Seems that this winter has been a bit quite for me. Haven’t gotten out as much as i’d like to, even with the three days off for work. The cold weather we’ve been having for February hasn’t helped anything. Pushing hard to upgrade the camera in time for the clubs annual “Cruise Moab” event in mid April- I told the committee i’d photograph the event this year.
Got word from my Dad this week that Grandma passed away. At 98, she was the last of the grandparents for me. Times like this that make me push harder for the things i’m most passionate about ( Photograph, 4×4 adventure and travel)
One of my favorite photos of Grandpa (Dads side). Went up to Cascade, MT to help him pack for the move to Salt Lake back in 2013. Right before he took this shot, he told his friends: “And here my kids think my grandson and I are packing right now”
Seems that it’s around this time of year that I start getting that itch for the warmer months. I love winter, but don’t really partake in any of the big activities- haven’t snowboarded since 2003. I love getting up to the cabin in the winter but that’s about it.
Lately i’ve been looking at maps for this years Ghost Town Run, a trip my pal Nathaniel Miller (owner of Big Choice Brewery in Brighton) started way back in 2005. Kinda fun to know that we’ve been leading this run for some 11 years now- there was a stretch from ’09-’15 that we didn’t lead the run. I took over in 2015 as Nathaniel has become quite busy with the brewery. My friend Travis (@thehoneybadger) took over leading it last year as I was still in recover mode from the Heart Surgery. Thought it would be fun to post a little photo compilation from the 10 years i’ve been apart of it.
Ghost Town Run 2005: The Alpine Tunnel district (I just phrased that).
Ghost Town Run 2006: Camp Hale.
Ghost Town Run 2007: Argentine Pass, Georgetown Loop, Wild Irishman and St’s John.
Ghost Town Run 2008: The Alpine Tunnel District.
Ghost Town Run 2009: The Alpine Tunnel district with some excitement on Tomichi Pass.
The Alpine Tunnel District: Going through pics for this post, realized that we have spent a good amount of time at the Alpine Tunnel and surrounding country (St. Elmo, Pitkin and TinCup). For good reason, the country around the Alpine Tunnel is wonderful and full of history. Plus a great network of roads makes for a fun weekend of exploring.
With excavation of the tunnel starting in the winter of 1880, the two sides (West and East) finally meet in the center, only being a few feet off from each other in the summer of 1882. The first narrow gauge locamotive came through the 1,772 ft long tunnel in July of 1882. 400,000 board feet of California Redwood Timber was used to support the interior of the tunnel. During the winter months, when done with there shifts, workers were required to leave in pairs as to not get lost in the deep snow. At the time of completion, the Alpine Tunnel was the highest railroad tunnel in the world, 500 ft below the Continental Divide and Altman (Alpine) Pass. Unfortunately, the road to the Alpine Tunnel on the west side is currently closed. A winter avalanche took out the Palisades- the Western approach to the Alpine Tunnel. The Palisades were a stretch of track clinging to a big cliff face. Workers hand cut interlocking stones to fill the 450ft gap and keeping the grade for the steam locomotive level. The Alpine Tunnel was abandoned in 1910.
Ghost Town Run 2015: The Alpine Tunnel District.
Ghost Town Run 2016: The Alpine Tunnel District with a fun run over Napoleon Pass.
Ghost Town Run 2017: Hayden Pass, the Cochetopa Hills, Bonanza and Otto Mears toll road.
Ghost Town Run 2018: A solo midnight run over Hancock Pass ( with a full moon lighting up the valley on my way to camp) and The Alpine Tunnel district, minus the Alpine Tunnel (A winter avalanche took out the Palisades).
Was fun to ride along for this years Snow Pizza Run with the 4×4 club. Spent the day playing in the snow then pizza afterwards at Beau Jo’s in Idaho Springs.
Headed over to the Stock Show this morning (1/24/2020) to watch the Draft Horses for a bit, then got distracted watching the trains as I walked back to the apartment.
Some images from the Draft Horses this morning.
Got distracted with the trains moving around during the walk home, 38th and Brighton area.
Came home Tuesday evening after work to find the latest issue (Jan/Feb) of Toyota Trails in my mail box. To my surprise, an image of mine from last years Outlaws Run to the Black Hills was on the last page.
I always seemed to be working during the kick-off parade for the Stock Show. Was fun to walk a block or so from the apartment to check it out in person finally. Think next year i’ll get there earlier with the hopes of getting a good spot for photos.
