Road Trip, Road Trip!
 

I am taking a for reals road trip at long last. I'm leaving tomorrow and returning ? My first stop will be Durango where I'm dropping off a job app (why i'm bothering, I don't know). Then I'll head out on highway 550 over Red Moutain Pass - this route is known as the Million Dollar Highway for both its spectacular beauty and all the old mines for precious metals that can be found in the area - sometimes quite close to the road.

I haven't driven over Red Mountain in years and can't wait to see it again. The only draw back will be the tourists, but I'm pretty good at frightening them out of my way. The road descends into the town of Ouray which has hot springs and bills itself as the "Switzerland of America." It's not, but it lies in an extremely rugged and breath taking part of the world and is well worth a visit.

Then its on to Ridgeway where I'll have to decide if I want to turn back into the mountains and do a little off roading to find an alpine camp site all to myself and out of the heat. There is also a snappy state park outside Ridgeway which offers every amenity to the traveler from actual yurts to "primitive" camp sites. "Primitive" means you have to pack your camping stuff across a bridge over a little creek and find your designated camp spot - $18.00 to be "primative." I don't know what they call off-roading in the mountains that border the Weimenuch Wilderness Area. Maybe "crazy chick camping." My choice will depend on what time I pull up to the cross road and how energetic I'm feeling.

Day two I'm hitting the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. People tell me it's drop dead beautiful. I've only ever been to the overlook and it DID look very amazing. Hopefully, I can find a campsite in the area where I don't have to deal with National Park Nazi's. They don't like off roading, they have wierd rules like you can't bring wood in from another state to build a campfire, you must stay on the trails, you can't let your poodle lose at twilight to possibly be eaten by a cougar, you cannot climb or jump up and down on rock formations during a thunderstorm, and you must sign the trail registers.

The National Park Service is worse than a strict parent who never lets you have any fun. Everytime I visit a National Park, it's all I can do to refrain from staking out a poodle in cougar country at twilight, scatter catnip around and call "Here, kitty, kitty." I sign trail registers "Edward Abbey," and I long to do a war dance on a promisingly high rock formation as soon as I see a stroke of lightening hit.

If I survive the Black Canyon, its on to a campsite that I have discovered right on the Colorado River and just over the Utah border. It's on public land, but so far it has been discovered by almost no one. I have always had it completely to myself. The river is wide and deep there, warm enough to be perfect for skinny dipping, and filled with solemn looking brown trout who splash so loudly in the river that they can wake you up at night. There are also pelicans, cranes, and other water birds.

I can either follow the Colorado downside along a dirt road that goes almost the entire way to Moab and Canyonlands and Arches and all that cool stuff. Except in mid-July, Moab is anything but cool. If I go that route, that's the stretch to crank up the AC, get out of the car as seldom as possible, and look at all that stuff through your windshield and mentally plan a return trip in October or so.

If I am really still gung ho, I'll turn onto the road that takes me up toward the Utah mountains and Bridges National Monument. Or I could just mosey on back to Cortez or...

Of course I may deviate from this plan since there are so many great places to go and it's very hard to decide. I do promise pix, though. May stop at an Internet Cafe in Grand Junction or Moab or may just wait until I get home to post them.

Look out Colorado Plateau! Here I come!

Have a good trip, Sam, and don't forget pictures of the skinny dipping.;)

Wait a sec... What about the Bates motel job? Did you quit, get fired or are you taking a leave or vacation?

The stupid Bates motel only has me working on the weekends. I want more hours, but someone needs to quit before I can get them. So, Monday until Saturday at 8:00am, I can do as I please. And it pleases me to get the hell out of here even though I'll be dipping in my savings to do it. :driving:

@Bruce: Well, seeing as how it's you, I'll see what I can do. ;)

Oh in that case - have a blast and yeh - take pics. I'd be happy with animals, landscape and or flowers though.
Where you are going sounds beautiful.

WOw, how cool. Have a blast along the way, don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

I salute you.

Take copies of your resume. You never know when you might chance across that half-open door that you just need to get your foot in.

what zen said. Have fun.

OK, I'm back and , as promised, here are some pix. I only made it about 30 miles up 145 to Telluride when I noticed the turn off to Dunton - famous for it's hot springs back in the day but now privately owned. I have boycotted that road for years, but for some reason, I decided to turn off on it and check it out. WOW!

The road follows the West Dolores River as it cascades down from high mountains covered with aspen. I checked out a couple of Forest Service "official" campgrounds and was not impressed. I wanted to get up HIGH! So, I did. Had to put the truck in 4WD for the last few miles before I came across a fantastic campsite I had all to myself.

That Aspen meadow was great. I even was treated to music from the West Dolores High Country Coyote Choir around sunset. Wonderful musicians all. I recommend them if they ever show up on tour in your town.

