After missing last years Train Trip due to Covid, I was excited to get back down to the Southern end of the San Luis Valley for some camping and a fantastic ride on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad ( my favorite!). We rode the train on Thursday, departing from Antonito, with a stop in Osier,- an old track maintenance town, for lunch ( highly recommend the meatloaf!) before returning back to the depot in Antonito. They weren’t running the busses this year due to Covid, so our normal trip from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO would have to wait a year. The rest of the long weekend was spent relaxing and chasing the train. One day we chased the Antonito train from Whiplash Curve to Osier and the other we chased the C&TS out of Chama to Osier using Apache Canyon ( with a fording of the Rio de Los Pinos River) to get to Osier. We couldn’t have asked for more perfect summer weather. The company was wonderful and the stars were out in force. I even had a little adventure on my way to camp after leaving work on Wednesday:). Here are some images from the trip. Enjoy!
After leaving work on Wednesday afternoon, I made my way to Antonito, but not without some excitement… For some reason I blew past my turn in San Luis, and didn’t notice it till I was a good half hour south of town (busy enjoying the views I guess). So on a whim, I took a detour though Mesita and the San Luis Hills. As I got close to Antonito, I came across fields full of Wild Iris. Excited, I pulled over to snap a few pics, only to slide off into the ditch ( shoulder was really soft). After a few failed attempts to extract myself, I called friends for help. After some time hanging out with the mosquitos, my friend Brian came down from camp and pulled me out. Funny thing was, I couldn’t us my new winch as there was nothing solid to anchor to. Finally rolled into camp around 8pm.
Fields of Wild Iris outside Antonito, CO.
If you look closely, you can see the swarms of mosquitos. Never seen so many!
Morning light over Mogote Peak.
A fine day for a train ride!
On our way to Sublette.
Hangman Trestle.
Antonito MT.
Lava Tank.
Them for the day:).
Getting closer to Osier and lunch.
463 waits to take us back to Antonito.
The other train heading back to Chama.
A most fantastic way to spend a day.
Good company around the campfire.
Larkspur.
Making our way to Whiplash Curve.
The Antonito train on Whiplash Curve.
The chase begins! We missed the train at Big Horn Y, but made it to Sublette, and Osier in time for the train to come in.
A special train coming into Osier from Chama.
Land Cruisers and Steam Trains. Doesn’t get much better!
Fording the Rio de Los Pinos River while the Antonito train passes above.
Sublette, NM.
Good company.
Morning light.
At the Chama train yard.
Chasing the train through the Chama Valley.
Just about to Cumbres Pass.
At Cumbres Pass.
Near the start of the Apache Canyon trail.
Apache Creek.
Some high water thanks to the Spring runoff as we crossed the Rio de Los Pinos.
Turning the trains around at Osier.
Brian’s freshly restored LJ70 Land Cruiser.
Fin views from camp.
Passing through the San Luis Hills on my way home. Need to explore this area.
Great report!
Thanks Daniel!
What a great Trip, rustling of the leafs and bird song early in the mornings to start the days. Camp fires and games after the chase /ride a lot of sun and barely a cloud in the sky. A small part of the chase got a little intense but fun, the views were spectacular even in the late spring. Seen it during fall colors and that is just stunning, but a little chilly during the morning and evenings but well worth a trip. I’ll do this again, in a heartbeat.
It was great having you along again this year Mike! Don’t think we could have had a more perfect weekend for the chase.