Get way to Ouray, Colorado before you go mad

After passing though Ophir it was time to head up to Alta and Gold King Basin.
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The remains of Alta Townsite.
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After spending a little time here if was on over to Gold King Basin
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The old mining building that is slowly sliding down the hill.
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The track on the right provide some unnecessary entertainment for me. I had originally planned to just walk up to see where it went but being me as I neared it I just said “screw it” and decided to drive on up. Why, did I do this. As the track near the top was just barely wider than my 4runner and was a dead end. The only way down was to back down to a small clearing to try a 5 point turn to get facing the right way so I wouldn't have to attempt back down the hill which provided to be quite entertaining and provided some new scratches. Lesson learned 'listen to your gut the first time around'
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After that little bit of entertainment and having explored up the near Alta Lake some (which will provided a future area when/if I return). It was time to head back to Ouray. Intestead of sticking to pavement for the entire way back I headed off along San Juan Country road 58P which is a nicely graded gravel road that cut some time and miles and provided some high speed driving. HeHeHe.

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Lots of sheep, this was only about half the herd.
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Once back at the camp it was the same as usual dinner around the campfire and catching up on some reading. I had been thinking thought out most of the day if I should just back up my gear and sleep in the back of car or to just get a little earlier to backup since I wanted to be back up though the construction traffic in Utah before things got messy. Needless, to say I just got up early.
 
Monday morning had come all to soon and it was soon to head out. The original plan was to hit up the Esclante Rim trail but after looking at my trail and topo map the directions didn't seem all that clear so it was a no go and I would just head on back.

Traffic on the way back was less than what I had first thought at least till I got back to I-15 just outside of Spanish Fork where the traffic picked up. Still it wasn't as bad as I thought. Upon arriving home and up packing I crashed for the rest of the day. Exhausted from the trip but relaxed. This feeling would last for the next couple of days.

The benefit from this trip has been that I've been more relaxed at work and have been able to deal with things a lot easier now. Those first couple of days I just had a been grin on my face knowing from what I just came back from. Still even look a the photo's now that same grin returns.

Looking forward to a return trip in the future.

Total miles: approx. 971
Worst mpg: 9.55 :cry:
Best mpg: 20.52
 
Smallfry, I thought you might be interested in these pics from the top of Ophir Pass.....

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We must have just missed each other...that group coming up the trail in your shot was waiting at the tree line while I descended...

After the trail, I went to Telluride for lunch, then went up to Alta Lakes and camped there for the night. Gorgeous!
 
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Smallfry, I thought you might be interested in these pics from the top of Ophir Pass.....

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We must have just missed each other...that group coming up the trail in your shot was waiting at the tree line while I descended...

After the trail, I went to Telluride for lunch, then went up to Alta Lakes and camped there for the night. Gorgeous!

HaHaHa. That's kind of funny. Small world. I was probable playing around at that lake when you passed though or just starting the hike back down.
 
Hahaha...yeah, I looked around but didn't see anybody there. We only stayed a few minutes...I was hungry and ready to get to Telluride for some grub.
 
Outstanding photos of an area that I've been wanting to see for quite some time. I can see we have very similar taste in what we shoot when on a trip--this looks like the kind of album I would make for myself from a similar trip. I have a guidebook, separate map, and DVD of the whole Ouray/Telluride/Silverton area, and can hardly wait for the time and money to coincide for my own extensive trip out there. Thanks so much for sharing your experience, and especially for those beautiful pics!
 
We'll have to plan something sometime Bob, cause we want to get down that way too.

Sent from the Far Side
 
Outstanding photos of an area that I've been wanting to see for quite some time. I can see we have very similar taste in what we shoot when on a trip--this looks like the kind of album I would make for myself from a similar trip. I have a guidebook, separate map, and DVD of the whole Ouray/Telluride/Silverton area, and can hardly wait for the time and money to coincide for my own extensive trip out there. Thanks so much for sharing your experience, and especially for those beautiful pics!

Your welcome. It's a great area to spend a few days in.

smallfry - thanks for taking the time post all these great pics.

Thanks.
 
Thanks for taking the time to do a write up on your trip. It reminds me when I used to live in Denver and a buddy and I drove out to his family's place in Phippsburg, CO and then on to dinosaur national monument. Coming from southern California, I'd never seen scenery like that before.
You've inspired a buddy and I here in Long Beach to pack up our things and take a trip out to Colorado via Gerome, AZ. We've been itching to see some old abandoned mines and buildings.
 

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