Colorado

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This is more from our road trip way back back in June. )

After our visit with family on the Texas Coast we headed to Colorado for more family time — and more beautiful scenery. After months spent in the flatlands, we were happy to see mountains again. The Million Dollar Highway over mountain passes between Silverton and Ouray has a spot on many a list of the world’s most scenic highways. But it is also listed on many lists of the most dangerous! Both descriptions are appropriate.* Bill likes mountain driving and we both like mountain scenery. It’s always a memorable drive. (*The October issue of New Yorker Magazine has an interesting in-depth article about the highway. Good reading for more background. )

But driving on a State Highway, no matter how scenic or dangerous is never quite enough when we visit Colorado!

So a day or so after we’d settled in for our stay with our kids we headed to the back country for even more fabulous scenery and even more mountain driving. But this time both of us got to be passengers. Geoff (our son and host) has a retirement job guiding and driving for a Jeep tour company.

We learned a lot from our expert driver and guide — and enjoyed ourselves so much that we went home with him after our tour. (We are the only tourists who can say the second part of that sentence — but two of many who agree on the first part.)

We were heading to the historical Red Mountain Mining District. In the late 1800s, silver was discovered there. Today, backroad travelers can still see remnants of several towns that sprung up to accommodate the rush as well as some still-existing mine structures.

And of course we travelers can see incredible stunning mountain scenery along the way. The Red Mountains get their color from Iron ore and oxide.

The Million Dollar Highway and the scenic Silverton-Durango Railroad (which we rode on a previous trip ) both were bult to allow the ore to be transported . Today, driving those roads can be an adventure. Imagine what it would have been like in the 19th Century.

The Yankee Girl Mine was built in 1883 after a prospector discovered and staked a claim to a rich vein of silver. Miners descended a vertical shaft straight down as many as twelve levels (and 1200 vertical feet).

The silver ore was worth as much as $10,000 a ton.

It’ is interesting that the Yankee Girl is now privately owned with a permanent easement and trust making it available to the public for now and generations to come. (At least available to anyone who can drive or be driven to it!)

It can be hard to tear you eyes away from the mountain views — but it’s worth remembering to look down as well!.

Colorful (and stunning) Colorado scenery is the best wherever you look! Thanks to our son and daughter-in-law who were such great hosts. We love their mountain home and we loved our visit!

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