#6: [16-May-21]

#7: [13-Jun-22]

#5: [19-Nov-14]

#3: [09-May-09]

#2: [11-Dec-02]

#1: [15-Sep-01]

18-Jun-2010 -- This visit is the last in a series of five confluence attempts starting with a side trip to plan an upcoming visit to 38N-107W during a trip to Colorado and back.

I was disappointed in my thwarted attempt at 39N-109W. I drove back through the Colorado National Monument before heading south. It was a long but absolutely beautiful drive along CO-141 from Grand Junction through Unaweep Canyon!

I approached from the east turning off of CO-141 along what would turn out to be a high clearance or 4wd road known as Q1. I slowly made my way through a scenic valley and then up the side and parked at my planned trailhead, a pullout by a sharp bend along Road Q1 about 770 meters away from the zeropoint. When I arrived here, I had only about 1 hour of daylight left. I took a small pack and began walking south down a dirt road. I could have continued down this road in my van another 400 meters until a distinctive metal tower where a smaller trail turns west towards the confluence. There were multiple lines and trails cut through the brush here – I’m not sure what these were for but there was evidence of a lot of activity in the past. It took 15 minutes to reach the zeropoint located within the heavily treed area. I used my Spot Satellite GPS Messenger to send a custom message declaring success and then started back to my van. I didn’t see any mountain lions and I was unable to locate the cairn as described in previous visits.

Picture 1 looks south. Picture 2 looks west. Picture 3 looks north. Picture 4 looks east. Picture 5 shows my GPS location. Picture 6 shows the distinctive tower near a convenient turnpoint looking east about 380 meters from the confluence. Picture 7 shows where I had parked. Picture 8 looks east from the parking.

It took 48 minutes and 2.2km from where I parked to the confluence and back. My approach from the north onto Road Q1 started here. I departed the confluence westbound towards Ucolo and the intersection of CO Rd 370 and US 491.

The northern route requires a high clearance vehicle and would be the least favorable approach to this confluence. It took me 1:02 for 19km along some rugged stretches of road. Approaching from the west is suitable for a normal 2wd vehicle. From the confluence to the intersection of Co Rd 370 and highway 491 it took me 0:53 for 29.9 km along a mixture of somewhat smooth dirt and paved roads.

Another great confluence adventure!