San Juan Triangle Tour 2009

[IntrepidXJ]

The original plan for this weekend was for me to meetup with Jan and do some exploring around the Canyon of the Ancients area. However, because a few people bailed on him and he was unable to check out the San Juans with them, I offered to show him around there instead. We'll check out Canyon of the Ancients on another trip. Jan was looking for a good overview of the area, so we ended up running a number of the more popular trails in the area. I left work early on Friday and met Jan in Ouray. Our first destination was Governor Basin. This is a trail that I had not done yet, and was looking forward to it. I'll definitely be headed back this way in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming.

View towards Yankeey Boy Basin
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Headed up into Governor Basin
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Jan stopped at an overlook along the way
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Saint Sophia Ridge
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Mountain Top Mine
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[IntrepidXJ]

When we reached the Mountain Top Mine we met up with Terry (Remote) and Joan from Grand Junction. They had mentioned that they might meet us on the trail, and they followed through.
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On our way back down from Governor Basin, we decided to take the short loop over into Sidney Basin. It was a cool area, but would certainly be better in the spring with the wildflowers.

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The narrow off-camber exit from Sidney Basin that I did not like very much....I would have preferred to go up this way instead of down.
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When we reached Camp Bird Road again, we said goodbye to Terry and Joan and headed up into Silver Basin to find our campsite for the night.

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Saturday and Sunday still to come.....

[IntrepidXJ]

It seems that both Jan and I are early risers when we are out exploring, so we got our camp packed up and finished the drive up into Silver Basin on Saturday morning.

View as the sun came up in Silver Basin
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This pond was all reflection this early in the morning
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Two-track in Silver Basin
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A recent structure that was sitting at the end of the road??
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Jan heading up
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View from the end of the trail
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After heading back down to Camp Bird Road again, we made our way to the highway and started up Mineral Creek to get to Engineer Pass.

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[IntrepidXJ]

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Jan at Oh! Point
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Engineer Pass.
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Instead of going all the way to Lake City, we decided to head back down and take the North Fork of the Animas River to Animas Forks

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[IntrepidXJ]

After checking out Animas Forks, we headed up California Gulch. I stopped to photograph this boiler.
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Jan continued up to the pass
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We stopped at Lake Como on the other side for some lunch
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Click here for larger image. (http://myxj.net/g2/d/162539-2/ComoPano.jpg)

After lunch we made our way over Hurricane Pass

Lake Como in the background
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[IntrepidXJ]

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I wanted to fill up my gas tank at this point, so we took Cement Creek Road into Silverton. After I filled up and we toured the town, we made our way back up to Corkscrew Pass.

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When we reached the highway we headed towards Red Mountain Pass and took the quick trip through the Red Mountain Mining District.

Yankee Girl
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We found our campsite on the road to US Basin
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[IntrepidXJ]

When it got dark out, I decided to have a little fun with my camera, long exposures and a flashlight...

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Sunday still to come...

[Mooseman70]

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I'm really digging this picture! :2thumbs: Very cool TR! Some beautiful country there in CO. Wish I had the means to trek around there as you have.

[JP]

Moose, long time no see/hear :wavey:

Great TR once again :2thumbs:

[IntrepidXJ]

Sunday was another early morning for us. After breaking down camp we were quickly on our way to Black Bear Pass.

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Jan taking a photo of a marmot on the rock
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Heading down towards Telluride
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Telluride down below.
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Just past 'the Steps' and on our way down the switchbacks
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[IntrepidXJ]

Jan rounding the most famous switchback
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Bridal Veil Falls
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Since we got an early start, we saw no one else on the trail and were in Telluride in about 1.5 hours. We parked and took a walk through town. After getting a little exercise we started up Imogene Pass.

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Jan in the Social Tunnel
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[IntrepidXJ]

Imogene Pass. As usual, it was raining and snowing when we got to the pass. I have been up to Imogene Pass a number of times, and everytime it seems to snow on me.
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Once we reached Ouray, Jan and I grabbed some lunch at Goldbelt Bar & Grill before parting ways. I headed back home to Grand Junction and he continued his trip by heading to Durango. It was a nice relaxing weekend.

[offpiste]

sweet! great report....so you do take along trail guest.

[RedMan]

Nice Randy.

For those that have not checked out Randys website he has a link to follow his SPOT. You can see his SPOT track log for this trip here.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0rZfn3pef5DU7BcXsL0sHlRkITl4eFQ 2C

[offpiste]

Awesome thanks redman