Get way to Ouray, Colorado before you go mad

[smallfry]

I'm not really sure how to start this report. I guess you could say it was the way that I thought of the trip up until I started on the trip “indifferent”. Planning for this trip started towards the end of last year and as the time got closer I would work on here or there but still couldn't get all that excited about the trip. Part of the problem I believe was not really taking anytime off of work since April even then it was that long of a vacation. On top of that the stress at work had started to weigh on me and I had to bite my lip on more than one occasion (I'm one of those people who just kind of keeps things bottled up inside and just takes more).

I had hoped that the side weekend trips to Montana and Idaho would help. Which they did but work was still in the back of my mind. About two months before hand I went ahead and signed off for an additional as there was talk of sending me to Kansas to assist with a construction for a couple of weeks and I wanted to make sure that I had ample time to prepare for the trip.

Needless, to say it didn't pan out but I still kept the time-off.

When the day came to pack for the trip and get things square out it just felt weird. I hadn't had a weekday off in who knows how long that wasn't a Friday. Maybe, it's because I've been used to going to store at night or on the weekends when everyone was out. It just felt strange!

When 4am rolled around Thursday morning it was the first time that I had started to feel some sort of relief from everything. I had hoped to be on the road by 5am to try and beat the traffic though the construction zones between Lehi and Spanish Fork. The last thing I wanted was to spend hours in the traffic though these zones. Thankfully, traffic didn't pose a problem.

I want to say by the time that I was heading south out of Price, Utah on Hwy 191 that I felt at ease with everything. As I drew near the San Juan Mountains my excitement started to grow knowing that I'd have four days away from it all.

I had planned to stay at the KOA again between Ridgeway and Ouray as I did in 2008 as it seemed like a logical place to setup camp; didn't really feel like setting up and breakup down a tent every day. The last time around I had camped at a spot near the main road but this I probable one of most remote sites that you can get at the KOA tucked up off a little side road in one corner of the campground.

I was hoping to be able to meet up with one of friends and his girlfriend from Arizona but knowing that cell service would be sketchy up here. I went ahead and tried. Surprisingly, a short time later I get a call and they had just came back into cell service so we planned to meet up at one of the local stores to chat for a bit before going our ways.

There's something to be said about meeting up with old friends and catching up some. Best of luck to you Tim and Danica. We'll have to meet-up again on another trip.

Once we part ways I headed up to Yankee Boy Basin to do a short hike up to Mount Sheffel's beforeing heading back to camp for dinner and to relax from the day.

Old mining site on the way up Tomboy Road

On the way up to Yankee Boy Basin

I had decided not to drive all the way up to the Yankee Boy Basin but decided to start out on one of the lower hiking trails. The lower trail is made up of a lot of loose rubble and in a few places finding the trail is a little hard but not overally difficult.

Looking back down the trail.

Small Alpine Lake

 

[smallfry]

I had decided not to drive all the way up to the Yankee Boy Basin but decided to start out on one of the lower hiking trails. The lower trail is made up of a lot of loose rubble and in a few places finding the trail is a little hard but not overally difficult.

Looking back down the trail.

The trail up to Mt Sheffels

Along the trail

The view from the other side and the trail which continues on

A couple of local critters along the way

When I got back to my vehicle I had noticed something along one of the ridgelines moving along. Not quite sure what it was I zoomed in and to my surpise there where hikers.

Can you spot the hikers?

Zoomed in

 

[smallfry]

On the way back down the trail I made a quick side trip to the remains of Revenue Mine

Once back at camp it was time for dinner around the fire and to catch up on some reading. Something which I hadn't done for awhile before hitting the hay.



Friday, Saturday and Sunday still to come...........::banana:

 

[habanero]

Beautiful pics! Looking forward to more. :bigok:

 

[smallfry]

As the alarm sounded at 6:30 am Friday morning, I could only think that the morning came all to soon. For the past couple of months I hadn't been able to sleep though the night without waking up a time or two with things on my mind. Yet, I was able to sleep though night this despite the fact that I was sleeping in a tent on the ground away from my bed.

As I stirred the events of the days began t o unfold and by the time I had finished breakfast I had things worked out. The plan for the day would take me though Corkscrew Gulch up to Hurricane Gulch and then down California Pass then take the North Fork Cuttoff and back to Engineer Pass so that was the plan. However, that would change slightly during the day as I had other routes in mind as well.

