2013 – Silverdale Historic District

Up near Georgetown, there is an old Ghost Town know as Silverdale and we will spend most of the day exploring this area.

To begin with we catch a few signs at the parking area at the trail head…

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Our first stop will be at the ruins of the Colorado Central Mill and we will also find a friend enjoying the quite morning up here in the mountains.  The mill stopped operating in the 1920’s.

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The vast majoring of the trail we will be hiking is also old mining Railroad bed so you know I will be taking photos all along the route to document it and we will also find a few remnants along the way

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The trail dead-ends where the railroad would have crossed the creek as at a trestle is long since gone and then over another one yet

We will double back and drive up the road to another trail head where we catch an old mining structure that would have been near where the railroad would have come after crossing the Leavenworth Creek.

Above this location yet would have been Marshall Tunnel which today is no longer accessible…

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We will head into Georgetown and have lunch at the old Colorado Central Depot that was also used by the Georgetown Loop Railroad.

Just would be right not to at least catch a photo of the train while in town…

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 9B

Once we completed our drive over Kebler Pass we pass over McClure Pass; (8,755ft)

39 07.733N 107 17.124W

Found Hays Creek Falls just outside Redstone, CO

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39 09.510N 107 15.065W

From there we head toward Independence Pass with a stop first at the old Ghost Town

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39 06.412N 106 36.200W

We pass over the Continental Divide at Independence Pass; 12,095ft

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39 06.499N 106 33.848W

Time for lunch and we stop at one of our mountain favorites, the Golden Burro Cafe in Leadville

We will then head towards Copper Mountain via Fremont Pass 11,318ft

39 22.105N 106 11.310W

Once we reach Interstate 70 we head for home; 1,889 miles later

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 9A

Our last day of this trip is all about taken a Scenic Drive taking in the Rocky Mountains.  As we leave Gunnison, CO we head up Hwy 135 towards Crested Butte,  It’s June and there is still snow in the high mountains ahead of us.

38 49.071N 106 54.536W

Once pass Crested Butte, we take Gunnison County 12 to Kebler Pass where we will also catch one of the residents of the high mountains taking a break catching some morning sunshine.

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As we pass County 12E, we catch this view of Ruby Peak

38 51.484N 107 06.749W

As we pass over a bridge we stop to enjoy this view below

38 51.779N 107 07.077W

We catch this view of East Beckwith Mountain a bit farther down the road

38 51.591N 107 09.382W

We make a stop near Road #706 to read about a trail head here (Lost Lake)

38 53.750N 107 12.876W

Here is a shot we took of Marcellina Mountain

38 54.638N 107 14.627W

We catch another view of East Beckwith Mountain as well

38 55.259N 107 15.811W

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 8B

We head up into the canyon as far as allowed.  The roadway heading up to the dam is basically the old D&RGW Right-of-Way.

Morrow Point Dam

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Also here is trail along Mesa Creek that take you down to river level.  We will take a short hike beyond the bridge and down stream.  In the photo below you can see the muddy water of the creek as it reaches the clearer water of the river.

Mesa Creek Trail

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As we continue our Adventures we cross over Cerro Summit; quick stop for a photo.

Cerro Summit (7,959ft)

Once in Montrose we head back to the D&RGW Depot; this time to tour the inside of the now Montrose Heritage Museum.  Lots of interesting stuff inside and out including a few more Railroad items.

D&RGW Depot – Montrose, CO (Heritage Museum)

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We will also head over to another museum to find out it’s FREE DAY so score one for timing.  Wonderful Native America museum dedicated to the Ute Indian Tribe.  Well worth the stop!

Ute Indian Museum

With the day complete We make one last stop to photograph a Boxcar we have seen many time when here in town but have never stopped to photograph.  Chalk up one Fruit Growers Express Refrigerator Car now used as a storage shed.

FHIX #40456

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 8A

Curecanti National Recreation Area

As we approach the end of this trip we will head into Curecanti for some views along with a little historic Railfanning.  Our first stop is at Pioneer Point to catch a different view of the D&RGW Logo Peak know as Curecanti Needle.

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There also some great views of the river and side waterways that run deep in this canyon

Our next stop is at Hermits Rest where you can get great views of the Rugged San Juans as well as take a hike into the canyon for those in better shape and have more time then we have…

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We will head towards Cimarron, CO as we heard the D&RGW Train Display might be up again and even though it isn’t, we catch the Steam Engine / Tender #278, Boxcar #3132, and Caboose #0577 in a back lot.  If you look at my older posts of the Display before it was recently restored these historic railroad equipment was in bad shape.

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 7c

We end this day with more Railfanning stops and to take in the wonderful nature views of the area

First stop is in Dolores, CO where we track down the old Rio Grande Southern Eatery as well as take a photo of the depot from another angle

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From there we head over Lizard Head Pass (10,222ft) and stop to photograph to RGS Logo peak

Here is also a photograph of Pilot Knob, Golden Horn, and Vermillion Peak from atop the pass

Onto Ridgway in hope to find the Railroad Museum open to check out the display inside – Yes, It’s open this time!

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A new arrival outside is also D&RGW #118 Business Car

We will also track down the D&RGW Ridgway Depot as well

Time to call it a day and head back to the hotel for the night…

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 7B

Anasazi Heritage Center – Canyons of the Ancients

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Canyons of the Ancients – Dominguez Pueblo

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Canyons of the Ancients – Escalante Pueblo

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Anasazi Heritage Center – Rio Grande Southern Goose #5

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2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 7A

Canyons of the Ancients – National Monument

A new day and a new destination off the beaten path of most

Canyons of the Ancients – Lowry Pueblo

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Canyons of the Ancients – Painted Hand Pueblo

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2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 6D

Mesa Verde National Park – Continued

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Mesa Verde – Cedar Tree Tower

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Mesa Verde – Far View Sites

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Mesa Verde – Geologic Overlook

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… and as Lisa jokes, I found some RR stuff even here!

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Mesa Verde – Mancos Overlook

 

2013 – Summer Vacation – Part 6C

Mesa Verde National Park – Continued

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Mesa Verde – Pithouses and Pueblos

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Mesa Verde – Mesa Top Sites

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Mesa Verde – Sun Point Pueblo

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Mesa Verde – Sun Point View

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Mesa Verde – Oak Tree House

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Mesa Verde – Fire Temple and New Fire House

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Mesa Verde – Cliff Palace View