Blogs from Ouray, Colorado, United States, North America

Wow! We drove 70 miles north today on the windy Highway 550 to Ouray. This road is fondly called the Million Dollar Highway. It's a maze of twists and turns with no guardrails and amazing views of mountains and the Animas River below. When we got to Ouray we decided to take a 4 hour Jeep ride to the top of Imogene Pass. At 13,114 feet we could see both the towns of Ouray and Telluride. You could see the rain falling over Telluride through the clouds at this spot - very cool. Along the way up we saw many water falls, a closed gold mine (including tailings, a 13 mile tunnel to Telluride, and lots of rusted equipment), marmots, pica, mule deer, and amazing mountain views. Coming down the mountain seemed more treacherous than on ... read more

The next adventure took us across the state border into Colorado. Destination - "THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY". This highway runs between Silverton and Ouray. We headed to SILVERTON from DURANGO. No offense, but we barely found a place to eat in Silverton. I don't know when there's anything happening in this town, but it was dead as a door-knob when we were there. So off we went - higher and higher we climed on a road with hundred foot drops on one side. Unfortunately there were no real snow on the mountains yet, but we were able to see the "red" mountains (I'm sure it has something to do with the mining or mineral rich area). All along the road we saw these old wooden houses where the gold miners use to live. Everywhere you look ... read more

This morning, after fueling our bodies with breakfast at Silver Nugget, we head for the four-wheel drive trails to Engineer Pass. With many of them still closed due to snow damage, choices are limited. So, we pick an old standby, Mineral Pass Trail. This road is always bumpy with boulders and today is no exception. In addition avalanche debris litters the area. But, soon, the view changes from devastation to mountain meadows carpeted in yellow blooms. Summer has come earlier to this side of the San Juan’s. After a muddy, rocky climb, we pass snowmelt trickling through alpine tundra. In a week or two, a rainbow of flowers will cover the ground. At Engineer Pass, snowy vistas make it hard to decide where to look first. In every direction, dramatic scenes tempt our eyes. Alan is ... read more

Begrebet bjergtagende har fået en ny mening for os I denne blog kommer ordene for alvor til kort. Vi er havnet midt i noget af det smukkeste, Gud har skabt på denne jord! Og at forsøge at indfange det med ord eller digitale billeder duer ganske simpelt ikke. Jeg vedlægger en del 'shots' alligevel velvidende, at de ikke yder virkelighedens Colorado rimelighed. Vi siger til hinanden, at det er utroligt, at vi får lov at opleve dette, medens "Holy, holy holy" kører på anlægget og musik, tekst og den pragtfulde storslåede natur smelter sammen. I dag har vi parkeret os i Ouray et par kilometer over havoverfladen og med næsten lodrette vægge af de skønneste bjergsider op til alle sider. Colorados Schweitz kalder amerikanerne stedet. Det er forår i den tynde luft og vores løb er ... read more

The Alpine Loop travels through the high country of the San Juan Mountains between Ouray, Lake City and Silverton, Colorado. Accessible by 4-wheel-drive trails, the area offers endless views plus glimpses of mining history. From Ouray, the usual access point to the Alpine Loop is up the boulder-strewn beginnings of Engineers Pass. Since we’ve traveled that section before in our jeep, Alan and I decide to spare the Toyota and take an easier access route from Silverton. As pavement turns to gravel and dirt near Silverton, the road climbs passing remnants of mines clinging to hillsides. Soon we’re at the ghost town of Animas Forks. Since the drive up Engineers Pass to Lake City takes about two hours along with a two-hour return through Cinnamon Pass, we elect to bypass any exploration of the crumbing houses. ... read more