When I reached the trail head for Corkscrew Gulch I took a side detour off to visit a small mining community site 'Ironton Townsite'

Outhouse

This building kind of gave me the creeps since all the windows were boarded up except the one that you came though

After looking around for an hour or so it was time to head up Corkscrew Gulch

This is the one part of the road that kind of made me nervous. Why I don't know

Up at the top of the pass

What was to come

Once down the other side to Hurricane Pass I made the side trip on San Juan Country Road 53 over to the Red and Bonita Mill/Sampson Mill area

Old fuel cart I assume

 

[smallfry]

Another old mine site on the way up to Hurricane Pass

The old mine closed off

Up at Hurricane Pass

Lake Como

When I got down to intersection where the trail breaks off to go to Poughkeepsie Gulch I had the brief thought of trying to tackle Poughkeepsie Gulch but when I saw the sign that they recommend dual lockers and a winch I had second thoughts. Another time.

So it was on up to California Pass

Looking on up towards the Pass

Up at the pass

Coming down the pass towards Animas Fork

By the time I made it down California Pass it was around noon a little ahead of schedule so I made the decision to go ahead and run Placer and Picayune then back around to Animas Fork. Not before stopping and grabbing a bite to eat however.

A storm started to roll in as I was eating which dump a could amount of rain for about 10 minutes before breaking up.

One of the old transport towers between the mine sites

Heading done Placer Gulch

 

[smallfry]

Sound Democrat Mine site

Inside

Getting this shot kind of crept me out a bit since the platform between the two areas didn't have any support under it

After creeping myself out some I headed over to Gold Price Mine

One the boards off the cover to mine was missing but provided a get shot. I wasn't expecting to see it this way when I looked in.

Up at the top of Placer Gulch heading on over to Picayune Gulch

Someone cabin with great views all around

Once down to Picayune Gulch I made a side trip over on San Juan County Rd 99 to explore it a bit and to get another view of Treasure Mine

Treasure mine from San Juan 99

Treasure Mine

 

[smallfry]

Ye old mill

Inside

This was about as far I as dared to adventure into the building. Though I still can't but wonder what it looks like further up.

After spending some time around here it was down the gulch and over to Animas Fork

Just a shot or two of the area, since I explored it back in 08

What I really wanted to see was the remains of Frisco Mill since I didn't make it up to it when I visisted back in 08.

Inside

Remains of the old chute system. I couldn't believe how the chute system was run and how they kept track of it all since they ran all over the place.

The cable system their using to keep the place from collapsing any further

The stairs to left of this picture that leads up to the small platform was creepy yet again. I have a lot these moments exploring these old buildings.

 

[smallfry]

View looking up from that one platform

As I explored the structure I couldn't keep but wondering as to how much longer this building is going to be able to stand up to elements before finally giving in. For now it's still here. Once getting my fill I head back down to Animas Fork then up the North Fork Cutoff to head on back out along Enigneer Pass to Ouray.

Along the way

Coming down Engineer Pass I decided to make a quick stop out around the Mineral Point area to do some exploring around another site that I was back in 08.

The view inside. I only venture up the stairs to view into the second floor but didn't go any further. I didn't feel like walk on all the animal poo that was all over the floor.

Somewhere on out to Mineral Point a place that will have to wait for another time

Once back at camp it was the normal dinner around the fire and more reading and relaxing for the day. Bedtime came around 930 pm something that just isn't normal for me.


Saturday and Sunday still to come.

 

[Uneek]

Thanks for the pictures. CO is beautiful!

 

[BlairB]

Amazing photos. Thank you for sharing!

 

[smallfry]

The plan for Saturday was to run Black Bear Pass then back to Ouray via Imogene. The last time I ran this trail was with the Rising Sun Landcruiser back in 2008. I think at that time their was about 15 vehicles on that run so I wasn't able to explore as much as I would've liked. This time around it was just me.

Trail head sign

Starting to near the pass

Optional waterfall/ledge line. The old 4runner just walked up.

Black Bear Pass

What laid ahead.

Looking back towards the route up.

 

[smallfry]

Telluride down below.

One of the old tram towers still standing.

Zoomed in

Okay, where did the road go.

Once past the despairing road. There's another old mining site and waterfall.

Coming down the pass.

Bridel Veil Falls

Once down the pass I headed into the city park in Telluride for lunch and a rest. After eating I took a stroll down main street looking at all the different shops. The only shop that I stop in was a book store to pick up some postcards to send to my family. All the other shops I just kind of felt out place so I didn't go in. Telluride was also in the process in setup for their annual film festival so the streets and sidewalks were busy.

