The National DML Meet



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Members of the Dakota Mailing List who have been around for any length of time know that we get together for DML meets on a fairly regular basis, the epitome of which is probably the DML BBQ, held in Forestville, NY every summer. Although the BBQ is open to all DMLers, its location in the northeast part of the United States has (in general) limited the number of folks who could attend. The DML BBQ and other local DML meets happen from time to time in various parts of the country. For a while now, we've been talking on and off about doing a national meet, and when we noticed that we were coming up on the 10th anniversary of the Dakota Mailing List and the 20th anniversary of the Dodge Dakota itself, we decided to finally make it happen. Suggestions for possible locations, activities, etc. were collected from the DML at large, and everything was put to a series of votes during the fall of 2005. When the dust had settled, it was determined that our base camp was going to be the Lone Duck Campground, located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The purpose of this web page is to maintain a repository of information for all things regarding the National DML Meet. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc. about the meet, you are welcome to post a message on the DML itself, or the special Yahoo mailing list which has been set up just for meet related discussion. If you would prefer to contact the organizing committee privately, you can reach us via e-mail at nationalmeet@dakota-truck.net. The National DML Meet event profile has a list of people who are interested in attending.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You can click on an icon to jump right to the relevant portion of this page.
Activities

Activities
Blog

Blog
Driving Tips

Driving Tips
Lodging

Lodging
Medical Info

Medical Info
Safety Info

Safety Info
Schedule

Schedule
Travel Info

Travel Info
Vehicle Maintenance

Vehicle Maintenance

Back to the top of the page Activities
I don't know, what do you want to do?
 
  This section of the page still needs a lot of work; I'm working to add to it. If you have any ideas for things you'd like to do, by all means please feel free to contact us! For an idea of what there is to do in the general area, here is a PDF version of the 2005 Colorado Springs Visitor's Guide

General Ideas

To start with, here is a list of some of the activities which have been bandied about as possibilities. The list is sorted by popularity, as determined by the voting several months ago, from most to least popular:
  • BBQ
  • Mild offroading
  • Drag racing (participate)
  • Drag racing (spectate)
  • Target shooting
  • Museums
  • GPS Games
  • Day Hiking
  • Paintball
  • Swimming
  • Theme Parks
  • Mini Golf
  • Serious offroading
  • Canoeing
  • Geocaching
  • White Water Rafting
  • Boating
  • ATVing
  • Mountain Biking
  • Fishing
  • Overnight Hiking
  • Golf


Specific Ideas (Under Construction)

Dakota Hill
There is a feature approximately 20 miles west-north-west of Golden, CO named "Dakota Hill". At an elevation of 10,929 feet, it would probably be called a mountain most anywhere else, but out in the midst of the Rockies, its just a hill. :-) Given that this is the Dakota Mailing List after all, we thought it made a natural place to check out. Based on aerial photos, there appears to be a clearing at the top, so the tentative plan is to try to get a group photo of our trucks parked at the top. Failing that, we can at the very least get a group photo of everybody standing at the top, and/or of the trucks with Dakota Hill in the background.

Offroad navigation
Instead of taking the interstate or surface roads back to camp, we can perhaps instead navigate back home using nothing but logging/fire roads and offroad trails.

Pike's Peak
Known as "America's Mountain", the views from the top inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write a poem in 1893 that would eventually become the song "America the Beautiful". It is also world famous as the site of the annual Pike's Peak hill climb race. Lone Duck Campground is literally at the foot of this mountain, so a trip to the top is a no brainer. :-)





Back to the top of the page Blog
If you hold a national meet in the mountains, but nobody remembers what happened, did it actually happen?

http://dmlmeet.blogspot.com
 
 
Okay, we're going to try something different with the meet report for the
national meet.  Usually what happens with the meet report is some poor sap
volunteers to write it up, then about six months after the meet is over when
people start harassing him for the report he has to try to track down everyone
who took pictures and figure out from memory what happened.

