From Colorado to New Mexico

Part 1

While the eastern United States was suffering in record heat, snow levels in the high peaks were getting lower each day as we traveled into southwestern Colorado.

    

Monarch Pass at 11,312                                                                      Crested Butte

 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

 Dropping an average of 95 feet per mile in the national park, the Gunnison River is carving this deep canyon. The walls on average are 2,000 feet deep. The views from the rim are dizzying with rock walls plunging directly into the river. Pegmatite dikes of the lighter-colored rack knit together rocks along the canyon walls.

    

Painted Rock at Black Canyon

 

The History of Western Colorado

At the Museum of the Mountain West in Montrose, CO, many original building and several reconstructed building contain some one-half million period items.

  

Old time music (click to play video)                                                     Jim visits the dentist

   

Beaver skin top hat                                                    Housing was also provided

 

San Juan Mountains

The aspen covered mountains around Telluride contain 350 miles of tunnels from which billions of dollars in gold, silver, lead and zinc have been mined since 1880. Now tourism, especially skiing, is the major industry.

    

Ride to the top                                                              Early powder

     

Victorian Telluride                                                                      San Juan peaks

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