To avoid traffic trying to get though town to reach the trail head for Imogene Pass I took the side roads to avoid a lot of the traffic.

 

[smallfry]

Telluride from Imogene Pass trail.

Looking towards Black Bear Pass from Imogene.

One of the old mining structures on the way up.

Back in 2008 the weather wasn't all that great so I wasn't really able to explore TOMBOY Mine as much as I would've liked. Fortunately, the weather this time was a little better.

 

[smallfry]

Old Equipment

Looking across the way from TOMBOY there are some additional mining sites. The first time here I never noticed them, I'll have to return another time to visit them.

 

[smallfry]

Imogene Pass

The trail leading back towards Ouray. A small group from the Rising Sun Landcruiser group where starting on their decent down.

Just past the pass sign and before the decent there's another little parking area with some great views and two trails one which leads back to an apline lake and cabin and the other one heads up to a old structure.

The old structure. Well, okay maybe not so old from what I could tell they rebuilt the building once the old one gave way.

The base of the old I assume. If you stand on top of the rubble pile your at 13377 feet, at least that's what my GPS said. I could only image the hiking trails that are in the 14's in this area. To think of ascending another 700+ feet beyond this is nuts.

Being up this high you have some great views. Looking over both sides of Imogene Pass.

Heading back down the trail.

Had to pull over at one point to allow a tour group to pass. So while I waited for them to come up the trail I just took a quick photo.

Two photo's above there is another old mining site located in the basin below. I had seen this one before but never made the trip over to see it. Unfortunately, when I got to where it was located there was a group of atv'ers there and for one reason or another I didn't feel good being around them so a quick photo was take from the driver's side window.

This uncomfortable feeling would happen once more just a little way down the trail where you cross over the creek. Even though the group was just two people I didn't feel good about stopping to grab a photo or two of the one waterfalls. So I continued on.

Lucky, there was one last one a little further down which another tour group had stopped at. Feeling a little more comfortable I went ahead and stopped to grab a couple of photo's.

 

[smallfry]

Richmond Basin

At this point the trail split off in two direction both of which lead back to Ouray just the one takes you a little further up the trail before dumping you back onto Camp Bird road. The 3-4 groups made up of atv's and jeeps must have taken the shorter back down since I didn't see another soul on trail till I got back towards the insection of Imogene Pass and Camp Bird road.

Old cabin along the way.

The final stop was at the waterfall just as you start coming up out of Ouray on Camp Bird road.

After grabbing some gas in Ridgeway and a drink it was back to camp for the evening. Again, this was another peacefull evening.

Sunday......still to come.

 

[smallfry]

The plan for Sunday would take me back up Camp Bird road to Governor Basin then back to Brown's Gulch up and over Ophir Pass to Alta and Gold King Basin before heading back to Ophir via San Juan Country road 58P. Heading out towards Governor Basin I ran into Jake Quinones(New Meixco Backraods)and his girlfriend at one of the local gas stations. After a brief little chat I was off.

Heading back up Camp Bird road.

Heading up towards the Governor Basin area

Intersection of Governor and Sydney Basin.

Governor Basin

Virginius Mine

Up at the old mining site.

 

[smallfry]

After spending some time here (not another soul in site) and debating whether or not to hit up one of the side tracks in the area or to run over to Sydney Basin. I decided to head on to my next stop along Browns Gulch Trail.

Starting on out along Brown's Gulch Trail.

Came up to this mining site which unfortunately I don't remember the name of. This also provide a good stopping for lunch since it was about noon when I came upon this site.

After getting my full of lunch and the area it was off to Ophir Pass.

This water flow caught my eye and I spent some time trying to see if it was flowing at all and what was causing it to be this white color. The only way I was able to see that it was flowing was some bubbling action towards the top.

Nearing the top of the pass.

 

[smallfry]

Up at the pass. The sign was missing here and I can only assume that some one snagged the sign since it's base was still there.

The alpine lake up at the lake that is fed by the runoff from the basin.

Looking down the trail that leads to Ophir

Waiting for this group to come up before heading down. The trail was just barely winder than that Dodge Ram coming up the trail. Another group from the Rising Sun Landcruiser is following behind.

The town of Ophir down below.

Gotta love the sign coming into Ophir.