Lake City and the Alpine Loop

Today we tackle the Alpine Loop which runs out of Lake City - it is a 65 mile scenic 4 wheel drive Loop that connects Lake City, Silverton  and Ouray.  I have posted quite a few pictures.  Hope you enjoy them!

We take the scenic route out of Blue Mesa. 

Lake San Cristobal sits just outside Lake City.  Over 700 years ago,  heavy rains, caused weak volcanic tuff and breccia to slide down Mesa Seco mountainside. The Slumgullion earthflow blocked the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and created Lake San Cristobal. This lake is the second largest natural lake in Colorado.

We passed by Cannibal Ridge and then came across this site commemorating the Alferd Packer Cannibal  Alferd and 21 men set out from Utah to Colorado in search of gold.  In January they met Chief Ouray who recommended they wait till spring due to the cold and snow in the mountains.   He ignored Ouray's advice and convinced 5 others to continue on with him.  The party became hopelessly lost and ran out of provisions.  On April 16, 1874, Packer arrived alone at Los Pinos Indian Agency near Gunnison.  Evidence convinced everyone that he had killed and  eaten the others in his party to survive

We arrive at Lake City to commence our journey.  We stop at the Visitors Center to get a map of what to see along the loop.  The guy looks out at our Tracker and says "you can't drive that on the Alpine Loop - you need a 4WD vehicle.  I tell him it is 4WD and he says that he has a Jeep Liberty and he has trouble getting through the passes.  I don't mention that it's probably because he doesn't know how to drive.

Here's the start - hopefully our Jeep wanabee is up to the task.

Which way do we go?

A short detour to the Sherman townsite

Sherman prospered into the 1880's with mining of various ores.  The prosperity lasted about 20 years and then the ore bodies all petered out. Today, all that's left of Sherman is a few broken down log cabins, on private property

The road is starting to look a little more 4 wheel drive

and maybe home to some Big Horn sheep

We stop to try and do the Grizzly Gulch Trail which leads to the top of Handies Peak one of Colorado's 53 Fourtenners.  It starts at 10,425 and ends at 14,048.  It is said to be the easiest one and we're all about that !

The trailhead starts at the bridge

Meanders through tall pines

Offers some great views

We start to wonder - which peak is ours?

We get a mile or two and we hear some big kaboomers and dark clouds are rolling in - we think that maybe being at the top of a 14er isn't such a great idea during a thunderstorm and head back.

We get back to the car just as it lets go.

Fortunately it passes and we come to the American Basin.

This is one of the most scenic basins in the San Juan Mountains.  In late July it is filled with wildflowers.

A few are starting to pop out 

The road is getting rougher

and it's getting pretty winding. 

When the marmots aren't falling into toilets they are sleeping in the middle of the road.

Tucson loves Marmots.  "Marmots Mommy - Marmots!"

We arrive at Cinnamon Pass 12, 640 feet

Tucson enjoys the views

We see the remnants of an old mining town in the distance.

We wind our way down 

It is Animas Forks.  The first cabin was constructed in 1873.  By 1876 it was a booming mining town.  Again when mining profits declined it eventually became a ghost town by 1920

Hey I'm thirsty and this thing is empty!

It has fallen into ruins but there are still quite a few buildings remaining.  We think about detouring to Silverton but we are only 1/2 way around the loop and it is getting late.

Next stop Engineer Pass

It's an uphill climb!

Looks like we're getting close

 Made it!  Engineer Pass, at 12,800 feet, is situated on the rim of two extinct volcanic calderas.

The views are amazing

On our way back down Gary spots this house in the distance.  What's so interesting about it? 

The entry bridge of course

Next we come to this cute old Cabin.  The water is running to deep and swift to cross over for a better view.  

Nearing the end of our drive we find Whitmore Falls. 

 At one time, Capitol City was predicted to be the capitol of Colorado, but today only a few structures remain from its heyday

We made it through the entire loop!  On the way home I mentioned the odd noise the car was making on the road - Gary said it was just the road.  I didn't remember it sounding that way on the way down and was just going to mention that it sounded more like a flat tire to me - when - Yep I was right.  The Loop did in the tread on one of the original tires - good thing we had a spare!

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson 

4WD from Marble to Crystal Mill Site

Today we decide to drive to Marble and on to the Crystal Mill site - the most photographed Mill in Colorado - you know I have to get a shot now!

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We drive through some Aspen forests 

until a river comes in to view 

and then the Paonia dam

We drive by the Paonia Reservoir 

This truck with a load of stone didn't quite make it all the way down from McClure Pass

We follow the river up stream 

and make it to the summit- 8755 ft before going back down to Marble

I wonder where it got it's name??? 

The white marble deposits of Yule Creek were first discovered in the 1870’s.  A Mill was constructed around 1905, it was the largest of its kind in the world.   

 We stopped for a picnic lunch at one of the marble picnic tables with tree stump chairs 

The Mill was completely destroyed by a huge snowslide in the Spring of 1912, but was back in business by that Summer. 

It was a very warm day and Tucson decided to cool off.  There are large chunks of marble all along the river.  Discarded because of imperfections. 

 Marble from this quarry was used to build the Lincoln Monument and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, DC.  The Quarry was closed in 1941.  It re-opened in 1990 and has had numerous owners.  It was purchased in 2010 by a man from Carrarra Italy.  They are changing the quarry to reflect Carrarra, Italy quarrying techniques and some of the Marble is exported to Italy.

On to the Crystal Mill Site

We have our trusty little Jeep Wanabee so off we go

Lizard Lake is quite lovely

A portion of the road follows the river

We get to a point where we don't feel comfortable driving any further with the Tracker and since we are only doing 5 mph tops we figure walking shouldn't take that much longer and the gas gauge is on E as well, so we follow the Tour Jeep on foot. 

A mile or two down the road we arrive at the Mill 

It rests on its precarious perch above the Crystal River framed by Aspens with a beautiful mountain for a backdrop.  It was constructed in 1893.  It harnessed the river to power the air compressor housed inside.  The drills were used to bore holes in the mine walls for the placement of dynamite. The Mill closed in 1917.

We got to talking to a couple of guys in a Jeep who had come from the other way.  They said it took them 3 hours and a 12 pack to go 12 miles.  They offered us a ride back to our Tracker and we jumped on it.  On the drive we found out there was the town of Crystal just beyond Mill - oops - missed it!  Oh Well!  It was hot out and a couple cold beers and not having to walk 2 miles - priceless! 

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson