Snowmass Village, CO: Pearl Pass (2484.4 miles)

Today was our highly anticipated run of Pearl Pass. Now that we're with the Jeep Jamboree, the wheeling we'll do is more safe (having 10 other Jeeps around to help winch you out of a mudhole is much more convenient than walking ten miles over a mountain pass into town to get a tow truck when you're broken down), but is also less of a free-for-all for us. There's a lot of stopping along the trail as well as some traffic jams, but, in all, we still enjoyed our trip over Pearl Pass.

I drove today, and although I didn't drive Black Bear Pass, I will say...Pearl Pass simply doesn't compare. Pearl was more difficult throughout, and had a few obstacles that were tough to handle in our mostly stock Rubicon. However, the "there is a real possibility that I could die" feeling that comes on the Steps of Black Bear (that we videoed) gives that trail a combined fear/excitement factor of 10, compared with Pearl's 7. Of course, that assessment is far from scientific, and is simply my opinion. Nonetheless, Pearl was a difficult trail that required some good tire placement and technical driving because we don't have some of the modifications other Jeeps here have. All of the other Jeeps that drove Pearl today had 35"tires (or bigger, up to 38") and lift kits. Like I said, we rolled on through stock. With bigger tires and a lift, driving this trail becomes much easier, and you can roll over whatever you want without worrying about the underside of your car. For us, things are a bit trickier.

Regardless, Pearl combined good challenges with beautiful scenery. The ground around us changed from Alpine Tundra, with grasses and flowers, to pure shale rock. Everywhere. You'll see the lunar landscape we drove through in the pictures. It was pretty incredible while also challenging at the same time.

Dad and I also got to play some catch on the top of the pass as everyone ate lunch. Brought the baseball mitts 2,400 miles for a reason, right? We had a great time.

Enjoy the GoPro video and pictures below. In the video, you'll see the camera (and car, really) shudder a few times where we came to rest on the skid plates....nothing a little paint and Rust-eze can't fix! Click here to watch if the embedded version doesn't work!

Our Jamboree group

Snow, and lunar rocks.

Alpine Tundra

Pearl Pass

We're getting panoramic.

Up close and personal.

Waterfall on the way down.