IntrepidXJ
06-19-2011, 05:36 PM
Sunday, June 29, 2008
For lunch today, Amanda and I decided to go up on top of The Grand Mesa. I thought it would be a good opportunity to drive up Lands End Road.
After gassing the Jeep up, we made our way towards The Grand Mesa.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121445-1/IMG_0086.JPG
Soon the pavement ended and we started the climb up Lands End Road.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121452-1/IMG_0089.JPG
Lands End Road is a nice easy gravel road the whole way, and consists of a lot of switchbacks as it ascends The Grand Mesa.
A few of the switchbacks.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121476-1/IMG_0102.JPG
When we reached the top, we stopped by the observatory located there. It doesn't open until July, so we only checked out the views from the top of the mesa. While taking in the views, Amanda made a new friend...
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121514-1/IMG_0128.JPG
From there, we checked out a two-track that was supposed to lead to a nice overlook. However, turned out it was gated closed further way before the overlook.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121520-1/IMG_0131.JPG
We turned around and started looking for a good place to stop for lunch. We ended up stopping by the Anderson Reservoirs.
Anderson Reservoir #1
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121557-1/IMG_0136.JPG
Where we ate lunch next to Anderson Reservoir #2
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121539-1/IMG_0141.JPG
Unfortunately, the mosquitos were horrible already, so we quickly ate, checked out the lake and quickly got out of there. We finished up by making our way to Highway 65 and taking it back down the mesa.
I took this panorama picture from an overlook on the top of The Grand Mesa. You can see a number of the switchbacks of Lands End Road, the Grand Valley and even the Uncompahgre Plateau across the way. If you look really closely at the large version, you can also see the top of Mount Garfield poking out next to the mesa.
http://www.myxj.net/panorama/Lands_End_Pano_small.jpg (http://www.myxj.net/panorama/Lands_End_Pano.jpg)
You can click on the image above for the full sized version.
For lunch today, Amanda and I decided to go up on top of The Grand Mesa. I thought it would be a good opportunity to drive up Lands End Road.
After gassing the Jeep up, we made our way towards The Grand Mesa.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121445-1/IMG_0086.JPG
Soon the pavement ended and we started the climb up Lands End Road.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121452-1/IMG_0089.JPG
Lands End Road is a nice easy gravel road the whole way, and consists of a lot of switchbacks as it ascends The Grand Mesa.
A few of the switchbacks.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121476-1/IMG_0102.JPG
When we reached the top, we stopped by the observatory located there. It doesn't open until July, so we only checked out the views from the top of the mesa. While taking in the views, Amanda made a new friend...
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121514-1/IMG_0128.JPG
From there, we checked out a two-track that was supposed to lead to a nice overlook. However, turned out it was gated closed further way before the overlook.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121520-1/IMG_0131.JPG
We turned around and started looking for a good place to stop for lunch. We ended up stopping by the Anderson Reservoirs.
Anderson Reservoir #1
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121557-1/IMG_0136.JPG
Where we ate lunch next to Anderson Reservoir #2
http://myxj.net/g2/d/121539-1/IMG_0141.JPG
Unfortunately, the mosquitos were horrible already, so we quickly ate, checked out the lake and quickly got out of there. We finished up by making our way to Highway 65 and taking it back down the mesa.
I took this panorama picture from an overlook on the top of The Grand Mesa. You can see a number of the switchbacks of Lands End Road, the Grand Valley and even the Uncompahgre Plateau across the way. If you look really closely at the large version, you can also see the top of Mount Garfield poking out next to the mesa.
http://www.myxj.net/panorama/Lands_End_Pano_small.jpg (http://www.myxj.net/panorama/Lands_End_Pano.jpg)
You can click on the image above for the full sized version.