This time, we're going to try using a blog (which I know is a stupid sounding word, but it's short for a web log) to keep track of all national meet related events. The address is http://dmlmeet.blogspot.com/

This is where we need your help. We're asking for everyone coming to the national meet to report any events on this blog. This is not a place for brainstorming of ideas, or discussion about what to do at the meet, or asking questions. The DML is the place for that.

Rather, the blog is a place for reporting of any events related to the meet. This is the place that anyone can go who wants to read "The Story of the 2006 National DML Meet." Maybe DML members who can't make the meet, our families and friends, or just anyone on the web who wants to read about it. If you remember the BBQ updates that Tom likes to post to the DML, that's the sort of thing that would be perfect to include in the blog. Having them there will keep them separate from the rest of the list traffic, and make it easier for non DML members to read.

When I say events "related to" the meet, I'm hoping we can even include all of the preparation work. Tom and Josh, if you want to post regular progress reports on your various wrenchfest projects, that would be an awesome thing to have documented. Or, if you just want to say "I got my camping gear out of storage today that hasn't been used in 10 years" that's fine too. As long as it's related to the meet and contributes to the story of what's involved in pulling this off, it's fair game. Remember we'll be looking back on this in five or ten years and saying "yeah, I remember that!"

Once we get to the meet, I want to keep this updated with the events at least on a daily basis. Some information is good, more is better. Blogger will even allow pictures to be uploaded, although for entire image galleries it would probably be easier to find a different place to hold them. More than a couple of images per post gets a little clumsy. This blog will act as the live meet report while the meet is going on, and then it'll make it a whole lot easier to write up the full meet report once the dust settles and we're all back home. Jon wants to print up a coffee table book as the meet report this time, which I think is a great idea. Let's make the job of getting this book together as painless as possible. It'll be much easier to remember everything if we record it as we go. With WiFi access back at the campground, I'm sure we'll all be able to find a few minutes every night to post an update.

If you're willing to help out with this effort, let me or Jon know and we'll set you up as a contributor to the blog. The drawback to using a service like Blogger is that you'll need to have an account on their system before you'll be able to post. I don't think this is a big deal, but if you have a problem with it let us know and we'll see what we can figure out. There's nothing that says you have to use your real name, so you can always make something up.

Thanks!
-- Jason Bleazard http://drazaelb.blogspot.com Burlington, Ontario his: '95 Dakota Sport 4x4, 3.9 V6, 5spd, Reg. Cab, white hers: '01 Dakota Sport 4x4, 4.7 V8, Auto, Quad Cab, black






Back to the top of the page Driving Tips
I want to die in my sleep like my Grandfather - not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car. --Will Shriner
 
  Jason's (hopefully) helpful driving tips:

Unfortunately, there are a number of people every year who drive up in to the Colorado back country and get stranded, or roll their vehicles down the side of a mountain. Our group won't be doing anything really dangerous or difficult, but keep in mind that this environment can be very unforgiving if you get careless. As long as we pay attention to what we're doing, we'll be just fine. Also, it's worth mentioning that local four-wheelers are in a constant battle to keep the existing trails open. The best way to help this cause is to respect the land and anyone else who wants to use the trails for any purpose, whether they're fellow four-wheelers, horseback or bicycle riders, or hikers.

Off-roading in the mountains is a bit different from what you may be used to at the BBQ or other areas in the East, requiring a slightly different mind set and technique. I'm not an expert by any means, but I did originally learn to drive in a Jeep in the Utah mountains, and I wanted to pass on some of my experiences. You probably already know all of this, but here are a few things I think are worth mentioning just in case.

  • When climbing steep hills, your best bet is to use low gear, maintain traction and use the torque of the engine to crawl up the hill without spinning the tires. If you get stopped, put the transmission in reverse and back down the hill slowly. Don't try to turn around on a side hill.

