Off Roading Mount Blanca/Rock Crawling Blanca Peak & Lake Como Road Part 1 (2018)

Off Roading up Mt. Blanca. Rock Crawling Mount Blanca and the Jaws obstacles. Overlanding up to Colorado to experience Mount Blanca, Lake Como, and Blanca Peak. Mount Blanca Jeep Trail.
We loaded up the Jeeps for a weekend of fun and got on our way leaving Albuquerque NM. For this excursion we brought with 2 Jeep JK's, 2 Jeep XJ's, 1 Jeep WJ, and 1 Dodge Dakota. For us this was an Overland style adventure with out Jeeps. On our way up a NM local showed us a slight detour going through the Toas gorge which was something we hadnt seen before and also allowed us a chance to get some dirt on the tires. The detour was very scenic and well worth it. After that we went straight up to Alamosa Co so we could eat and grab a few crucial supplies. From Alamosa its a short drive to the base of Mount Blanca. Like many others before us, fellow off-roaders and hikers alike, we made camp at the start of the trail on the base of the mountian. First thing in the morning we packed up camp and started our journey up the mountain. There is only one way up and one way down the mountain so navigating is very simple. Making your way up the trail you have to be careful. The trail gets very narrow in some locations and has several challenging obstacles along the way. Another important thing to note is if you encounter jeeps going the opposite direction passing each other can be problem some due to the narrow trail. In this video we do the Jaws and Jaws 2 obstacles and in the next video we continue up to Lake Como and camp for the night and then continue on up to the highest point on Blanca Peak that you can take a vehicle.
The first Jaws obstacle is basically a sharp ridge that stretches across the trail while being slanted towards the cliff edge. Due to the slant it can sometimes slide you towards the cliff. Jaws 2 is where things get interesting. On Jaws 2 there is a much narrower bypass. If you choose to attempt Jaws 2 it is a very steep rock climb that severely tilts you towards the cliffs edge. If you where to tip a rig over its almost certain it would go plummeting down the mountain. Jaws 2 is no joke and is not to be taken lightly.
jeep jk rock crawling co. jeep xj rock crawling co. jeep jk off road co. overlanding colorado. lake como road. lake como 4x4.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Once this C19 shut down ends, I’m hitting this trail! I can’t wait!

[@SWActiveExplorers]

We cant wait ether! We had a trip get canceled.

[@Maxmilion6004]

i havent followed any jeep channels but yall had me in stitches im following. hilarious and awesome

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Thanks! Glad you enjoy our stuff.

[@Coolahan3]

Awesome video! So glad you guys have a 2 door JK... nice to see the lines it takes before I head that way later this summer!

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Yea it was a great trip and a great variety of rigs.

[@deniskosorukov4012]

...and in 2017 there was a guy who did this trail all the way to the Blue Lake while pulling a heavily packed trailer :)

[@SWActiveExplorers]

More and more folks are towing off road camp trailers. It's amazing where they drag em.

[@willinterest]

I've hiked up that road twice to do the 14ers. Second visit I encountered a Toyota Tacoma just above Jaws 2, the guy had burned up his traction & was nonstop sliding on every rock. Know he didn't make it much further but somehow he was able to turn around & had to wait till next day to get bumpered down by a jeep... amazed there was no rollover.

[@JKsouthwest]

Great video, looks like a fun group to wheel with! Looking forward to part 2

[@jayritchey8055]

I went up there 3 times in a Kawasaki t-Rex it was super crazy I moved away and was just looking for a new upload on road Como hope I can go back again

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Its a great trail. We are looking forward to going back some day as well.

[@donovanhays]

We made it quite a ways up the trail in my JK Rubicon with a 4" and 35's before finding a spot to pull to the side. We didn't have any other vehicles with us and nobody with me had been on the trail before so it got to the point where I wasn't comfortable going forward not knowing what was ahead. We hiked to the top of Blanca and when we got back down I get in the jeep to turn it around on the trail, my buddy is out spotting for me and he says "Hey man, did you forget to put your gas cap back on?" I said no and looked down and saw that the gas light was on. Somone siphoned my gas out to the point where it wasn't even saying how many miles I had left it just said "Low Fuel". Who the hell steals all of someones gas at 10k feet? I have to tell you it was not fun going down that low on gas wondering if I was going to run out of gas in a precarious position on some obstacle. Plus there was a summer storm rolling in. We did made it to the base of the mountain and some people took us to a gas station to fill up a can.

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Wow, crazy story! I normally try to be fairly trusting of people out of the trail as we are all out there for the same thing. Its a shame someone had to take advantage of you like that. Glad you got off the mountain safely. Im sure that had to be stressful, you do have a interesting story for around the campfire though.

[@donovanhays]

@@SWActiveExplorers It was crazy! And that is just the abbreviated version of it. The rest of it involved watching people do acid at the top of BLanca, sharing some of their vodka, and finding them later on down the trail injured and we got them down the mountain in my jeep running on fumes LOL. Definitely a fun story to tell around the campfire!

[@emk4ou]

Shane is that you? As I was reading this I was thinking "wow how strange the same exact thing happened to someone I know"... Turns out I've heard this one direct from you before.

