Western Colorado


The Map

A dozen times in Colorado, and finally have it filled in.

100

Thursday, July 4th, 2024

101

It's taken three times in Colorado Springs,

101

to have King's Chef Diner's Breakfast Burrito featuring their homemade green chili sauce.

102

Loved the National Museum of World War II Aviation.

104

For the holiday they also had vintage aircrafts flying, old cars and cockpits to view.

108 

This hanger is where they restore and maintain. All planes at the museum can fly!

110 

Bishop Castle is one of those unique American creations.

112

In 1969 Jim Bishop obsessively started building.

120

Not thinking it meets any OSHA requirements.

126

For instance, this spiral staircase starts with holes in the floor, then holes in the steps and I got a few flights ups without handrails to find it was wide open to a fall.

127  

Wasn't going to chicken out for the bridge.

128

It was swaying. My apologies to those below for the yellow stream.

134   

Back on the road.

140

Great Sand Dunes National Park

156148142 

Friday, July 5th, 2024

200 

After silver was found, Creed had a population of 10,000 in 1891.  Today it has 257.

204

Few hours of...

206

...pretty decent...

210 

...scenery.

216

Lake City was a supply city for miners with its boom years from 1873 to 1905.

218

A frittata in a ramshackle building down a dusty street.

220 

Touch of the old west in Gunnison.

222

Crested Butte Mountain Resort is one of three major Colorado ski resorts I have not skied.

226

A few miles south is the town of Crested Butte.

228

Founded in the 1880 for mining (it's always mining), it was all but dead by the 1950s. Then the ski resort opened in 1960.

232

Was excited about the Mountain Bike Museum...and this is all of it.

236

Heading west was a few hours of navigating a gravel road.

240

It wound through woods.

242

And over vistas.

246

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

250  250

Oury was, you guessed it, a mining town.

258   

262

The color reveals this area was mined for copper, ore and lead.

266 

Silverton was mining, is now tourism. Notice a trend?

270

Saturday, July 6th, 2024

300

Was last in Durango in 1998 to visit Yeti to see where my mountain bike frame was handcrafted.

302   

Durango Diner 
6 decades 
Locals elbow to elbow 
Friendly waitresses calling diners by name 

"The Cure" 
Hand shredded hashbrowns topped with American cheese, ham, eggs and smothered in Durango Diner Green Chili Sauce

304   

Navigating the snaking road through Mesa Verda National Park.

308   

Cliff House is bottom left.

310   

It was inhabited 550AC to 1300.

316   

Across this valley, you can see more dwellings.

322   

Leaving this unique National Park.

328   

Mountain Top is not on a mountain top.

330   

Few more hours of...

332 

Entering the valley into Telluride.

334   

Can you guess what this town was founded on?

336   

Now its cash cow is skiing/tourism.

342  338 

The next three hours included some of the most spectacular scenery I've seen in my limited driving around the USA.

348   

Green mountains transitioned to red.

352   

With a meandering river.

354   

Twisting through canyons.

364   

Opening up to amazing vistas.

374   
374   
382   

In remote Gateway is a resort with a car museum that had some of the collection of the founder of Discovery channel.

390   

Few hours later was the third time in Aspen.

394   

Then looping around to Leadville.

395   

Sunday, July 7th, 2024

400 

Have something to admit. Despite driving over Victorian Georgetown dozens of times over the decades, have never gotten off I-70 to see it.

406

Central City was once dubbed the Richest Square Mile on Earth after the Pike's Peak Gold Rush started in 1859.

502

Looking over Estes Park, Stanley Hotel opened in 1909 as a guest house for Stanley Steamer car inventor F.O. Stanley.  That's right, it wasn't always a hotel but just a guest house.  

510

Was last in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2000.

516 

Always wanted to get back.

518  526
  
In the clouds.

530

Yet another way for nature to humble you.

538

See the road?

540

At a summit.

550

That pictures shows how up to 70' of snow covers the buildings.

556  558
 
Loved Grand Lake for its welcoming vibe, attractive lake, flowers and use of historic structures.

562   

More hours, more miles.

570   

Monday, July 8th, 2024

600 

Two days later, back in Leadville.

603   

It's the highest city in the US at 10,158 feet.  

604   

From boutiques to old seedy bars.  From outdoor gear stores to historic facades.  

606   

1938!

608   

Town is surrounded by dozens of blocks of small homes.

610   

National Mining Museum turned out to be fascinating. Covering four levels, it had everything from the history of mining to how mining is done to how minerals are used.

612   

Some miners were sick of being ripped off, kept saying they wanted fair play, started their own town, so the town became known as Fairplay.

614   

South Park City showcases (44) historic buildings, (8) of which are original to this city.

616

Dyer Chapel
Rachee's Place Saloon
Bank of Alma
Mayer Home
South Park City Jail.
Dentist    

618

Want to move to Salida.  Active downtown, a riverfront and tidy homes.

622

Continuing west.

624   

Crossing the continental divide, again.

626

Continuing west.

628   

A festival in Crested Butte.

630   

Repeating the same gravel road for a few hours from a couple days ago due to highway 50 being closed.

634   
636   

Tuesday, July 9th, 2024

700

Can confirm.

702   

Revisiting Grand Junction since I love its gently curving Main Street that is superbly landscaped and fronted with appealing storefronts.

704
 
Colorado National Monument

Ute Canyon

718   

Artists Point

728   

Coke Ovens Overlook

734   

Cold Shivers Point

710   

Just needs a good cleaning and I have a ranch.

770   
771   

Dinosaur National Monument

772   

On the tram to...

774   

...the Quarry that has been protected since 1952.

776   

During a long drought, dinosaur died at a river bed. When extensive rains returned their remains collected at the bottom of that river bed.

777   

This was discovered in 1909. From then until 1924 dozens of mostly intact skeletons made their way to museums across the country.

780   

I touched a dinosaur bone!

782   
784   

BBQ in Craig.

788   

Was in Steamboat Springs last year and skied it in 1997.

789   

Walden. All of it.

792   

Just stood taking it in.

794   

Back over the Rockies, again.

796   

How many roads follow a canyon river?

799   

Wednesday, July 10th, 2024

800

Revisiting one of my favorites towns in Fort Collins.

802   

Back at The Stanley in Estes Park to take a tour.

804   

After F.O. Stanley, inventor for the Stanley steam car, found the mountain air cured his tuberculosis he built a guest house. Yes, this didn't start as a hotel.

810   

The Concert Hall was added to provide the luxury to his guests who expected amenities. It had such unheard offerings as ice, electricity, running water and 3 meals a day.

806   

Manor House was added for single men, who couldn't sleep under the same roof as women.

808   

Pinon Billiards Rooms where men played the game as the ladies watched.

812   

Grand Staircase 
-Hand carved spindles cost ten cents each 
-Used for scenes in Dumb and Dumber 

1909 Otis elevator

814   

In September 1974 an unknown writer with only one published book and his wife left Boulder with the intention of crossing the Rockies over to Grand Lake. Unbeknownst to them, that road was closed for the winter.

In Estes Park, they sought out the closest hotel. Finding The Stanley had just closed for the season they talked them into a room. Room 217 was the only one with linens. 

After turning in for the night, this alcoholic writer snuck down to the bar where the remainging bartender regaled him with tales of this haunted hotel. 

That night the writer had vivid nightmares, woke up, went to the balcony and came up with a novel.

Following Carrie, The Shining became Stephen King's second book.

You can stay in room 217.  There is currently a 3 year wait.  It may be haunted.

816   

Tunnel under the hotel.

818

Always wanted to return to Boulder and explore it more. Started with the Mapleton Hill Historic District.

820   

Pearl has to be one of the best pedestrian streets in America.

822   

Salted Coffee Oreo

823   

Their courthouse screams Art Deco.

824   

I hope to be back.

826   

The Hill neighborhood is around the University of Colorado Boulder.

830   

Golden

832   

Was at Lockout Mountain in 1998. 

Rockies 
Denver 
Golden

834 

After visiting Lookout Mountain, Buffalo Bill asked to be buried there.

838   

So nearby is an excellent museum.  The biography is excellent and has such items as his Bowie knife, guns, clothes, canes and Medal of Honor.

836   

Red Rocks Amphitheatre was visitied in 1998 and 2000 and wanted to see it again, but it was closed for an evening event.

840