San Juan Skyway Expedition Sept 28 to Oct 8
So we were initially suppose to make the long road trip from Colorado to Tennessee. Where there would be a family reunion of sorts. Stevie's family would come up from South Carolina and the other half down from Indiana. My folks were going to come up from Florida to stay at my place in SC, where I would travel down from TN to SC to see them for a few days. Well, the plan was solid until Stevie's side of the family had a sort of Hatfields-McCoy fall out. So those plans were blown out of the water. Since that time was already bookmarked for our vacation days off, we decided to head out and do a little adventuring of our own. Before I get into that, did find out that my folks did come up to my place in SC (they usually visit there every 2-4 months to check on the place). It was a good thing they did. They came to find out someone had broken into the place. Fortunately there really isn't much to take. Except my dad's favorite drill. Which seems to have disappeared. I hope they left it down in FL because it is his favorite work tool. Anyway, come to find out that a storm had come through that area had blown a tree branch down and it fell on the addition. So the room was damaged from water and had a hole in the roof. It makes me sad to see that my dad's hard work seems to always backfire. Sometimes I wish we could just sell the place, take the loss and walk away with 10,000 dollars for the land. The place is pretty much in need of constant upkeep and would definitely help everyone out financially. I know the reason why my folks won't go for the idea of selling it, since it did belong to my Papa who passed away in 2000 and that entire strip of land goes way back to my great grandmother, which unfortunately is probably one of the only remaining tracts of land to that name.
Anyway, our adventure started on Sunday Sept 28th and consisted of camping for the entire time along the San Juan Skyway.
Our first base camp was set up near the Lost Lake area off Kebler Pass. We decided to spend two days here and sort of scout the area and see the sights. We hoped to climb Marcellina but somehow that plan fell through, so we ended up doing a hike of Lost Lake and Beckwith Pass (total of about 10 miles)
Lost Lake
Beckwith Pass (End of the trail) Also the spot where our puppy McKinley decided to roll in horse shit. -.-
Black Canyon National Park
Base Camp 2 (Yankee Boy Basin)
This base camp is located just outside of the town or Ouray. We used this campsite before during our past trips and was pleasantly surprised to find no one else camping nearby. It located off the Alpine Loop and I think it was off Engineer or Cinnamon Pass.
Bridal Veil Falls outside of Telluride
The next day found us travelling toward the ski town of Telluride. It was a pretty cute town but like any other high class ski town, it's expensive. The the far end of town is the above site. The structure on the top of the falls is some sort of pump house. I sort of like my story about the house and how the waterfall got the name bridal veil falls. Something about a would be bride that jumped to her death off the falls when some friends told her that her soon to be groom had died in a car accident. Over come with grief, she took her own life. When the groom found out about his fiances death, he took revenge on the friends that falsely told her that he had died. He killed them and took his life that night. Rumor has it that the pump house is haunted by the ghosts of those murdered and that guests have seen the ghostly appriration of the bride wailing as he leaps to her death over and over.
Base Camp 3- Wild Boy(s) Lake
Some cool zenish rock sitting in Wild Boy Lake
I really liked this base camp site because of the name. Especially since I just finished reading William S. Burroughs 'Wild Boys' totally homoerotic novel. This would have been an awesome party site and a place for some bacchanalism.
Damaged Camper top that rolled off Ophir Pass
This looked like a camper top that somehow managed to roll down the Ophir Pass road. Not really sure though.
Cute town of Ophir
Base Camp 4- Lizard Head Pass
Base camp 4 was near Lizard Head Pass. The sunset was pretty awesome and the site was nicely secluded.
Base Camp 5 (Molas)
Base camp 5 was located near the top of Molas pass. The only issue was that it was fairly close to the road, although the trees provided a nice barrier. As with all the sites so far, we were pretty much left secluded.
Silverton Hostel
First time at a hostel and all I could think of was the movie hostel. We stopped to take showers here, five bucks for a nice hot shower. Nightly rates were like 40 bucks.
Inside of the Mongol Mine off Cement Creek
This was the entrance to one of the mines off cement creek road just near the Silverton ski area. It would be sweet to explore something like this.
Base Camp 6- Ouray Stevie didn't want to camp (He gave out first)
I was planning on staying at one camp site, but Stevie finally gave in. Got a sweet deal on the kitchenette unit off priceline.com and took full advantage of the price. They were celebrating Octoberfest in Ouray but we missed out on the party.
Stevie watching Ab Fab at our Base Camp 7- Cottonwood Hot Springs
Our final base camp at the campsite at Cottonwood hot springs. Relaxing in the hot springs was definitely a perfect way to end our long 10 trip.
An actual Drive In Theater (they were showing Silence of the Lambs)
Base Camp 7- Cottonwood Hot Springs
