Narrow Gauge Country
September 13-22, 2013
Thursday, September 19 - Drive Day
Blue Mesa - Lake City - Slumgullion Pass - South Creek Falls - Creede - Wagon Wheel Gap - Wolf Creek Pass - Treasure Falls - Chama
|
On the morning of our departure, Crested Butte was socked in with dense fog. Sure was pretty.
The plan for the day called for heading to Chama by way of Slumgullion and Wolf Creek Passes. Taking the scenic route was intentional since Ben hadn't seen this area and I wanted to see it again. Colorado is a one heckuva state. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Depot in Crested Butte |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heading to the cabin to meet up with Ben, Chris, and Karen |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cabin Office |
Guard Dog |
Group shot at the cabin |
|
|
|
|||
|
Blue Mesa Reservoir The reservoir is VERY low. Look at this shot from the same location in 2011 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blue Mesa Reservoir |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing south to Lake City |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Russleton Depot. We saw this in 2011, but I still have no idea what it is. |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lake City |
Deer strolling down the main street in Lake City |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
This place requires future culinary exploration |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lake San Cristobal |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karen |
Chris & Karen |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ben |
I believe this is a USGS marker |
Michele & Jason |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More fall colors on Slumgullion |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
North Clear Creek Falls |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Local |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heading towards Creede |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coal bunker still standing in Creede. The houses now stand where the railroad yard once existed. |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D&RGW Depot |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heading east towards Wagon Wheel Gap |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Rio Grande |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D&RGW Wagon Wheel Gap Depot |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VERY tasty chow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rooster and two dogs |
Rooster close-up This little guy looked hungry, so I gave him a hotdog bun and he scarfed the whole thing! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D&RGW crossing the Rio Grande |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
No joke, we got stopped by a heard of sheep |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
This guy is the REAL DEAL |
|
South Fork |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
South Fork Depot of the D&RG. Formally the Hooper, CO Depot
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parting shots of the South Fork Yard |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Treasure Falls |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michele, being pregnant, needed a pit stop about every 15 minutes. She mentioned her need as we left South Fork, but decided she could wait until we got to Treasure Falls because we remembered a restroom there from our 2011 trip. However, when we got there it was GONE. Only a slab remained... without even a hole where the plumbing had been. I figured we'd just skip the falls and make a mad dash to Pagosa Spring before she made a mess of Ben's new truck. But, she surprised us and really wanted to see the falls. Like an absolute trooper she made her way up the trail to the falls, got some quick pictures, and made it back down. The poor gal was in agony has Ben highballed to Pagosa Springs. She made it... barely.
If you asked her today if it was worth it, she'd say yes. |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Making the final push to Chama at dusk |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Now, Ben took these photos from the drivers seat. But, in order to get them, he had to turn almost all the way around... which meant that I had to steer from the passenger seat. Fortunately there was no one around, not even a deer. Good times! |
|||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
View of Chama Yard with a fullmoon, as viewed from The Hotel |
At long last, Chama! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ben isn't a railfan, but he loves history, especially WWII aircraft. He was immediately able to relate to my passion for this place. His enthusiasm was rewarding... I knew he'd love this. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
We stayed at The Hotel, naturally. The Hogan's were exceptional hosts, as they always are.
High Country Cafe provided the chow this night. Tasty as always! |
|||