[@Colorado4x4]

Damn! Great video and great driving. So you know what tire pressure the silver Cherokee was running with the Cooper MTs? I wish you would have shown the downhill side on Jaws 2 and how far down the drop is. 👍🏻

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Thank you for the support. I run 10psi almost always in the Cherokee, ill rarely run 12 but I was probably at 10. We didn't even think of showing the downhill part of the trip. We had some nasty weather roll in and we just wanted to go home. Going down jaws 2 we all went "around" it as best as possible and hugged the cliff edge but ill admit it was pretty scary.

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Hey I looked at your profile, if you would be interested in collaborating on a video or 2 send us a message on Instagram so we can connect.

[@Colorado4x4]

@@SWActiveExplorers cool thanks. I run 10 pounds mostly too. It’s crazy how slippery those granite rocks are! That was spooky on Jaws 2! I can imagine it was scary! I understand not getting the video off the cliff! I do the same thing all the time. Hahah

[@Colorado4x4]

@@SWActiveExplorers that would be cool! I don’t have Instagram but my email is [e-mail]. Shoot me an email and let’s figure something out. That would be rad. I love wheeling too much. We used to live in Farmington for 3 years in 2009. Some great wheeling around there!

[@justinellis4786]

Fuck yeah send it

[@tombarger2599]

The white 2 door on jaws 1 is off trail.

[@ingith123]

Those so called spotters are crazy.

[@SWActiveExplorers]

And?...

[@peterwatson8295]

awesome vid excited for the next one

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Thank you much. We appreciate the support. It will be posted Friday morning.

[@crawlnm5056]

I gotta go with you guys soon! Damn this looks fun!

[@SWActiveExplorers]

It was one helluva trail. We will definitely go back.

[@johnbainbridge9034]

Funnily enough, people driving and walking usually complete the trail in roughly the same amount of time.

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Its honestly not that surprising. The trail is so rocky its hard to carry any real speed without rattling your fillings out haha! A 4-Lo all the way trail for sure. We can't wait to go back.

[@hanyan574]

Does that mean mountain bikes will actually be the fastest up this trail?

[@SWActiveExplorers]

@@hanyan574 it's certainly possible. It's a slow going trail for vehicles. It would be a hell of an up hill pedal though.

[@n0pe213]

I’m 1:18 in and I can’t finish, first off “the top of the mountain is at 14345ft most people in that area are there to do the 3 14ers in that area. Your Texas wheelchairs can’t get you to 14345. Second, “apparently it’s high enough that bacteria can’t grow in the lakes” is so dumb I don’t know where to start.

[@yerwrng]

Looks like someone had his drive shaft made from spare muffler tube.

[@Maxmilion6004]

hahahaha your guys intro was amazing lmaoooo

[@L702V]

What suspension kit does the en Jeep have??

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Which jeep?

[@NoCo_Supra]

What's the specs on the wj? Kinda shocked he needed winched up jaws 2

[@SWActiveExplorers]

The WJ has since changed owners so I’m not sure on the exact specs. V8, auto, tons, beadlocks, 40s, lockers, long arms, long travel shocks, hydro bumps, belly skid. Unsure of the lift height but it was built as a LCG rig. We decided it was best to winch on Jaws 2 because the tranny got to hot and went into limp mode. Apparently it’s a common issue with those things.

[@jpx1]

Is that red jku a stock rubicon?

[@SWActiveExplorers]

When this trip was filmed it was on a 3.25" lift with 35s. The jeep has a ton of other mods as well. Feel free to ask any specific questions and we will be happy to answer.

[@johnbainbridge9034]

I've wondered if a cleverly piloted stock Rubicon could do it. I don't think anything stock could do it.

[@jayritchey8055]

John Bainbridge my family did it multiple times in stock jeeps all the time

[@danhambrick6331]

That driveshaft looked like a crushed beer can...lol...

[@SWActiveExplorers]

We felt really bad for him. He attempted the trail over 20 years ago and broke on the same obstacle. He has yet to make it to the top of the mountain. Hopefully next time.

[@yerwrng]

@@SWActiveExplorers .083 wall is not for rock crawling.

[@Yo-mamashouse]

what size lift and tires on the two xj?

[@SWActiveExplorers]

The silver XJ has a 8.5" long arm and 37s. The black one I think is a 4" lift, not 100% positive, and it's on 35s

[@Paiadakine]

mr rowboato nice XJs. Don’t have to worry about wash and wax.

[@krashnpa]

Someone get that JKU a lift!

[@SWActiveExplorers]

It’s currently running a 3 1/4” lift and 35s. Another 3/4” of lift and 37s are in the works.

[@krashnpa]

@@SWActiveExplorers Copy that. Thanks for doing these videos!

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Thanks for watching!

[@Paiadakine]

Quality breakage.

[@SWActiveExplorers]

He was really bummed about it but even when recently talking to him he is determined to go back and make it past that obstacle and finally enjoy the top of the mountain.

[@sluggotinfantryman]

Electric Jackhammer and inverter. Is that Cheating?

[@ANGLINARMY]

The lack of driving skill demonstrated in this video is disturbing

[@SWActiveExplorers]

Feel free to head up there and film your own videos and show the world how it's done. Shame on us simple people for attempting to have some fun, test ourselves and our vehicles, and learn in the process. If only we were born with the God given talent you must surely possess.