  • When descending steep hills, use low gear, and rely engine compression instead of the brakes to keep your speed under control. If the vehicle starts to slide faster than the tires are turning, apply a small amount of throttle to speed up the tires and regain traction.

  • If you meet another vehicle coming the other way, whoever is traveling uphill generally has the right of way, although this is negotiable depending on the situation. It's usually easier to stop when going downhill than to re-start a climb if you need to stop halfway up. Remember the other guy may not know this. You might have to back up in order to find a suitable spot to pull over to allow the other vehicle to pass.

  • While there isn't much mud in Colorado, we will need to cross the occasional stream. Most of the water in the mountains is on its way to be collected in reservoirs where it's saved for drinking water. Once that's gone, there's no more water until next winter. Therefore, it's considered good form to cross the stream with a minimum of disturbance. (By the way, they do treat the water before drinking it. It isn't safe to drink from a mountain stream without purifying it first, no matter how clean and clear the beer commercials make it look.)

  • Remember to keep an eye on the road while driving and not get distracted by the scenery. If you want to take a good look around, you might want to stop first. Everyone has a natural tendency to steer towards whatever they're looking at. As long as you're looking at the road, then that's where you'll have a natural tendency to steer.







Back to the top of the page Lodging
Camping is nature's way of promoting the motel business.
 
  Note: The appearance of a particular establishment in this list does not constitute an endorsement. This is simply a listing of the places of lodging that I was able to dig up within the Manitou Springs to Woodland Park corridor. Chances are there are more that I missed, but this should get you started. Except for the Lone Duck Campground, we have no knowledge about any of these places. They are simply listed here as a convenience to anyone who is not planning to stay at the official campground (or did something silly like waiting until the last minute and discovering that the campground was full). Listed next to each entry is the approximate distance from Lone Duck.

Bed and Breakfasts

Campgrounds

Cabins/Cottages/Villas

Hotels

Motels



Lone Duck Campground Reservation Information


For reservations, you basically have two options, depending on where you intend to camp; DML HQ or the main campground.

DML HQ
The DML has reserved an entire section of the campground for ourselves, hereafter known as "DML HQ". There are 10 tent sites in this area. This area will be the hub of our activity, and will be where the DML bonfire and BBQs will be held. Because the entire area is separated from the rest of the campground and we have it to ourselves, you won't need to worry about non-DMLers in this area. If you are interested in camping in DML HQ, you need to make your arrangements through the DML meet organizing committee; contact us at nationalmeet@dakota-truck.net. The cost is $152, which reserves a spot for you for the entire duration of the meet. There will be other perks available to those who reserve a spot in the DML HQ area, such as discounts on official meet merchandise. Stay tuned for more info about that.

Deadlines:
In order to lock up your spot in DML HQ, we must receive a deposit of at least $50 prior to March 1, 2006. (You may send the entire amount if you wish, but we need at least $50 by that time.)

The entire amount of $152 is due by April 1, 2006.

Cancellation policy:
If you need to cancel, anything you have paid is completely refundable up until April 1, 2006. Any cancellation after that date will be refunded on a pro-rated basis, based on the time period between April 1, 2006 and July 15, 2006.



The main campground
If you need RV hookups, or if there is no space left in the DML HQ area, you will need to contact Lone Duck directly and make a reservation with them. You can find their contact information on the Lone Duck website. If you are going this route, it is recommended that you lock up a reservation as soon as possible, since they have told us that the campground tends to sell out quickly.






Back to the top of the page Medical Information
Quit worrying about your health. It'll go away.
 
  The main area of concern here is the altitude. As the elevation increases, the level of oxygen goes down, and so does the temperature. Our base of operations at Lone Duck Campground is approximately 7,500 feet above sea level. We can probably figure that is going to be about the average altitude we will experience. Things will get a bit better when we go down into Denver, but we will also be spending time at even higher altitudes (Dakota Hill is almost 11,000 feet and Pike's Peak is over 14,000 feet).

