San Juan Mountains Epic Adventure 2012
- Thread starter FishPOET
- Start date
FishPOET
Adventurer
After finishing Rocky Gulch and Buffalo Boy Mine we headed into Silverton and had Lunch. We boarded the 2:45pm train for a ride down to Durango.
Margaritas were on sale
The train follows the Animas River crossing it a few times along the way.
We stopped at the Tacoma stop and the conductor announced that the steam pump that powers the air compressor for the brakes had failed. They let us off the train while they worked on the problem.
Another train came by about 1/2 hour after we had stopped and it stopped as well on the track next to us. They disconnected the engines from both sets of cars. They switched the other engine to our track and connected it to our engine and pulled our engine to a 3rd side track.
They disconnected our engine and left it on the 3rd track. The other engine reconnected to its original set of cars and pulled forward. They then backed up and connected to our set of cars.
It took about an hour to get all the switching done but we didn't care. We were enjoying the Animas River and all the action on the tracks. It added so much to the experience!
Not much farther down the train winds its way down through the Animas Gorge. Simply amazing!
We had originally had enough time between the train and the bus back up to Silverton to eat dinner in Durango. The conductor let us know that the bus was being held for us but we would only have a 5 minute window to board. We got permission to eat on the bus and we ordered take-out from Ts Smokehouse which is only 1 block form the station. (I love the internet). We picked up 5 boxes of food (our group was 15) and boarded the bus. Some of the other passengers on the bus were not happy with us at all
This was my second trip on the train and it was even better than the first trip. We had a great time!
To be continued...
Margaritas were on sale
The train follows the Animas River crossing it a few times along the way.
We stopped at the Tacoma stop and the conductor announced that the steam pump that powers the air compressor for the brakes had failed. They let us off the train while they worked on the problem.
Another train came by about 1/2 hour after we had stopped and it stopped as well on the track next to us. They disconnected the engines from both sets of cars. They switched the other engine to our track and connected it to our engine and pulled our engine to a 3rd side track.
They disconnected our engine and left it on the 3rd track. The other engine reconnected to its original set of cars and pulled forward. They then backed up and connected to our set of cars.
It took about an hour to get all the switching done but we didn't care. We were enjoying the Animas River and all the action on the tracks. It added so much to the experience!
Not much farther down the train winds its way down through the Animas Gorge. Simply amazing!
We had originally had enough time between the train and the bus back up to Silverton to eat dinner in Durango. The conductor let us know that the bus was being held for us but we would only have a 5 minute window to board. We got permission to eat on the bus and we ordered take-out from Ts Smokehouse which is only 1 block form the station. (I love the internet). We picked up 5 boxes of food (our group was 15) and boarded the bus. Some of the other passengers on the bus were not happy with us at all
This was my second trip on the train and it was even better than the first trip. We had a great time!
To be continued...
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We usually travel this area every summer. This summer we went to the northwest, and seeing all these pictures makes me think I screwed up. It was cool to see new country, but I just don't think you can beat Colorado in the summer time. Especially the San Juans. Thanks for sharing the pictures!
FishPOET
Adventurer
Thursday August 9 we ran 4 trails. The first trail of the day was Ophir Pass
The view looking West before reaching the pass.
11,789'
Looking West after the pass.
Before we reached the town of Ophir we went through a thick stand of Quaking Aspens
More Ophir Pass photos can be seen here
To be continued...
The view looking West before reaching the pass.
11,789'
Looking West after the pass.
Before we reached the town of Ophir we went through a thick stand of Quaking Aspens
More Ophir Pass photos can be seen here
To be continued...
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FishPOET
Adventurer
After Ophir Pass we took CO145 North a few miles to the turn off for Alta Lakes
The trail passes the ghost town of Alta
Alta Lakes is comprised of 3 different lakes all above 11,000'
More Alta Lakes photos can be seen here
To be continued...
The trail passes the ghost town of Alta
Alta Lakes is comprised of 3 different lakes all above 11,000'
More Alta Lakes photos can be seen here
To be continued...
Mighty Dodge Ram
Explorer
Very well done. This is going on my favorites and I'm ramping up plans to visit that area. Thanks for sharing. :sombrero:
FishPOET
Adventurer
After Gold King Basin we made our way back down to CO145 and then North over to the western edge of Telluride. We took Airport Road almost to the airport to find our last trail of the day Last Dollar Road
The rain was coming down hard on the way out of town but let up after a few minutes.
Heading up in the Quaking Aspens
Lunch stop. We could see rain all around us but we were in the eye of the storm. After 1/2 hour the lighting and thunder started and it turned out to be quite a show.
In the Quaking Aspens and mud puddles after lunch.
Last Dollar Ranch
More Last Dollar Road photos can be seen here
The quote of the day "We started the day on the Million Dollar Highway and ended on Last Dollar Road"
To be continued...
The rain was coming down hard on the way out of town but let up after a few minutes.
Heading up in the Quaking Aspens
Lunch stop. We could see rain all around us but we were in the eye of the storm. After 1/2 hour the lighting and thunder started and it turned out to be quite a show.
In the Quaking Aspens and mud puddles after lunch.
Last Dollar Ranch
More Last Dollar Road photos can be seen here
The quote of the day "We started the day on the Million Dollar Highway and ended on Last Dollar Road"
To be continued...
Dgurley2000
Adventurer
Great photos - thanks for sharing. Gave us some good idea for next summer!
FishPOET
Adventurer
On Friday August 10 we ran 8 trails. The first was Mineral Creek
The entrance to the trail is very close to Ouray and we decided to stop in the big vista area on the Million Dollar Highway to check out the Idarado Mine.
The Idarado Mine has a tunnel over 5-1/2 miles long that goes all the way to Telluride
Fun shelf road next to the Uncompahgre River
The Mickey Breene Mine
The Mickey Breene Mine has an old tram cable strung across the road that limits any tall vehicles from using the trail.
Almost to the next trail
We met a couple with a YJ with a Cummins Turbo Diesel engine out of a Frito Lay truck. Way cool Jeep porn!
More Mineral Creek photos can be seen here
To be continued...
The entrance to the trail is very close to Ouray and we decided to stop in the big vista area on the Million Dollar Highway to check out the Idarado Mine.
The Idarado Mine has a tunnel over 5-1/2 miles long that goes all the way to Telluride
Fun shelf road next to the Uncompahgre River
The Mickey Breene Mine
The Mickey Breene Mine has an old tram cable strung across the road that limits any tall vehicles from using the trail.
Almost to the next trail
We met a couple with a YJ with a Cummins Turbo Diesel engine out of a Frito Lay truck. Way cool Jeep porn!
More Mineral Creek photos can be seen here
To be continued...