Cruise Moab, my 4×4 clubs annual spring event in Moab, UT will be here before I know it. Goals for this winter are to upgrade the camera/lens ( been shooting with it for 10 years now) and get a winch for the 4runner.
For the camera, i’m looking at upgrading to the Canon 6D MK2 with a 74-105 F4 L lens.
For the winch, planning on getting a ComeUp winch from my pals at Slee Off Road (along with having them do the install).
After a nice morning in camp, we headed out of the Swell via Black Dragon Canyon. An always fun and dramatic route. Fun to come across the wild burros as well. Of course after getting out of Black Dragon, we headed to Ray’s Tavern in Green River for an always delicious burger.
Morning light around camp.
Desert views.
Camp.
Looking north.
Working our way along the Jackass Benches towards Black Dragon Canyon. A fun feeling when you can make fresh tracks in the desert.
North again.
Jackass benches.
We came across the Wild Burros while along the Jackass benches.
Making our way to Black Dragon Canyon.
Black Dragon Canyon in the distance.
Actually the first time i’ve stopped and enjoyed the canyon, rather than hightailing it to Rays Tavern once off the trail.
Tapestry.
Looming clouds behind us.
Canyon reflections.
Black Dragon rock art panel.
Black Dragon.
Storm moving in.
Canyon views.
A fun stretch of the trail, as the canyon walls tower over you.
With my new work schedule giving me three days off in a row I headed up Friday ( yesterday) with dad to the cabin for a few hours. With a winter storm blowing in, it was windy at times, though still enjoyable. I set out for a walk around the property from the cabin, finding almost knee deep snow at times. Felt good to get out and stretch the legs. Hard to believe the last time I was up here was the summer solstice….
I headed out to the San Rafael Swell in Utah for a long weekend shortly after my birthday on the 4th of December. It’s been a while since i’ve camped on the birthday, so was nice to get out of town. Originally, I planned on laying low, and working through the rest of the year, but things at the courier job headed in a direction I didn’t like, so after finding out another job was lined up, I parted ways with the courier job ( a hard decision to make) and headed west to the Swell. Was a good recharge before starting the new job the next week.
Fun to know we’ve been exploring the area for some 15 years now.
Views from camp Saturday morning.
Always nice to see snow out in the desert.
Looking back towards camp.
A snowy camp.
The sinkhole.
Some good morning light on the cliffs above Black Dragon Canyon.
I-70 cutting through the San Rafael Reef.
Low clouds.
Cruising along the north eastern end of the San Rafael Reef.
Exploring a seldom traveled designated route, close to the reefs edge.
Morning views.
Daniel B Markofsky.
Some old uranium mines along the road.
Views of the San Rafael Reef.
More mines.
Love this 3rd gen.
Further along, heading towards Smith’s Cabin.
Daniel enjoying some Turkish Coffee.
A few buildings are still standing at Smith’s Cabin. Wayne and Betty Smith settled at this location, close to a natural spring after being married in 1933.
Exploring the coral behind the cabin.
Need to come back and hike Cottonwood Wash.
Along a seldom traveled section of road on the old railroad grade of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.
Repairing some of the washed out road. Photo credit: Daniel B Markofsky.
Of course doesn’t look as steep in the pics..
The road at times, seemed seldom traveled.
Some good views.
Another section of grade for the Denver & Rio Grande Western railroad. D&RGW moved ahead with this project in 1881, though it was never completed. A good amount of work had been completed on the grade, still visible today.
Old culvert.
We headed to the Wedge overlook on our way back to camp. On a previous visit, we spotted some newly weds getting there photos taken at the overlook. As we drove up to the parking area, I made the comment wondering if we’d see another couple getting their wedding photos taken. Sure enough, as we parked, a bride was running to the car in her wedding dress. Always good views at the Wedge overlook- Utah’s “Little Grand Canyonâ€.
San Rafael River flowing below.
Also had to make two stops in Buckhorn Wash. Fist at Matt Warner’s inscription. Matt Warner was an outlaw turned Justice of the Peace for Price, UT. He became friends with Butch Cassidy during there time in Telluride CO, participating in the Telluride bank robbery in June of 1889 with Butch Cassidy and Tom McCarty.
The second stop was at the Buckhorn Wash Rock art panel. An impressive display from the Barrier Canyon and Fremont style rock art. Unfortunately, by the time we got to the rock art panel, daylight was fading fast. Only managed to get a few from the phone. Well worth the visit.