Temperature

The most important thing here is to bring an appropriate wardrobe, and if you will be camping, an adequate sleeping bag or blankets, etc. Here is some information that may help you as you decide what to pack:
  • The temperature drops approximately 4 degrees F for every 1,000 feet in altitude.
  • The average July temperatures for the Lone Duck area are a low of 51° F at night and a high of 79° F during the day.
  • If it is 80° F in Denver, it will be 71° F at Lone Duck, 56° F on Dakota Hill and 44° F at the top of Pike's Peak.

  • Hypothermia: Also called "exposure", it begins when the body starts losing more heat than it generates. Two things contribute to this: inadequate food and lack of warm, dry clothing. The condition affects the brain, so victims show poor judgment about saving themselves. The best defense is to change into dry clothing and try to get the body's core temperature up by drinking something warm. Recovery may take six to eight hours so be patient. If you have a sleeping bag, double up with someone to aid in warming the body. Build a fire to help warm up if you are able. Remember: nourishment, dry clothes and warmth.
Altitude Sickness

The official name for this is Hypoxia, which is defined as a lack of oxygen sufficient to cause an impairment of function. Symptoms can vary from person to person, but generally start with shortness of breath, a higher pulse rate, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, headaches and move into impaired eyesight, a loss of the sense of touch, reduced mental ability such as poor judgement and a faulty memory, delayed reaction times, then into a state similar to being drunk, hyperventilation, blue skin color, unconsciousness, and finally death. Unless someone is in extremely poor health, we won't need to worry about the more serious end of this scale however. Basically, the symptoms for those of us not acclimated to living at elevation will be fatigue, and possibly dizziness or a headache. Although I don't have any firsthand experience with this, here are some tips which I have come across that are supposed to help combat altitude sickness:
  • Some people recommend taking regular doses of Ibuprofin, which will not only help with the symptoms such as headaches and nausea, but testing has indicated that it apparently alters the blood in a way that helps to prevent the onset of altitude sickness itself. Taking a couple of Ibuprofin every 4 hours is a technique used by mountain climbers and athletes who must compete at high altitudes. (Don't exceed the recommended dosage on the bottle.)
  • Drink lots of water - 3 to 4 quarts per day. Your urine should be clear.
  • Eat high carbohydrate foods. They produce energy faster than fats and require less oxygen to metabolize.
  • Avoid taking sleeping pills, which will cause shallow breathing and compound the problem.
  • Avoid high impact activities until you have had time to acclimate. (Acclimation can take a couple of weeks or months, which we don't have, but we have planned on putting the more sedentary activities at the beginning of the meet.) If you have the time, arriving a few days before the official start of the meet probably wouldn't hurt.
Humidity

Put simply, there isn't any! (Well, ok there is a little, but its not much.) Although you won't see miles of sand dunes and cacti, the Denver area is technically a desert. Its very dry, so here are some tips to help in this area:
  • You may want to bring along a nasal spray designed to treat dry nostrils.
  • Some chapstick might come in handy.
  • Keep plenty of water nearby to stay hydrated.
  • Try to avoid anything containing caffeine such as coffee, tea and soft drinks as it is a diuretic, which will remove water from the body.
  • Try to avoid alcohol, for the same reason; its also a diuretic.
  • Some medications are also diuretic. If you are taking medications, it might not be a bad idea to consult your doctor to see if there could be any complications at altitude.
Sunburn

As the altitude goes up, not only does the oxygen in the air decrease, but the radiation you experience from the self-propagating thermonuclear explosion 92 million miles away (the Sun) increases. Simply put, as you get higher, there is less atmosphere to absorb the harmful UV-B radiation from the sun. What this means that you're likely to sunburn - fairly bad - in a relatively short period without adequate protection. Pack the SPF 30 & use it! This won't be as big a concern while at Lone Duck, but it will be the higher up we go, which will likely be the case most days while we're offroading.

