Packed and ready to go

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Day 14: Gunnison to Durango 233 miles

We needed a shorter day, and today presented the perfect opportunity. Paul has been fighting a cold since arriving Saturday, and it was nice to give him a chance to relax. We also wanted time to visit with his Aunt Gerry who had offered to drive to Durango from her home in Cortez. She was happy to have an opportunity to shop at other than Walmart, Walgreens, Safeway, or one of two dollar stores.

We left Gunnison and headed a few miles further west on US-50. From there we took CO-149 south. This was one of the most fun roads I have been on this trip. The road twists and turns and goes up and down, but they are mostly higher speed, sweeping curves. We passed through Lake City where there actually is a lake, formed when a large part of a mountain slid down and blocked the Lake Fork Gunnison River. We were able to see the mountain that is missing part of itself when we crossed Slumgullion Pass at 11,361 feet. Next came Spring Creek Pass at 10,901 feet.

CO-149 joins US-160 at South Fork, and we took US-160 west over Wolf's Creek Pass at 10,850 feet. Paul's favorite story of Wolf Creek Pass is that he had a roommate his first year of college who decided to ride his bicycle home from Tucson to Wisconsin. Leaving in June, the roommate still got snowed on going over the pass. We didn't get snowed on today, but it was quite chilly (50's) and very windy. We had to be quite careful on the descent not because of the curves and steep grades but because of the wind. It was good to get down into the valley. The route passes through Pagosa Springs and leads to Durango.

Durango is a railroad town, now best known for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The train at one time served to haul ore out of mountain mines to the smelter located in Durango. The railroad is currently a major tourist attraction, along with fishing and rafting on the Animas River. We are in Durango for two nights.

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