July 12, 20016: STONY PASS

Much of the history comes from the book, "Backcountry Adventures Colorado" by Peter Massey, Jeanne Wilson, & Angela Titus  

This trail reaches an elevation of about 12,600.  It starts at Howardsville and ends at Hwy 149 (long day).  It passes the headwaters of the Rio Grande River. 

Used by the Utes for centuries, Charles Baker discovered the pass in 1860, while leading a party of prospectors into the area.   The Brunot Treaty opened the territory to white settlers in 1873. 

In the 1870s, a wagon road was established and was heavily used by stage coaches as a major supply line for the 4,000 miners working claims.  It was appropriately named Stony Pass as it is VERY rocky & rough. 

Once again, there was a decline in the road use due to the construction of the Silverton railroad, but the road remained open and was even classified as a state highway in the early 1900s.  Trust me, NO car would ever want to travel this road.  It was completely abandoned only to be reopened by the Forest Service in the 1950s as a 4wd recreational trail.  

At the summit the trail opens into a beautiful alpine valley.  Wildflowers were beautiful today and that's as far as we went today.  

First, though, just for laughs, 

we parked Charles' new Jeep next to a matching, very large snow plow:

 

  

 

 

 

 

I hiked up here to the state flower, Columbine:

 

 

 

More Columbines:

Sunday, July 10, 2016: OPHIR PASS

Much of the history comes from the book, "Backcountry Adventures Colorado" by Peter Massey, Jeanne Wilson, & Angela Titus  

This trail begins in a scenic wooded area, climbs above timberline to almost 12,000 feet, crosses a high ledge road with a sheer drop-off on one side & a  talus(loose shale rock) slope on the other, comes out into beautiful Aspen stands and goes right thru the little town of Ophir.  Start to finish is less than 10 miles and takes us several hours (including a picnic stop).  This is the same trail where we take the pictures of the 20' high snowdrifts on both sides of the road earlier in the year. 

The trail ends on Colorado Hwy 141.  At that point you can turn right to Telluride or left to Cortez.  Today, we crossed the highway and visited the World's first generating station to produce AC current -- still operating. 

This trail was originally an Indian hunting trail called The Navajo Trail.  In the 1860s, white men, explorers & prospectors began using the trail.  In the mid 1870s, the Brunot Treaty opened the area and a wagon road was built across the pass.  That road was converted to a toll road in 1880'  (I guarantee you didn't get your money's worth.)  Otto Mears built a railroad thru the area in 1891 and use of the toll road declined.

The town of Ophir gets its name from an Old Testament reference in the Hebrew Bible to a region rich in gold.  Claims were staked in 1875, but there was only sporadic mining.

In the 1870s, Mears constructed a railroad to Lizard Head Pass with three tiers of tracks with loops crossing above and below each other and trestles as high as 100 feet running from Telluride to Durango.  Two rail-cars of ore shipped from Ophir Loop daily.

In 1885, the population grew to 200, then 500 three years later.  The town had five saloons, several churches, a school and its own electricity and waterworks. 

After the turn of the 20th century, population dwindled and Ophir became a ghost town by 1929.  In 1960, it was listed as one of four incorporated towns in the U.S. with NO residents.  It is now home to  around 100 summer residents; has its own post office and government.  And on some days, you will find the local kids selling lemonade and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies in front of their houses. 

Since 1953, it has been a popular 4-wheel drive trail, and unfortunately a few RVs have tried and failed based on debris on the talus slide.  No trailers allowed, but we still see them occasionally.

My favorite "Ophir Story" is the one about the mail carrier, Swen Nilson in December, 1882.  It is on an earlier post.  If you didn't read it, scroll back.  It's a good read.  

 

Don't want to meet anyone on this part:

 

  

Picnic spot truly off the beaten path: 

 

Love the Aspen stands!

