Wanderin' the West

It’s hard to believe I’m already three years in for my post Open Heart Surgery Anniversary. After getting out for last years anniversary (Fall time bliss on Kebler Pass) I decided to make it an annual trip to go out and celebrate the anniversary. With work kindly letting me take a day for a long weekend, even though I was just down in New Mexico for a week for this years Outlaws Run, I headed down to Chama, NM to celebrate.

I’ve been to Chama a number of time, especially since we started chasing the Cumbres and Toltec with the club a few years ago. Yet, I’ve never enjoyed Chama as it seems were always in a rush passing through to get back to camp. Needles to say it was great to spend a few days in town. Chama is definitely in its own world. Current hours for the Boxcar Cafe: 9-3pm.

Even got to spend some time with family and friends while there:).

Getting ready for the days trip to Antonito from the Chama train yard.

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A full open air car and the Lobato Trestle.

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Another Outlaws Run in the books. 9 days, 1800 miles, great pals and lots of fun times! Having missed last years run, it was great to get back out with the gang. We headed down to the Gila National Forest for this years trip. It’s been a place I’ve been wanting to check out for some time, seeing that Alma, NM was an important stop along the “Outlaw Trail”. A place Butch Cassidy spent a bit of time at- working on the WS Ranch just outside of town. It’s a haul to get down to the Gila from Denver, and it seems we only managed to touch the surface of this fine part of NM.

Some of my favorite pics from the trip. Enjoy!

Emery Gap. Enter NM.

Folsom Hotel. Hosted many of the famous Outlaws during it’s heyday.

Camp views.

New Mexico Sunrise:).

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Summer has definitely become my most favorite times of the year. With the longer days, yet short months, seem to pack in as much as possible before cooler temps arrive. This summer definitely was a productive one. A look back to another productive summer:)

Indian Creek Park Ranch, spring, early summer 2021. Logging operation began in the Spring time. Tried to get up as much as possible to check out the progress.

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This past Friday, I headed up to my clubs (Rising Sun 4×4 Club of Colorado) Adopt-A-Road, Argentine Pass. To be honest, it’s one of my favorite trails. Close to Denver and full of history. Way back in ’03/’04 when I was Event Coordinator for the club, I got the club to adopt Argentine pass, working with the Clear Creek Ranger District. I headed up Friday with the plan to check out an area that I’ve been curious about for a long time- an old mine at the base of Mt. Wilcox. After getting the truck I headed for Georgetown, all the while being informed by the parents that I left my backpack and hiking boots at there house ( bonehead move). So instead of the hike, ended up over at the Santiago Mine. Been a while since I’ve been there Was nice to spend some time there an wander around the place again ( as best as I could with the current closures). I had the place to myself for a few hours. a nice treat.

After realizing I left the needed essentials at the parents house, I buzzed up to the Silver Plume Depot with the hopes of picking up a hoodie from the gift shop, instead was invited in by the shop Forman to take some pics.

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Along the old grade of the Argentine Central. Stopped to check out some of our signs.

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After A hot week of work (outside), I snuck up to the cabin this past Friday for the night. Hadn’t been up since before this years Ghost Town Run in July. It felt good to get up to the property again. Spent the afternoon with various projects (and a nap) before taking my pal Dan and his girlfriend Nancy for a drive around the property and to the Wilderness Boundary, with a fine sunset on our way back to the cabin. We spent the rest of the evening hanging out. Didn’t even get a fire going. Next morning we woke early to catch the sunrise overlooking the property. I love summer.

Fireweed.

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Looking North from the cabin.

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Views from the pond in the Upper Meadows.

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Just thought I’d give a quick update. For the Ghost Town Run this year, I got some stickers and koozies made up. Pretty excited how they came out- of course I ordered more than needed… After Cruise Moab, a dear friend from Downtown bought one of my stay at home pandemic pictures. Lastly, I got accepted to a call for art from the Los Lagunas Art Gallery.

Stickers for this years “Ghost Town Run”

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Koozies.

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One of my “Stay at home” photographs from last years pandemic that I had framed up for a dear friend from Downtown. Used DuraPlaq for the framing. Milk Market.

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Lastly, a image I submitted for the Las Lagunas Art Gallery, for there “Textures and Patterns” show

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Creede, CO. Though not a “Ghost Town”, it won my heart. No ski mountains or other attractions. Just a simple old Colorado mining Town.

What a fantastic weekend out exploring new to me parts of Colorado with great friends from the club, even with the downpours. Somehow I’d never been to Creede yet, I fell in love instantly. To me, I feel Creede is what Colorado used to like….. To kick off the trip, we checked out the Bachelor Loop, with the Commodor Mine and Phoenix Falls being some of the highlights. The Commodor Mine operated from 1891-1976. Saturday, after a stop at the Underground Mining Museum (that was also hosting a International Scout gathering) we took a short drive and checked out Crystal Lake and Bristol Head (12,706ft). Spectacular views at the top of Bristol Head!

Some of my favorite images from this years “Ghost Town Run”.

First morning for the trip. Up early to watch the inversion roll in.

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Commodore Mine.

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I headed up to the cabin this past Friday ( my Saturday). Hadn’t been up since the Solstice get together. Once on the property, I found that the loggers were working above the farmhouse, making there way towards the pond/upper meadows. This would actually be the first time since they started that I came across them while working. Excitedly, I headed straight to where they were at. After informing them who I was, I stood out of the way to take pics. It wasn’t long before they were having me taking pics of them working. So cool to watch those machines! Spent the rest of the day at the cabin, before ending the evening with a drive to the wilderness boundary.

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Harbells

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Loggers working away on the road to the pond/upper meadows

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I headed up this past Friday ( 7/2/2021) to meet up with my pal Dan from the club for a morning ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad. His girlfriend Nancy, work on the railroad and gives tours of the mines. The tour was fun. especially with Nancy giving it and the group seemed to click well.

Remnants of the Georgetown, Breckenridge and Leadville Railroad, the Georgetown Loop is a 3ft narrow Gauge Line situated between the old mining towns of Georgetown (Silver Queen of the Rockies) and Silver Plume, CO. The two towns are two miles apart, yet it uses 3 miles of rail for the Georgetown Loop to get between the two. Definitely one of the highlights is the “Devils Gate Bridge”. A trestle crossing Clear Creek, far, far below.

A fun outing!

Ended up getting to Georgetown a bit early. Was nice to spend some time walking around town before it got busy.

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About ready to leave the Georgetown/Devils Gate depot.

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It felt great to be able to get back to having the club at the property to celebrate the Summer Solstice this year! Usually hosting the get together on or as close to the solstice as possible. With my Monday falling on Sunday for the work week, we meet up this past Friday night. Our property ( Indian Creek Park Ranch) is the last private land before Mt. Evans Wilderness. The “Upper Meadows” of the property ( heading South towards Rosedale) is where I always host the club for an evening campout. Every one started showing up in the evening after work and after getting settled in, we went for a drive around the property, ending at the wilderness boundary. On the way back to camp we ended up seeing a black bear run across the road- would be a first for me on the property! Was another fun Solstice get together on the property with friends from the 4×4 club:).

Golden Banner

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Colorado Columbines at the cabin,

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My most favorite view in CO keeps getting better thanks to all the logging.

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MT. Evans.

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