Wildflower pix: (the first is a bracket fungus growing on a downed aspen).

Glorious!

TY, Griff! I will continue to post pix as I have the chance. Here's some more shot on the way out from the Aspen Grove on Forest Service Road 535 which goes from asphalt to loose gravel as it climbs ever higher to join Highway 145 again. I'm less than 50 miles from home at this point. How lucky am I to have these places for my back yard!

Ow wow Sam - they look like scenes from movies!
What a wonderful trip.

I can in all honestly say I've never seen anything like it in my life.
The clouds look like fungus, the fugus looks like clouds!
Thank you.

wow - beautiful! I could die there very happily.

that one you named ' red mountain majesty ' is now my wallpaper. great fucken shots. THAT is God's country

Beautiful pictures, Sam.

I agree.

Great pics Sam, love 'em.

Moar!

Careful what you wish for!

Robert Redford can come adventuring with me into the mountains any time!

The next pic shows the climb up above the West Dolores - tried to get a shot showing the severe grade of road but couldn't get my camera to co-operate.

Was actually glad to make it back to asphalt for a while.

Then on to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Here are a few of the cliffs. I can't believe those pines were able to take hold on that sheer rock face.

One of the things that frustrated me about taking these pix was the difficulty of showing the depths and heights of everything. The Black Canyon is simply stunning. I wish my photos could convey it better. Guess you're all just gonna have to come out for a visit and see it for yourselves! ;)

And, yes, I actually managed to camp in a National Park and not break too many rules.
DoNOTFeedBearsNoFunWithCougarsBackCountryPermitRequired

Whatever. :right:

It IS God's country, isn't it? Saved the best for last - the "Million Dollar Highway," Highway 550 between Ouray and Durango. 550 got this nick name because of the number of mines for precious metals along its route back in the day. And the absolute beauty of the scenery. It's a road where you definitely want to be a passenger rather than the driver cuz there's SO much to see!

Beginning of the Million Dollar in Ouray

After this tunnel south of Ouray the road gets serious - steep grade, few guard rails, hair pin curves, etc. For a while Red Mountain Pass (what the locals call the Million Dollar) seemed to claim a snow plow driver every winter due to frequent avalanches on this route.

There's a Glory Hole (or abandoned mine) in the lower third of this pic.

This stream always looks to me as though it still has a few gold nuggets left.

There are actually 3 passes on this road. Red Mountain is the highest at close to 11,000 feet.

These colors are all for reals, BTW. Photo shopping not required.

Sluice from mine that operated through the 70's. Forget what they were after - vanadium or something wierd like that.

And cruising in toward Durango at last - with my sage from the Black Canyon, journal, and smokes. Can't wait to go again!

Breathtaking! I'm feeling a strong urge to go west.

Looks Good Sam

I always want to go to Moab but didn't have time & budget to go. Wish I could go one day. Nice trip you have there SamIam :)

Beautiful pics, Sam. Wow!

You should come on out, Classic. The Four Corners Region has to be one of the prettiest parts of the US. It has it all - from 14,000 foot snow capped mountains to the fantastic red rock formations of Canyonlands and Island in the Sky (well-named) National Parks. And it's all within about a 100 mile radius of Durango or Cortez. I could probably get you a discount at the Bates Motel. ;)

Outstanding.

You can taste the freshness of the air! Wonderful, Sam!

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)

with a cargo of ivory and apes and peacocks..... we use to have to sing that withemphasis on pronunciation.... aaaaargh!

Yeah, the early miners who settled the town had the same thought and named it "Ophir" in hopes that its gold production would rival that of the city of legend.

Beautiful, Sam. I spent a couple nights in Ouray about 15 years ago. We had wanted to take that 4wd road, but were in our rental Mustang. I was wondering all these years what it looked like. Now I do. Thanks!
Amazing country.

Sam, how much would you charge for being the guide for such a road trip? I'd pay.

Learning it as a poem was cool enough - I'd have loved to have sung it as well!
Am guessing it wasn't a favourite of yours though.
Slight clue being the "aaaaargh!" :)

The choirmaster was so picky about the pronunciation....

You'd want to rent a more dependable vehicle than my old truck with 200,000 miles on it. Otherwise, I'd take you for free. Any excuse to get out into the mountains is a pleasure - not a chore. ;)

Fantastic, Sam, times may be tough but that's a nice place for times to be tough in.

You could seriously think about leading tourists on hire-a-jeep self-drive tag-along tours. It might - might - pay.

I don't see the problem.

Rear wheel drive car with low clearance on a 4wd road on top of a cliff?

:beer:

:driving:

Just don't wear your seatbelt, so you can jump out if it starts to go over the edge.

I think that piece of wreckage on the talus slope of Ophir might have been a Mustang. ;)