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