California to Colorado and Back 2009

[SCTaco]

Day 7:
Ouray, CO to Woodland Park, CO
The first track of the day was to be a route recommended by Charles Wells book dubed the “Red Mountain Mining District” trail. Growing up in CO my parents and I would always go to the mountains hunting for ghost towns and old railroad spikes etc. so I was really looking forward to this. The trail starts at mile post 84 off of US 550 and heads back into the mountain. We passed by Yankee Girl Mine which was very well preserved.

 

[SCTaco]

Day 7 cont:
A little ways up the road another set of buildings had a very well preserved tram tower on display. However, the road unexpectly ended at a chain barricade a little ways past that. After exploring several other spurs we decided that the road must have been closed since the time Well’s book was published. If anyone has any information on this please post up.

 

[SCTaco]

Day 7 cont:
We headed back to Corkscrew Gulch and proceeded up the mountain running into a small group from TX we met the day before. The views from the top of Corkscrew Gulch were absolutely amazing. Corkscrew Gulch hit Hurricane Pass before connecting to California Gulch.

 

[SCTaco]

Day 7 cont:
We got turned around a bit on Hurricane Pass and ended up taking a spur road that dead ended after 4 TIGHT switchbacks. There was another well preserved tram tower that could be seen from the top of the spur.

After consulting the map we headed back down the spur taking the correct turn back onto Hurricane Pass connecting to California Gulch. Lake Como was beautiful and we also saw a county ranger at the top.

 

[SCTaco]

Day 7 cont:
The summit of California Gulch was very busy. We passed by a herd of sheep before arriving at Animas Forks.

 

[SCTaco]

Day 7 cont:
After lunch we made it up to the Cinnamon Pass summit here we met Hal who was on an ATV. He showed us his original Nikon film camera he purchased while on R&R in Vietnam.

 

[SCTaco]

Day 7 cont:
We took our time finishing Cinnamon Pass and once down we pushed on to Woodland Park.

Day 8 – 16
Spent time with family in Colorado Springs using our family’s small summer cabin in Woodland Park as base camp

Day 17
Woodland Park to Buena Vista, CO
Before leaving Woodland Park I noticed that some differential fluid was leaking from my rear axle. The FROF full-floater kit I installed before leaving had worked flawlessly up to that point. We examined the axle and determined that the inner seal must have had a leak. I topped it off and we coasted into Buena Vista. We made camp along Cottonwood Pass and took a dip in the hot springs before making a nice fire and turning in early.

Day 18 - 20
Buena Vista, CO to Santa Cruz, CA
We were going to check out the O’leay Basin and Peak area while traveling through Flagstaff but it was raining so we decided to push on to Kingman and get a hotel for the night. Kingman to Tehachapi, CA was an easy drive. I got a decent picture of a family of skunks that were hanging out by the dog pool. Next day back in Santa Cruz with JUST enough time passing between leaving and returning as to feel like being home is a good thing.

Next year we would like to investigate the area south of Wolf Creek pass and finish the trails on the Alpine Loop.
Thanks to others who take trips and post their travel experiences. Your efforts are appreciated.

 

[Funrover]

Great report! That is a fun haul and you could do a lot between the 2 no doubt. I know when my wife and I went form Colorado SPrings to Lake Tahoe for our honeymoon we wanted to do A LOT MORE!

 

[olympiccop2002]

Great pictures! Looks like an awesome trip.

 

[Scott39]

Excellent report, and it looks like you four had a great time. I hope to be running some of these trails on the way to Utah next month, makes me want to leave now.

 

[jcbrandon]

Beautiful pictures and outstanding report. Thanks for taking the time to post it up.

 

[teotwaki]

Adding my thanks in for all of your efforts to document and share your adventures

 

[TJDIV]

Great pictures & write up. What camera do you use?

Looks like a lot of fun. Except the skunk butt part

 

[02TahoeMD]

Great Trip. Great pics. Great writeup. Thanks much for sharing!

 

[SCTaco]

Thanks for all of the kind words! I am glad others have found this interesting and helpful. I shoot with a Nikon D80.