Out of the Heat & Into the Mountains!

[IntrepidXJ]

With temperatures over 100 degrees in Grand Junction this weekend, we headed up into the mountains for some cooler temperatures. We made our way south to Silverton before heading over Stony Pass. After stopping to find a geocache along the small Rio Grande, we headed for Kite Lake.

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176243-2/IMG_0496.JPG

Kite Lake was a nice place to stop for some lunch
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An old cabin on the shore of Kite Lake
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Headed back towards Stony Pass
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http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176384-2/IMG_0543.JPG

[IntrepidXJ]

Before reaching Cunningham Gulch, we took the short side trip to the Buffalo Boy Mine

Cabin along the way
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176426-2/IMG_0557.JPG

Buffalo Boy
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Headed back down to Silverton
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176576-2/IMG_0607.JPG

After a stop to fuel up in Silverton again, we headed up Kendall Mountain to find a campsite for the night

On our way to Deer Park
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176588-2/IMG_0611.JPG

[IntrepidXJ]

Magic school bus in Deer Park?
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Headed up Kendall Gulch
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Nice view over Swansea Gulch
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176738-2/IMG_0662.JPG

Road to nowhere
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176747-2/IMG_0665.JPG

...and I do mean nowhere! It just ended on the side of the mountain with nowhere to turn around. I had to back up on the narrow shelf road a little ways before I could turn around.
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176750-2/IMG_0666.JPG

[IntrepidXJ]

But before turning around, we were treated to a nice view down on Silverton and Anvil Mountain
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176765-2/IMG_0671.JPG

Headed back down after finding a spot to turn around
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Back into Kendall Gulch
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176810-2/IMG_0686.JPG

A quick stop at the Titusville Mine
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On our way back to camp for the night
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http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176231-2/IMG_0720.JPG

[IntrepidXJ]

After a good nights sleep with great weather, we packed up camp and headed down to Silverton again

Found a few geocaches along the way and stopped at this old boxcar that was parked along the road
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176918-2/IMG_0725.JPG

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176924-2/IMG_0727.JPG

Before starting on our way home, we headed south a little further to check out Old Lime Creek Road

The stone work was done my the CCC in the 1930's
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When we finished the loop we headed back north again just past Ridgway and turned off towards Owl Creek Pass
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When we finished the trail we hopped on US 50 which would take us back home to some nice 103 degree temperatures :)

[Cirrus2000]

:2thumbs: Very nice, Randy! I like the Buffalo Boy Mine shots - cool, those wheels still up. Liked the road to nowhere, too! Reminds me of a lot of the forest service roads up here...

[accadacca]

Great stuff as always. If I ever move to Colorado I will have plenty of roads to explore from your trips. :2thumbs:

[offpiste]

:2thumbs:Excellent TR Randy

[IntrepidXJ]

:2thumbs:Excellent TR Randy


Thanks!

[JONBOYLEMON]

WOW!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing.

[moab mark]

Randy,

Nice report. Now that you have her broke in what's your opinion?

Mark

[IntrepidXJ]

Nice report. Now that you have her broke in what's your opinion?


I'm still lovin' the JK :)

[Wasatch Rebel]

Nice! So what direction is all of that from Silverton? I've been itching to get back to Colorado, and I especially want to hit Yankee Boy Basin since it was snowed in the last time I had the chance. I'm definitely going to drive some of the roads you've posted pics of here.