Hi, I was interested in attending an appleseed at some point (been meaning to for a while now) hopefully sometime this winter. However, I'm a little worried about what winter is going to turn the roads around the ranges into. Looking at google maps all the planned denver-area appleseeds are "behind" several miles of dirt/private access roads, what are those going to look like after snow hits?
Unfortunately you can't tell until you get there. At least, if it's very cold there won't be mud under the snow, which can make for some interesting driving.
Most of the main county dirt roads will be pretty hard-packed with some gravel, which helps when the snow has been packed down by other cars. The more local roads (range entry roads etc.) can be awful. Four wheel drive, winter driving experience on dirt, and some intelligent and cautious judgement all help.
Even the paved highways can be nerve-wracking; one Appleseed I attended required about 20 miles of ice-covered pavement to be negotiated in my old 4wd Trooper. If I'd known how bad it was going to be I'd have stayed home, but I went slow and careful and got to the range in one piece.
Colorado winter road conditions should be approached with care. If you're really intent on showing up, call the county sheriff's office or the local state police barracks for conditions on specific roads before you leave. But, if some of us can get to the range, the shoot is a go.
Another option is to come on down to an Arizona "winterseed," where it's been known to get so chilly some mornings that you might even need a sweater. >:D
Gunnison on the western slope would love to have you come to a winterseed-roads to get to us are always maintained and The Lost Canyon Range is very accessible.
Since we are the only Appleseed range one the this side of the world - I mean Colorado, we would also like to feel apart of the eastern slope Appleseed folks.
Please check our schedule and sign up and come to a real "Winterseed"!
I tend to think we are the only people on the Western slope of Colorado that care
about Appleseed -- could be do that we are sourrounded by trustfund babbies that
are against "guns". Because as we know, guns kill people????? Our society on this side of the world is "fill in the blank" because what I would like to say would be edited.
Please give us any suppot you can - we would appreciate instructors filling up the
then their minds.