The level of UV exposure increases approximately 4% for every 1,000 feet of elevation. Compared to sea level, there are 20% more ultraviolet rays in Denver, 40% more at Dakota Hill and almost 60% more at the top of Pike's Peak.

Hospitals

A list of the closest hospitals to the campground which offer emergency care:






Back to the top of the page Safety Information
Better a thousand times careful than once dead.
 
  Wether the predators you are most concerned about have 4 legs, 2 legs, or maybe no legs at all, here is some information to assist you in this area.

Bears

While bear attacks are rare, they can happen. Although the odds are probably against you even seeing a bear, let alone being attacked by one, nobody wants to be that exception to the rule. Following are some tips to help prevent you from becoming a statistic. Note that these tips apply to black bears, which is the type that inhabits the general area of the meet. They do not necessarily apply to other bear species. Bear Aware is a pamphlet in Adobe PDF format put out by Mueller State Park which expounds on some of the points listed below in more detail. The pamphlet is intended for campers and hikers in the State Park, but most of the information in it is generally applicable.

Tips to avoid attracting a bear to the campsite:
  • All food, food containers and cooking utinsils should be stored inside your vehicle.
  • Don't sleep in the same clothes you cook in; store your cooking clothes in your vehicle.
  • Immediately dispose of all trash in designated containers.
Tips to avoid encountering a bear while you are out and about:
  • The chances of encountering a bear increase at dawn and dusk.
  • Streams and berry patches are likely places to encounter a bear.
  • Don't hike alone.
  • Be extra careful in areas of low visibility.
  • Make noise; chances are the bear will hear you and leave the area long before you get to its location.
  • What is most likely to alert a bear to your presence is its nose. Be careful when the wind is at your face. This means that you are downwind, and more likely to stumble across a very surprised bear.
  • Be alert (watch for signs of recent activity such as paw prints, etc.)
  • Stay on designated trails, if possible.
  • Keep pets (and children) on a short leash.
If you enounter a bear:
  • Stay calm!
  • If the bear hasn't seen you, leave the area. Do not approach the bear!
  • If you must speak, do so quietly. Never shout or try to scare the bear away.
  • If the bear has detected you, back away slowly, while still facing the bear, but be aware of other bears which might be in the area. (Especially if the bear you have just seen is a cub. This is a guarantee that an extremely protective mother is in the immediate area - maybe behind you!)
  • Do not run! Running may trigger the bear's predatory instinct. The world's best track and field athletes can briefly sustain speeds of approximately 22 miles per hour, but a bear tops out around 30mph.
  • If there is shelter such as a cabin or a vehicle very close by, that could be a good place to wait out the bear. You can figure on the bear being twice as fast as you though, so unless you are practically on top of the shelter, that might not be a viable option.
  • Note that trees and water do not qualify as shelter. Bears are excellent climbers and love to swim.
  • If the bear charges you, stand your ground, it is probably bluffing. (But be ready to defend yourself in case it doesn't veer off.)
  • If the bear attacks you, fight back. Do not "play dead", this may work against a grizzly, but not a black bear, and certainly not against any hungry bear!
  • There are pepper sprays available for bear defense. The types that spray a stream a long distance would appear to be the best since it keeps as much distance as possible between you and the bear, but be aware that a bear may have the ability to shake off even the most potent pepper sprays and resume the attack relatively quickly. (Its mood will not have improved in the meantime.)
  • A firearm gives you the highest probability of surviving a bear attack, but you must be proficient in its use. A large caliber hunting rifle is best, but is not exactly convenient for hiking. As far as handguns go, the absolute smallest pipsqueak cartridge generally considered adequate for bear defense is the .44 Magnum. That said, any weapon is better than none, but chances are good that if you are attacked, you won't have time for a followup shot so you want the biggest, heaviest, fastest bullet you can chamber.
Mountain Lions

