Clint,
I'll too spend some time in the West next
summer.  I plan on taking a trip to Moab,
Canyons, Southern Utah in the spring(late Apr).
Gonna do some mtn biking/road cycling. I'm
gonna go back out west around 15 July to do
some cycling.  I'll be staying in and around
Dillon.  Usually end up in Prospectors campground
on the Keystone side of Swan Mtn. 
If you've been through the Black Hills with your
Westy I don't think you'll have a problem driving
over the passes of CO.  You may have to take it nice
and easy especially on the descent of the major
passes. If your engine and brakes are good you
shouldn't have a problem. If you go to Rocky Mtn National
Park you probably know that Trail Ridge road is 12,000+ ft.
The passes in CO are typically higher in elevation and longer
but grades are around 6%.

Jerry
KY 88 GL Bus-ter

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Clint Kolda
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 11:20 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: New year - new road trips

We just started planning another great summer road trip in our Westy.  I was
curious if anyone has any great plans for the upcoming year.

  We are going to be spending the last week in June in the Black Hills.
Having previously lived there, I think I have that portion of the trip under
control.  It's only 350 miles from home and I know most of the area well.
Last year our Westy performed beautifully on the same trip.  Even the 100�F
day spent going up and down the hills in the Badlands with the A/C on didn't
seem to bother it.

  We are also thinking of spending the following week in Colorado.  Having
never camped there before, I have some concern.  How well should I expect a
stock 2.1 to do in Rocky Mountain National Park?  Would I be better off
staying along the front range to avoid major climbs?  I've checked Larry
Chase's web site for campgrounds, but there are not a lot listed in CO yet.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a campground, or a real good
website to look at?

  Thanks,
  Clint
Sioux Falls, SD