Day 6 – 5/18/2021 – Silverton, Montrose, Gunnison National
Park-North
Instead of taking the train to Silverton, we are driving the
car along route 550, the million dollar highway to Silverton, then onto Ouray. We pass Trimble and Hermosa and are in the
Jan Juan National Forest and as you can see the hills are getting taller, but
we can still see some fields and cattle.
We are beginning to get into the mountains. As you can see, there is still snow and this
is May 18th. Notice also that
the trees just starting to bud; the Birch trees are still mostly bare.
Passing Purgatory Ski Resort, we are now deeper into the
mountains. Just a little over half way
to Silverton, the mountains are much higher.
With names like North Twilight Peak and West Needle Mountain, they have
to be over 13,000 feet.
Driving through one of the passes at about 10,000 feet, we
see this deer in the road. As it ran up
the bank, we were able to get a quick picture.
Shortly after going through Coal Bank Pass, we happened on
this waterfall. There was a turn off so we stopped for a quick
picture.
Crossing the street, we found the water that ran under the
road passed through several more falls and cascade.
On Molas Pass with an elevation of 10,899 feet, we are at
our highest elevation on the road. Snow
is still on the ground and the temperature is 38℉. Gives me a chill just typing the
temperature.
On the downhill ride to Silverton, we get a full view of the
town. You can see where the train comes
in along the river. Unfortunately, we
will not be stopping today, instead we will continue to Ouray and then Montrose.
Again, we are not stopping in Silverton, but we can see
where some of the mines existed. It is
clear that the leavings are from the mine entrances. Look at the colors emanating from a mine
entrances.
Moving past Silverton, we gain elevation and find
ourselves in more snow. You can clearly
see the snow line where the green grass begins.
It is also getting colder.
Besides more snow, we also see a few more mining buildings,
such as this one. Not sure how old it
is, but it looks like it is no longer used.
It had to have snowed last night. Look at the trees they are covered with snow and ice.
It almost looks like a snow squall or blizzard past by overnight. It is still cold.
As we near Ouray, we come to a tunnel. Unusual that they would only have this one
tunnel and it seems that they got tired of just splitting the mountain and went
through it instead.
After some fantastic sights, we finally come to Ouray, at an elevation of 7633 feet and not stopping we drive through the town. There are a
number of old buildings here, which bring up thoughts of the old wild west
mining towns. But, we are not stopping
this trip and pass on through.
We are almost at Montrose, where we will spend the night and
we pass this barn and coral. I thought
the ranch spread looked pretty nice and the great looking barn.
While driving through Montrose, the traffic light
turned red and after stopping we found ourselves next to Demoret Park with the
bronze horse and rider lassoing a stag.
Very unexpected and would have missed it if not for the traffic light.
Heading north out of Montrose, we are heading to the north
entrance of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. While passing through Delta, CO, check out
the line of old early 1940’s trucks in this garage yard. There were also a number of old early 1940’s
cars.
Nearing the Canyon, we pass places with names like Poison
Spring Gulch, Buck Canyon and Gould Canal and wonder what we will see. Ranches dot the landscape, many with barns
and horses, much like this. Check out
the miniature horse in the coral.
After a few miles down a dirt road, which Carmen was not
thrilled to travel on we stop at the North Rim Ranger Station and eat some
lunch. Driving the car to Chasm View, the
first overlook. We park the car, on the
way to the viewpoint there are flowers on the way, and naturally we have to
take pictures. These were small and
looked like an apple blossom.
As we get to the viewpoint, Bam! We get to the overlook and are awestruck by
the view. The water is about 1200 feet
below us.
Looking the other way the view is no less impressive.
Moving on to the next overlook, named Balanced Rock, you
guessed it, more flowers. These look
similar to a daisy, but that is only my guess because I do not know what they
are.
At the viewpoint, I was off to the side to get a better
picture, or so I thought. Carmen took
this picture just after I took mine. I
was sitting just outside of the guardrail and was getting ready to get up.
Continuing along the park road, we visit the other locations Big Island View,
Islands Peak View, and Kneeling Camel view; one just as spectacular as the
next. The rocks rising, cracked and
riddled with veins of different colors seems to bring peace, but we must move
on.
We continue to drive along the dirt road system along the rim of the canyon and see more of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Our last parting shot of the Canyon
Well, I thought that was our last picture of the canyon. The north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison has lived up to the hype.
Leaving the side of the canyon, I spy yet another flower. This looks like a type of phlox.
Birds have been flying all around us at breakneck
speeds. Then, nearing the car, a bird lands at the top of a tree where we can take a picture. It is rather far away but I get a picture.
Heading to check into our hotel, Carmen gets a picture of
another neat looking barn. There are so many around, but most are too far away to get a picture. Notice this one has a stone foundation.
One of the last pictures Carmen is able to take, before
getting to the hotel, almost looks like a painter’s picture of the
mountains. The sagebrush in the foreground
gives way to the mountains in the background.
Notice the small mesa at the foot of the mountain; as if it is telling
everyone, do not forget me.
Tomorrow we will visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
again, only from the south entrance and hopefully will have different views of
the canyon.
