradict those saying driving around is faster. It can be. Depending on driver, traffic, weather, etc. It can also take an hour less.

[TallGrass]

From the OP:

I don't have much experience and don't want to be too stupid right off the bat.

Would you direct a newb to Capitol Peak just because they have nice shoes?

FJ is objective; nice is subjective. Still, depends what they're a "newb" (zero exp isn't "not much exp") to, background, goals, etc. The difficulty of either increases progressively, not suddenly, affording the chance to reverse course and go back down the scale. Getting informed, familiar, and practice serve one well.

Some aim for near targets to increase the chances of hitting a goal within their known range.
Some aim for long ones to discover their range limits and thus which targets are hit-able.
OP can pick which strategy fits her desires best, or are you saying girls can't drive (4x4) well?

BTW, regardless, be very comfortable with stopping, getting out of your FJ, and seeing how your tires, road, mirrors, ... line up. Taking a friend to be your "spotter" is well worth it. Lot of friendlies up there who might even loan a passenger for that if going the same way and following/leading. Not unlike 14ers, others are often willing to help out. Believe the FJ's clearance is better than the Rav4 I was in (which cleared that EP switchback before AF). Again, some wreck the first time they drive in snow while other first timer get through with self-measured progress. IMO, EP to Lake City is easier than CP, though from the Handies/Sunshine/Redcloud lower THs to LC is all 2WD. You'll likely chicken out before the FJ bottoms out.

I did Mineral Creek at night with on/off light rain. No "shelf vertigo" when everything beyond your headlamp is black, eh?

[pmccumber]

So Xterra Rob is spot on. Engineer Pass is pretty mild. The spur into Ouray is actually Mineral Creek. And I believe, at least when I've done it, it is run west to east. An FJ, even stock, could certainly handle it. But it's quite a biter harder than Engineer. A Subaru could easily handle Engineer.

The road up to the Wetterhorn TH is harder, especially at the top, than Engineer by a lot. And your FJ will gobble than up. 4 LO up that.

A good reference is TrailDamage.com for relative difficulty of trails.