COLORADO, GHOST-TOWN Exploring + Camp-Out: JULY 25th - 29th 2024

[Dirtyspokes]

I shagged early but went home over Weston Pass. Thank you to SW for the planning. Nice to meet everybody.

PS. I usually keep in touch with my daughter on these outings but not much service where we were. She got worried , and called the BV police to look for me. "please look for an old guy laying in the ditch with his moto".

On the bright side, at least we didn’t have to tell your daughter you burned up using that sketchy camp stove of yours.


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[jbuhl]

No 13. You must wear a scarf that covers your face when in public?

 

[jbuhl]

On the bright side, at least we didn’t have to tell your daughter you burned up using that sketchy camp stove of yours.


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Yep that thing was DOA. Surprisingly MSR does sell a rebuild kit for it.

 

[jbuhl]

On the bright side, at least we didn’t have to tell your daughter you burned up using that sketchy camp stove of yours.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well looking here. 15 minutes cleaning the pump connection and presto.

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[SkunkWorks]

Here's a bunch of Pictures from Day-2!




Our first stop was the "Maxwell Schoolhouse"

 

[SkunkWorks]

Next, we moved on to the Town of St. Elmo.

 

[SkunkWorks]

After that, we rode up a slightly more bumpy Track to a few more Sites.


What's left of one of the Structures from the Allie Belle Mine.




Looking down from the hillside where the Town of Hancock used to be.






The "Morley Bridge" (which claims to be the oldest Steel Truss Bridge in Colorado)

 

[SkunkWorks]

Our next stop would be Lunch!

We rode north into Leadville, and happened to arrive just as two parking spaces opened up just for us...............

We were going to eat at the Silver Dollar Saloon, but the wait for a table was going to be at least another half an hour.
We had a great lunch at "The Famous", which was right next door and had tables ready right away. (excellent Pizza by the way)


After lunch, we rode up into the hills above Town to look for the Monarch Mine Ore-House, but it seemingly had vanished and could not be located.

We ended up checking out an old Steam Engine, and a historic Depot instead before heading back to Camp for the evening.







This Train can be ridden for a fee, if you fancy a Rail-Excursion.


We had a couple silent Visitors, browsing the foliage as the rest of us gathered around Camp.

 

[Cycledude]

Very nice pictures.

 

[SkunkWorks]

Very nice pictures.

Thank you Mike!
It was an absolute pleasure to meet you, and spend time with you!
Make sure your friend Jeff (Just Jeff) gets to see all the pictures too.
It was great to meet him too.................maybe see if he wants to join the Forum?

 

[SkunkWorks]

Everyone packed up and left for Home on Day-3, leaving me with the entire day all to myself!

Here's what Y'all missed..............

I started up on Old Monarch Pass, and then made my way down the other side to White Pine Cemetery.











Most of the Graves in here were from the late 1800's

 

[SkunkWorks]

Made my way over Black Sage Pass, and across the Ranch-Lands toward Wuanita Pass.







Stopped at the former Town of Bowerman, before heading over Wuanita Pass toward Pitkin.
Not much left here..........

 

[SkunkWorks]

Had a nice Burger and a cup of Ice-Cream for lunch here in Pitkin.




This is where the Town of "Quartz" once stood, and where the Rail Line that used to come from St. Elmo, through the Alpine Tunnel would end up.






I rode up the old Railroad Grade to see the Water Tanks.
I wish I could say that this road was smooth Grade, but it was rough and rocky!

This is what's left of the Midway Water Tank.

 

[Mak10]

It always amazes me how fast these structures decline. Towns dissapear, nature reclaims things so fast.

 

[SkunkWorks]

I made my way farther up the Grade to see the Williams Gulch Water Tank.





I turned around here to head back out to the junction at Quartz.

From here I turned north to make my way up Cumberland Pass.
I stopped at the remains of the Bon Ton Mine, and its decaying Structures.













Made a quick stop at the Pass before heading down the other side toward Tincup.

 

[Paul466]

Just want to mention my Gratitude to Awesome host Alan, Thanks Buddy! Always Great time hanging out with You

 

[SkunkWorks]

One the way down I saw a couple "Holes" in the Mountain, next to the road.
I stopped to check one out........



Not sure I'd want to crawl in there, but looking deeper it's somebody's Mine Shaft.



I made my way down the Pass, and my next stop was Tincup Cemetery.





As far as old Cemeteries go, this one is by far the most peaceful and beautiful setting that I have ever seen.
It's nestled in this gorgeous Valley, alongside a Stream and some Beaver-Ponds.

 

[SkunkWorks]

Apparently still an active Cemetery..........

 

[SkunkWorks]

Stopped at the Tincup Town Hall before making my way out to Taylor Park.



They are releasing a good amount of water downstream below the Dam at Taylor Reservoir.








It was such a gorgeous Blue-Sky day...........not even a hint of any rain-clouds!

I messed around on some ATV trails in Taylor Park before heading back towards Camp.
One final Pass to get over.........I "May" have used up a bunch of the edge-rubber on my tires getting to the top of this one!

The Peaks of the Continental Divide stretching off into the distance.........




All smiles under that Helmet!

 

[SkunkWorks]

When I returned I had the Campground all to myself..........



I had a quiet Dinner, and some Beers with a nice Campfire, enjoying the peaceful solitude.........



Thanks again to everyone who came, and truly made this an awesome experience for me!

I'll have a full-length Video of the Weekend posted eventually.....................stay tuned!