Thanks Sam, but if we come out there, the Bates will be rather low on our list of places to stay . . . but high on the list of places to visit ;)

I smell a Rocky Mountain Cellar meetup in the works.

Absolutely incredible, Sam - thanks so much.

I know exactly what you mean re depths and heights. Photos I've taken in less dramatic landscapes (Scotland and Wales) still didn't capture the scale of the landscape. And it was doubly disappointing as they were pre-digital, so I didn't even know until after I got home!

PS we use the term "glory hole" slightly differently here ;)

If ya'll want a get together, I'll gladly host one at the sewage lagoon!! Serious. We could camp out & I'll provide the party beverages. Lots of neat things to photograph too.

I just got back from a short camping trip to inspect how the fall colors are coming along. They are about a week behind on my side of the mountains, but still nice.

The first pic is of Lizard Head Mountain, a perennial fav of mine.

The second is of a lakeside community just past Lizard Head.

This is the town of Ophir - once an old silver-mining town turned ghost, and then rediscovered by the yuppie set. Most live in Ophir in the summer only, but a few hardy souls stay thru the winter and are often avalanched in.

A little summer cabin in Ophir.

Jebus H Crepes those are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been wanting to drive over Ophir Pass, one of Colorado's 4 wd/jeep trails, but wasn't sure if me and the truck could make it.

I drove to the beginning of the road and watched two hikers come down (first pic).

Then an older woman driving a Ford pick-up with a Blue Heeler in the back came over.

I contemplated the road a bit longer and then decided if Granny and her heeler could, I could. (second pic)

Third pic: the pass gets going.

And presents the adventurous driver with a long expanse of talus slope. I hate that damn stuff. (fourth pic)

I discovered that I was OK, if I just didn't look at the abrupt thousand foot drop off to my right.

The first pic is just over the summit of Ophir which is around 12,000 ft.

If you look closely in the second pic, you can see a hunk of metal which is all that remains of the jeep of someone who decided to hot dog the pass.

Very nice example of a glacier carved cirque - 3rd pic.

Mountain creek coming down almost vertically - 4th pic.

(more pix to come as I have time)

zomg.

super freakin gorgeous. wow o wow o wow (insert what I think is the ecstatic transportation of double rainbow guy, if you like, I haven't seen it, only second hand satire).

So pretty SamIam. Way to go.

Ophir pass is incredible! Around every curve is another spectacular thing! (pix 1-3).

And finally (pic 4), coasting down toward the Million Dollar Highway on the other side of the range.

Beautiful!

Those are just beyond gorgeous. Speechless other than to say they look, literally, unreal.

Thank you! They do look unbelievable, don't they? But the colors you see in these mountains are for reals. Its the high mineral content which made them such a mecca for mining and gives them their amazing hues.

Pix 1 and 2 are back on pavement again and heading toward the town of Ouray.

Pic 3 is the Amphitheater Campground that was placed directly above Ouray.

And 4 is a bird's eye view of Ouray that you can get from the campground overlook.

Fantastic!

Spectacular scenery, thanks so much.
Although all I could think was:

Quinquireme of Ninevah from distant Ophir
Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine...

Which doesn't fit at all, being a poem about ships (Cargoes - John Masefield)