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SilverEagle6 · 07-13-2016, 08:59 AM

I should have ask this question with my post on which pass to take.

Has anyone taken the Cumbres Toltec Train to Chama NM? .... Recommend?

If you have also taken the Durango - Silverton Train, which would you recommend?

SilverEagle6 · 07-14-2016, 08:47 AM

Day 50....skipped over posting about our stay in Ft Collins CO....we had a blast, great town and we will definitely go back for a much longer stay. Our objective was to visit several old Army friends, which we did. Enjoyed some great restaurants, rode our bikes on great bike paths.....super time. Temps were near 100. Barely any humidity.

We headed into Rocky Mountain NP and landed in a NFS campground just west of the park....Green Ridge, fresh water spigot, dump site, nice campsites, will be here seven days. Grand Lake is a neat town, had a great lunch at a Mexican restaurant. We are slowly getting acclimated to altitude. We are at 8,400'. We walk a lot and have been on two or three hikes of three to six miles. Hope to kayak today.

Going through RMNP our GPS said we hit 12,180'. We stopped at a couple pull offs. Winds were blowing. Estes Park is busy and crowded and all campgrounds full. We drove back into the park for the day. One of the trails we chose to hike was way more crowded than we are used to. Where our campground is, we can access trails into RMNP by foot and have enjoyed hiking from here. A pic of our campsite. More to follow.

TouringDan · 07-14-2016, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverEagle6

I know there is another thread on Colorado passes, read it, did not want to post there.

Looking for anyone who has towed their trailer from Ouray CO to Durango, or taken Rt 160 west through Wolf pass to Durango.

Please let me know your length of trailer. Mine is 30'.

Thanks for the travel log. Enjoying it very much.

I have traveled the million dollar highway going north from Durango to Ouray in the winter in a snowstorm. Yikes, no shoulder or guard rail heading south. I would be hard pressed to pull a trailer on that road. I would probably stay in first gear. Nice addition to your travel blog though.

Google the road. Very scary.

Dan

SilverEagle6 · 07-14-2016, 02:19 PM

Dan, thanks much. That is the same assessment we are getting from many of the local folks. One thing I noticed on the road through RMNP and going up through Milner Pass, several drivers coming down were taking corner quite fast and crossing the yellow line. For the most part, drivers were abiding by posted speed limit....

SilverEagle6 · 07-14-2016, 06:28 PM

Sunset last night at Green Ridge USFS campground. This was taken from the berm between campsite and lake...maybe 100 yards

PS....outside thermometer said 40 this morning.

duncans · 07-14-2016, 07:06 PM

Jeanne and John,
When you are in Oregon, you are welcome to come and stay / refresh at our place outside Silverton. We are on Butte Creek and have a nice treed site plus a place to dump! Silver Falls is close by and in September Mount Angel is home to the Octoberfest. I am Susan J Duncan on FB, you can see our photos and if a stop appeals to you.
Have a wonderful trip. I am sorry to hear about loosing Jake. There is nothing like a puppydog. Such love they offer us.

Susan

SilverEagle6 · 07-14-2016, 08:48 PM

Susan, thank you very much for the generous invite. We expect to be in Oregon late summer of 2017 or early fall. This year we are heading to the Alburquerque Balloon Festival. If you around then, we would love to meet.

Thanks for your thoughts on Jake. Today we came across a container that had some of his milkbones and other goodies. We miss him greatly and he will always be with us in spirit on this long journey to wherever we end up. Again, thank you.

John and Jeanne

Gneiss Guy · 07-15-2016, 05:35 AM

I know the campground at which you are located. That choice is much better than the options on the other side of the park. Kayaking on Grand Lake should be grand, indeed! As you head south, you should make it a point to check out the Leadville area. It is high (around 10,000'), but you should be pretty-well acclimated by now. Leadville is just an ugly little mining town, but it is surrounded by the most beautiful mountains in the state. The architecture of old homes is distinctive and interesting, there is a wonderful rock, mineral and mining museum, a nice bike trail around the town and a nice drive through the old mining district.

There are a couple of private CGs there, but several USFS CGs on Turquoise Lake and at Twin Lakes, both of which would be conducive to kayaking. If it gets too cool for you in Leadville, just go on south for a few miles to Beuna Vista, which is a few thousand feet lower and has several private CGs. After visiting Colorado for about 35 years, this remains our favorite part of the state.