Much of what has already been said about bears applies to mountain lions as well, however here are some mountain lion specific tips:
  • Mountain lions are more likely to be found in wooded areas than open
  • Many people who were being stalked as a potential food source were not aware of the mountain lion's presence until it pounced, so stay alert!
  • Mountain lions are very unpredictable
  • Mountain lions are used to stalking 4 legged animals, and an upright human can confuse it. Anything you can do to make yourself appear larger will help to intimidate it even further. You can do things such as standing on your toes, opening up your jacket or sticking your arms out to your sides. Because of their short stature, children are at more risk than adults. Also, a dog will not intimidate a mountain lion, and may in fact attract its attention (it looks like a tasty snack to the cat).
  • Do not turn your back or run away. (A mountain lion's speed will make that 30mph bear I mentioned earlier look like a lumbering walrus - you have no chance.)
  • You may be able to retreat by slowly walking backwards, still facing the cat. Putting some distance between you can open up the escape routes for it, rather than making it feel cornered which will almost always guarantee an attack.
  • Same as with bears, if you are attacked, fight back.
  • Pepper spray has been said to work well against mountain lions, however since they are so agile, they may be difficult to hit
  • Naturally, if you are already "loaded for bear", a firearm makes a good defense. Like the pepper spray though, you must be able to hit the animal.
  • If you don't have a firearm or pepper spray, rocks or a stick are better than nothing. Don't bend over to pick them up though, bend at the knees, always facing the cat, and stand back up quickly.
  • If you come across a covered animal carcass, leave the area. The cat will be back and it will assume you are trying to steal its dinner. (This will not enhance its opinion of you...)
Rattlesnakes

  • The only poisonous snake naturally occurring in Colorado.
  • Rattlers have been known to climb to timberline, but are more often seen at altitudes lower than 8,000 feet.
  • Listen and watch for them, especially in the rocks and bluffs of the foothills.
  • Generally they will leave the area if they detect you, but they will fight if they are cornered or if they are protecting their young.
Colorado Firearms Laws

  • It is legal to to carry a loaded or unloaded firearm in a vehicle or posess it in a dwelling or business, however it cannot be carried concealed on your person unless you have a permit to do so.
  • Note that it is legal to openly carry a firearm in Colorado (without any sort of permit), however it is probably not a good idea as people have been prosecuted for disorderly conduct when a "victim" becomes alarmed at seeing the firearm.
  • Colorado recognizes the concealed carry permits of several other states. If your state of residence is not one of them, it may be possible to obtain a non-resident carry permit from one of the states that practices reciprocity with Colorado (for example Florida or New Hampshire). For more information on this topic, please consult Packing.org
  • You must have your carry permit and photo identification with you at all times when you are carrying a concealed handgun. These documents must be produced upon the request of any law enforcement officer. (The law enforcement officer may legally confiscate the gun from you but must return it prior to discharging you from the scene.)
  • Colorado's state firearms law has a preemption clause which means that no local municipality can override the state law with more restrictive regulations. (i.e. they cannot prevent you from carrying on public property) However, private property is another matter; if the owner has posted a sign banning firearms on their property, it is illegal to disobey it. An exception is open carry; local municipalities are allowed to ban the open carry of firearms if they post appropriate signage.
  • There are certain public areas where carry is prohibted, for example schools and public buildings with secrity screening procedures in place. See the Packing.org site for more info on this.
  • It is legal to carry in a national forest, but doing so in a national park is a felony.
Below are some links for further information on this topic. I believe that what I have spelled out above is correct, but I make no guarantees. Remember that the authorities do not consider ignorance of the law to be a valid excuse, so it is your responsibility to do the research and understand the implications of your actions.


Back to the top of the page Schedule
Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.
 
  Here is a tentative schedule of events. Don't put too much stock in it until we get closer to the meet, as things are likely to change. Basically, the purpose of the schedule is to try and lay out the basic plan for the week, taking into account locked-in-stone events such as the hours Bandimere is open for racing, or the Mile High Nationals, etc. and planning our activities around them. (We are also trying to be careful to stick to relatively low impact activities during the first part of the meet to allow as much time as possible for everyone to acclimate.)


July 2006
SundayMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

10

11

12

13

Mopar Big Block Party (in Golden)
14

Mopar Mile High Nationals
15

Meet officially begins
8a Mopar Mile High Nationals
10a Meet and greet, get settled in
6p Dinner
16

9a Mopar Mile High Nationals
9a Bum around camp and acclimate
6p Dinner
17

9a Garden of the Gods, Rampart Range Rd, Mt. Herman Rd
1p Picnic lunch on trail
6p Dinner
18

9a Leave camp for Dakota Hill
12p Picnic at Dakota Hill
2p Kingston Peak - Yankee Hill loop (with stop possible at St. Mary's Glacier)
19

8-9a Leave camp for Coors
11a Coors brewery tour (DML has a reservation)
1p Lunch in Golden
2p Lariat trail loop
3p Red rocks
5p Bandimere drag racing
20

8a Off roading: Tincup Pass loop
1p Picnic on the trail
21

6a Paintballers leave camp for Breckenridge
9a Normal folks leave camp for Breckenridge
11a-12p Everybody meets in Breckenridge for lunch, possible offroading up ski slope
1-2p Off roading: Mosquito Pass/Leadville loop
22

9-10a Pike's Peak
12p Lunch
1p Whatever
23

Meet officially ends
24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31







Back to the top of the page Travel Information
Are we there yet?
 
 
  • Colorado Springs Airport
  • Denver International Airport
    (Rental car info for each airport is available at their respective links above.)


  • Directions to Lone Duck Campground (from Colorado Springs)
    The campground is located on the south/west side of US 24, approximately 2 miles west of Cascade. Click the link above for detailed directions. Note: If you downloaded these directions prior to 4/28/06, please re-visit the link as the original directions had some mistakes which were corrected.


  • Avoiding Denver is A Very Wise Thing To Do (whenever possible.) Legendary congested expressway traffic, and sorry folks, the E-470 beltway on the east side of town is one of the most expensive toll roads in America. $11.00 one way to take it the full length, double that at least if you're if you're towing something. When travelling to the meet from the east on I-70, strongly suggest taking US 24 at Limon directly into Colorado Springs (about 70 mi) & thus bypass Denver altogether.






Back to the top of the page Vehicle Maintenance
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
 
  Some information regarding the general meet area as it relates to your vehicle, contributed by Jim Ward, our "inside man". :-)
  • Ensure that your brakes are fully serviced before arriving at the meet. Highway grades of 7-9% are common, and expect grades of up to 12% on unpaved roads and/or trails. 'nuff said.

  • Octane grades for gas sold in the Mountain Time Zone are 85 regular, 89 midgrade & 91 premium. Good old 87 octane regular or 93 octane rocket fuel you're used to aren't available. Reasoning behind this is that the higher grades aren't necessarily required when operating above 5000 ft, which is the norm out here, but let's not go there just now with other possible reasons. No one seems to have problems with running 85 (including my 4.7 V8 Dak with minimal mods) but if you have some fairly robust chip-type engine mods going on, or are just plain uncomfortable running 85, plan on adding some octane booster to the tank while out here. BTW, I usually fill up with 91 octane whenever I know I'll be going waaay up into the high country (above 9-10,000 ft) but that's just me looking for all the horsies I can get pulling the passes. And since you asked, running 85 at Lone Duck's altitude (7500 ft) will be just fine, IMHO.

  • Gas is considerably more expensive in the mountain towns than it is in the Front Range (Denver/Colo Springs & etc.) Averages 15-20 cents higher per gallon up there. One of those (go figure) things around living here. Plan your fillups accordingly.





The National DML Meet - July 15-23, 2006 - Colorado Springs, CO