 

  

 

 

 

 

Crossing the highwayby the station:

Friday, July 8, 2016, MINNIE GULCH

Much of the history comes from the book, "Backcountry Adventures Colorado" by Peter Massey, Jeanne Wilson, & Angela Titus  

This trail reaches an elevation of almost 12,000 feet; is 5 miles long and usually takes us a couple of hours.  I have been remiss in taking pictures this year, so some of these are from today; some from past years.  On this trail, you will find  the Caledonia Mine opened in 1872, the Kittimac Mine and the Esmerelada Mine.

The tram that transported ore is still visible. Built in the 1800s, it carried ore from the Kittimac Mine at the top of the mountain to the mill next to the Animas River (about two miles & a 2,000' descent).  Blows me away how much of this stuff is still around. 

  

The Caledonia Mill boardinghouse built in early 1900s is still standing.  I cannot believe I have no pictures of it today or from past years.  Next time!

I did get the superintendent's house that is across the "street."

The first fork to the left goes to the Kittymac Mine.

Kittymac stables:  

 

We always watch for this old yellow truck with the tree growing thru the center.

Over the years, the foliage has almost completely hidden it.  

On top at the Kittymac Mine: 

 

 

  

Spectacular views from the top:

Back down to the main trail, the Esmerelda mine is the right fork, 

past the waterfall:

Cabin on trail with stone foundation: 

  

 

This area is well populated with marmots.  They like to eat brake lines.  

I am told it's the brake fluid they are seeking.  Hikers have to put chickenwire or fencing around their car to keep them out. 

Tuesday, July 5, 2016: GEORGIA GULCH, VELOCITY

Much of the history comes from the book, "Backcountry Adventures Colorado" by Peter Massey, Jeanne Wilson, & Angela Titus  

Took a quick ride out thru Gladstone to Georgia Gulch, then on to Velocity. The road to Gladstone parallels the tracks laid by the Silverton, Gladstone & Northerly RR.  The rail was established by the Gold King Mining Co to reduce freight costs to the new mill they were building.  It was later leased and then purchased by Otto Mears and continued to operate until 1924 and finally abandoned in 1937 to be torn up and sold for scrap during World War II. 

Lots of mining activity in just the Gladstone area:  Boston & Silverton Mill (100 tons output daily in the 1890s); The Gold Hub Mining Co; the Yukon Tunnel which operated until the 1980s; The Gold King Mining Co (formerly the Anglo-Saxon Mine which produced tungsten used to manufacture bullet-proof steel in WWII).  The Elk Mountain Mine which closed in the 1920s; The Mogul Mill; to name a few.

I'm not up-to-speed on the history of Georgia Gulch, but it sure has some petty views!

  

  

      

  

The easily recognizable "Velocity."  Shaun White built a secret Half-pipe here to train for the Olympics.  Google "Shaun White Silverton Colorado" and be amazed at some of the videos!

Monday, July 4, 2016: JULY 4TH

For a small town, Silverton knows how to do a 4th of July.  The parade was entertaining as always and the crowds always show up.  The population swells from 600 to 20 or 30 thousand to take advantage of the Parade, Rhubarb Festival, duckie race, Kendall Mountain run, fireworks, etc.  

Local heroes:

This little rag-tag band of locals make some good music.  They also play every Sunday evening in the middle of Main Street - always draw a large crowd. 

Love watching these guys climb over each other.

Biker chicks:

 

 

Thinking we could do this to our Rubicon - same color:

Used to be the firemen doused EVERYONE with water at the end of the parade.  Gave us time to get out of harm's way.  This year, they had trucks dispersed thru-out the parade.  No escaping a drenching!

   

A few random floats/entries:

LOUD rifles:

 

Ladies of Blair Street

  

At the end of the parade, F16s come in just over the mountain, sweep down low and buzz the parade route before flying off into the clouds again.  I am also including a picture from last year as I believe they were lower. 

  

   

 

  

  

The fireworks were shot from a different location this year.

We didn't like it as well.