SilverEagle6 · 07-15-2016, 06:54 PM

Gneiss Guy, we'll look at a side trip over to Leadville. Maybe too late this trip. Tomorrow is our last full day here, but we'll check it out.
Kayaking here on the three lakes has been interesting. It is a beautiful spot. Many power boats, sailboats, canoes and kayaks, as well as paddle boards. Best time is definetly morning before the winds pick up. Attached picture is of Jeanne in one of the channels going into Shadow Mountain Lake.

Sorry about the sideway picture, posted upright.

SilverEagle6 · 07-15-2016, 06:58 PM

Another kayak picture, this one of Jeanne out on Grand Lake.

SilverEagle6 · 07-16-2016, 02:18 PM

Day 52.... Last day at Green Ridge Campground. Aside from what I've already posted, we took a side trip and spent the day at Steamboat Springs. Did some hikes in the area and enjoyed lunch in town.

Yesterday we did an 11 mile hike, somewhere around 1,200' ascent to 9,600'. Still working on acclimation to altitude. It is in the western end of RMNP, called the Shadow Mountain Observation Tower Trail....nice hike. You could see the campground from up there.

SilverEagle6 · 07-16-2016, 02:22 PM

A picture of Jeanne and I on the t of the trail.

Tomorrow we head to Redstone CO, hope to get into Red Rock Campground. After that maybe the Ridgewayor Ouray area.

DMT · 07-16-2016, 03:52 PM

Hi John - just found this thread. Sounds like your living out the dream. Keep the posts coming. Its great to read about your adventures. Why isn't Jake with you? Hope he is ok.

Temp here has finally risen above 20 C. Summer has arrived at last

Don

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SilverEagle6 · 07-16-2016, 05:33 PM

Hey Don, thanks for the note. Sorry to report that Jake did not make this trip. We had to put him down on May 6. It's been real tough, but we have the greatest memories. Thanks for asking.

Not sure when, but we will head up that way again, probably summer of 2018. We miss that place.....just keep the exchange rate in our favor!!!

You ever going to come south?

DMT · 07-17-2016, 07:01 AM

Sorry to hear about Jake. It's never easy with Pets. We are on our third Labrador and I can't imagine not having her around.

I'm heading "south" in August. Inspired by your travels last year we are heading to Burgeo with another family. Taking the boat to Ramea where we will spend two nights. Have arranged kayaking tours of the Ramea islands and a day kayaking trip to the Grey River Canyon. Then it's off to Grand Codroy for a few days. Want to hike out to the lighthouse in Rose Blanche.

Weather is nice here now. Caplin are rolling down at Middle Cove Beach. My son and I walked to the beach early this morning and he caught a few with a cast net. Nice change to see kids interested in something other than Pokemon Go.

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SilverEagle6 · 07-20-2016, 11:22 AM

Day 56.... Don, have fun "down south". Caplin rolling is an amazing site.

We are currently camped in an NFS campground in Redstone CO. No hook ups. No cell. No wifi. Re supply run today and chance to get connected. Been hiking and sightseeing. Yesterday we went to the town of Marble. This marble quarry is where the marble for Lincoln's Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier came from. This picture is of a BBQ joint in Marble....some of the very best I've ever had.

Tomorrow we head to Ouray.

SilverEagle6 · 07-22-2016, 10:01 AM

Day 58.... After 11 days of boondocking in USFS campgrounds, we ended up in a big commercial RV park in Ouray. Great folks, clean park, terrible wifi. Can't get stuff to load, and can't send pictures.

We drove into Silverton, had lunch at Handlebars. Silverton is a neat little town, reminds me somewhat of Dawson City in Yukon, also visited the Box Canon in Ouray. There is a place near Garmisch Germany that is nearly identical. Really shows you the force of water. Today we'll find a hike and then go into town. Tomorrow we head to Gunnison NP.

**GCinSC2** · 07-22-2016, 10:58 AM

Has the lift kit earned its place with boon docking yet?

It's too hot here for a backyard campfire.

SeeMore · 07-22-2016, 11:28 AM

While you are in Gunnison don't miss the Black Canyon. This stunning canyon, 2,000 feet deep, rivals the Grand Canyon for vertical thrills from the rim. Since you like the longer walks be sure to do the stroll from High Point (the end of the road) out to Warner Point. Most visitors just end up doing the short walks at Pulpit Rock Overlook, Cedar Point, and Dragon Point (a majestic view) because they aren't acclimated to the elevation yet.

SilverEagle6 · 07-22-2016, 08:19 PM

SeeMore....we are definitely heading to Black Canyon. We will check out the hikes you mentioned.

G2.....Gary, tried to send you a picture of a couple of big rocks we had to negotiate at a NFS campground. Most of the back roads we have been on, we would have dragged our rear end. The lift kit has worked out great.