These photos give an overview of the varied landscapes we’ve seen so far on our trip. Amazing, isn’t it?
MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2008
We got a fairly early start out of Durango in 29 degree weather and another gorgeous day. Drove on Rt. 550 north up into the San Juan Mountains toward Silverton and the Million Dollar Highway. Throughout the trip we’ve been having great difficulty describing the unbelievable vistas and scenery we drive through; today proved to be even more difficult. After climbing to 10,000 feet on a winding road surrounded by snow-covered mountains (the snow at the side of the road was as high as a car!) we descended into the valley where the town of Silverton is located. Silverton is an old mining town with one paved street, the main street, and snow everywhere; people were hardly even shoveled out! Today the town is mostly for skiers who go to the nearby Silverton Ski Resort.
We continued on Rt. 550 out of Silverton and climbed to 11,000 feet at Red Mountain Pass. As we drove we could see many back-country ski tracks and snowmobile tracks. It was a smooth road with many switchbacks but hardly any guard rails. We descended down through the Uncompahgre Gorge. The road hugged the mountainside and the views were incredible. We again had to be careful of rock slides because, apparently in the spring, when the ice on the canyon walls melts, it dislodges the rocks which then fall onto the road. We went through a couple of tunnels and descended into the town of Ouray, a bigger, better laid out town than Silverton. Actually there was less snow here and all of the streets were plowed! We stopped at Box Canyon Waterfalls but the falls were completely frozen with icicles, drove through town, and stopped at the hot springs and were disappointed because of the commercialism. This was the end of the Million Dollar Highway but we thought it was worth a billion!
Still on Rt. 550, we left Ouray, climbed up to a plateau where there was much less snow, with lots of ranches with cattle and horses. The scenery changes often and dramatically. Next it was rugged, red, rocky mountains. We turned onto Rt. 62 and then Rt. 145 as we drove along the San Miguel River up into the San Miguel Gorge and stopped for a picnic lunch; it had warmed to about 55 degrees so we put on our jackets and put the top down! We had to stop twice while road crews cleared rocks from the road. The road climbed up to the Uncompahgre Plateau, meandering through the sleepy towns of Norwood, Redvale, Naturita and Bedrock (we didn’t stop to see Wilma and Fred!). We crossed into Utah on Rt. 46 and immediately the landscape was much more arid. Still spectacular views! Once again we were headed toward snow-capped mountains in the distance on a road that was straight as far as the eye could see. Arrived in Moab, got a motel room for the night and headed for Arches National Park
Arches was different from everything we’d already visited. Magnificent red rock structures of all shapes and heights, pointed pinnacles, 2000 natural arches, one of the greatest concentrations of these structures anywhere on earth. The arches stand amid a high desert that ranges from 4000-6000 feet in elevation. Peter named one group of pinnacles “The Three Wise Men!” We took a couple of short hikes and stood beneath one of the larger arches to try to get some sense of the scale of all of these structures. The weather was now 80 degrees in the sun but with the cool dessert breeze. As we drove through the park we commented to each other that it was next to impossible to take it all in!!! We read in a guide book that Arches was given a 5+ rating and we completely agree.
The combination of our drive through the mountains and our tour of Arches National Park made for another spectacular day! We keep saying this; it’s a can’t miss trip!!
MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2008
We got a fairly early start out of Durango in 29 degree weather and another gorgeous day. Drove on Rt. 550 north up into the San Juan Mountains toward Silverton and the Million Dollar Highway. Throughout the trip we’ve been having great difficulty describing the unbelievable vistas and scenery we drive through; today proved to be even more difficult. After climbing to 10,000 feet on a winding road surrounded by snow-covered mountains (the snow at the side of the road was as high as a car!) we descended into the valley where the town of Silverton is located. Silverton is an old mining town with one paved street, the main street, and snow everywhere; people were hardly even shoveled out! Today the town is mostly for skiers who go to the nearby Silverton Ski Resort.
We continued on Rt. 550 out of Silverton and climbed to 11,000 feet at Red Mountain Pass. As we drove we could see many back-country ski tracks and snowmobile tracks. It was a smooth road with many switchbacks but hardly any guard rails. We descended down through the Uncompahgre Gorge. The road hugged the mountainside and the views were incredible. We again had to be careful of rock slides because, apparently in the spring, when the ice on the canyon walls melts, it dislodges the rocks which then fall onto the road. We went through a couple of tunnels and descended into the town of Ouray, a bigger, better laid out town than Silverton. Actually there was less snow here and all of the streets were plowed! We stopped at Box Canyon Waterfalls but the falls were completely frozen with icicles, drove through town, and stopped at the hot springs and were disappointed because of the commercialism. This was the end of the Million Dollar Highway but we thought it was worth a billion!
Still on Rt. 550, we left Ouray, climbed up to a plateau where there was much less snow, with lots of ranches with cattle and horses. The scenery changes often and dramatically. Next it was rugged, red, rocky mountains. We turned onto Rt. 62 and then Rt. 145 as we drove along the San Miguel River up into the San Miguel Gorge and stopped for a picnic lunch; it had warmed to about 55 degrees so we put on our jackets and put the top down! We had to stop twice while road crews cleared rocks from the road. The road climbed up to the Uncompahgre Plateau, meandering through the sleepy towns of Norwood, Redvale, Naturita and Bedrock (we didn’t stop to see Wilma and Fred!). We crossed into Utah on Rt. 46 and immediately the landscape was much more arid. Still spectacular views! Once again we were headed toward snow-capped mountains in the distance on a road that was straight as far as the eye could see. Arrived in Moab, got a motel room for the night and headed for Arches National Park
Arches was different from everything we’d already visited. Magnificent red rock structures of all shapes and heights, pointed pinnacles, 2000 natural arches, one of the greatest concentrations of these structures anywhere on earth. The arches stand amid a high desert that ranges from 4000-6000 feet in elevation. Peter named one group of pinnacles “The Three Wise Men!” We took a couple of short hikes and stood beneath one of the larger arches to try to get some sense of the scale of all of these structures. The weather was now 80 degrees in the sun but with the cool dessert breeze. As we drove through the park we commented to each other that it was next to impossible to take it all in!!! We read in a guide book that Arches was given a 5+ rating and we completely agree.
The combination of our drive through the mountains and our tour of Arches National Park made for another spectacular day! We keep saying this; it’s a can’t miss trip!!
1 comment:
You must be near Wyoming by now. Don't miss Grand Tetons NP (south of Yellowstone). It's awesome!Photos are great.
Save your write ups and submit something to a travel mag when your done.
Pete M
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