d110pickup
SE Expedition Society
Fantastic trip report, thanks!
Mike
Mike
Finding the Goods! A 2 Week Journey through Utah and Colorado
- Thread starter mph
- Start date
DetroitDarin
Scratching a 10 year Itch
Excellent read and great photos.
The following day, Shane had to head back to Flagstaff, and I had to head to Colorado. The plan was to meet my brother in Durango and do some mountain biking. I stopped in Cortez, Colorado to do a ride and then proceeded to Durango. Found a nice place to call home for a few days.
The riding is Durango is fantastic! There were a few people out and about but more the most part; it was was quiet. After the ride, it was shower time. Mountain stream--check! Helton Shower System--Check!
Colorado is full of ghost towns and old homesites! Time to explore!
My brother enjoying the wonder of the place!
After a few days of riding; my brother had to head back to Denver and I had to make my way to Utah. I decided to take a mountain pass road over the San Juans. It was early but it looked like a great deal of snow had melted in the high country!
Making my way...
The views got better and better!
Came upon one of those ghost, mining towns. Imagine this view each day!
Colorado has done a nice job of protecting these sites. Even fixin them up...Nice to preserve history!
Up and up I went...Until...Yep, at the top there was a snowfield blocking my way. I looked around...Could I make a go? The consequences were too severe. So, I tucked my tail between my legs and retreated!
Utah had a few more surprises! More to come....
The riding is Durango is fantastic! There were a few people out and about but more the most part; it was was quiet. After the ride, it was shower time. Mountain stream--check! Helton Shower System--Check!
Colorado is full of ghost towns and old homesites! Time to explore!
My brother enjoying the wonder of the place!
After a few days of riding; my brother had to head back to Denver and I had to make my way to Utah. I decided to take a mountain pass road over the San Juans. It was early but it looked like a great deal of snow had melted in the high country!
Making my way...
The views got better and better!
Came upon one of those ghost, mining towns. Imagine this view each day!
Colorado has done a nice job of protecting these sites. Even fixin them up...Nice to preserve history!
Up and up I went...Until...Yep, at the top there was a snowfield blocking my way. I looked around...Could I make a go? The consequences were too severe. So, I tucked my tail between my legs and retreated!
Utah had a few more surprises! More to come....
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The Final Leg...Journey Home....
After heading west from Durango, I made my way back into my home state-Utah! There is a southeastern part of Utah that I have not really explored. I have read and researched about the "goods" in the area but really haven't spent any time in the 4 corners area. This was the time!
I made my way to Hovenweep Monument. A monument spread across the border of Utah and Colorado. It's a monument that offers a great deal of "eye candy". Great ruins without a lot of effort to see them. I wanted to get there for sunset. The drive to there was something out of the 1800's passing old trading posts and wild horses. It was a magical evening.
This trading post had seen its time...Oh, what stories!
Wild horses everywhere. If you look closely, you can see on the right hand side of picture--Shiprock in New Mexico!
Magic hour was beginning!
A great place to spend the evening. Strolling...drinking beer...and taking a few photos!
Stopped at this trading post, still in operations, for directions. I talked with the elderly owner. She said her family has owned it for 3 generations. It was great to talk with her about "back in the day"...Her oral history was crazy awesome!
My final mission was to explore this canyon on the way the north to Moab and eventually home to Park City. I passed a few "ranches" on the way!
I knew it was going to be good when I found a kiva next to the road...
I descended the ladder...the blm has replaced the ladder but it still gave me the spooky feeling.
My big mission of the day was finding a ruin that I have seen pictures of...I kind of knew its location but not really. I looked and looked...found it!
My new, favorite ruin. The roof is outstanding!
It was getting late in the day...Time to head north and back to reality. One last view from the ruin to the canyon I needed to travel...
Thanks for following my journey! Get out there...More to see and do...Until next time!
After heading west from Durango, I made my way back into my home state-Utah! There is a southeastern part of Utah that I have not really explored. I have read and researched about the "goods" in the area but really haven't spent any time in the 4 corners area. This was the time!
I made my way to Hovenweep Monument. A monument spread across the border of Utah and Colorado. It's a monument that offers a great deal of "eye candy". Great ruins without a lot of effort to see them. I wanted to get there for sunset. The drive to there was something out of the 1800's passing old trading posts and wild horses. It was a magical evening.
This trading post had seen its time...Oh, what stories!
Wild horses everywhere. If you look closely, you can see on the right hand side of picture--Shiprock in New Mexico!
Magic hour was beginning!
A great place to spend the evening. Strolling...drinking beer...and taking a few photos!
Stopped at this trading post, still in operations, for directions. I talked with the elderly owner. She said her family has owned it for 3 generations. It was great to talk with her about "back in the day"...Her oral history was crazy awesome!
My final mission was to explore this canyon on the way the north to Moab and eventually home to Park City. I passed a few "ranches" on the way!
I knew it was going to be good when I found a kiva next to the road...
I descended the ladder...the blm has replaced the ladder but it still gave me the spooky feeling.
My big mission of the day was finding a ruin that I have seen pictures of...I kind of knew its location but not really. I looked and looked...found it!
My new, favorite ruin. The roof is outstanding!
It was getting late in the day...Time to head north and back to reality. One last view from the ruin to the canyon I needed to travel...
Thanks for following my journey! Get out there...More to see and do...Until next time!
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spressomon
Expedition Leader
^ ditto!
. JadeMonkey
New member
Looks like an amazing trip, very very cool places you got to experience. Thank you for sharing the memories with us!
