Attendees: Beverly, Eola, Flo, Gloria, JudyL, Judy Shaw (Dallas TOWN), Katherine (new TOWNie), LindaBW, Marilyn, Nancy Likos, Nancy Lynch, SandyO, and Susan
How can I squeeze a 2-week trip into a condensed trip report? We’ll see.
Places we camped: Texas – Abilene State Park, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, and Lake Colorado City State Park. Colorado – Trinidad Lake State Park, North Clear Creek Campground, West Fork Campground (Rio Grande National Forest campgrounds), and Chris Park Group Campground (San Juan National Forest campground). New Mexico – Manzano Mountains State Park and Bottomless Lake State Park.
Places we visited: Capulin Volcano National Monument, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, town of Creede, hot springs and farmers market in Pagosa Springs, Chimney Rock National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park, Aztec Ruins National Monument (Farmington), International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, Silver Falls (near West Fork), O’Reilly’s Auto Parts (Dumas – for story contact Nancy Lynch), San Juan National Forest Lower Piedra campground, various campgrounds in the San Juan NF were “scoped out” for future visits (along Williams Creek, including Teal campground), Ute campground near Chimney Rock, Navajo State Park (CO).
Scenic spots: North Clear Creek Falls, Slumguillon Pass, Windy Point, Bachelor Loop Driving Tour, Rio Grande Starting Point, Treasure Falls, 6-mile hike towards Fourmile Falls, Silver Falls, hot springs in Pagosa Springs, train ride between Durango and Silverton, Haviland Lake (near Chris Park campground), scenic drive to Ouray, Priest Gulch Rd (Durango Jeep tour), Pinkerton Hot Springs.
Mountain passes we conquered: Raton, Cucharas, La Veta, Spring Creek and Slumgullion (without trailers), Wolf Creek Pass, Yellowjacket, and Abo (NM).
Activities:
HIKING – 1-mile around rim on Capulin Volcano, 6-mile hike (towards Fourmile Falls), hike to Treasure Falls and Silver Falls, Colorado Trail, Continental Divide (many times, various spots), Rainbow Trail (West Fork campground), trail around Manzano Mountains campground, hike (in rain) to Haviland Lake.
DRIVING – Slumguillion Pass and Windy Point, Bachelor Loop Driving, Whitmore Falls on Alpine Loop driving tour out of Lake City, Jeep tour (Priest Gulch Rd out of Durango).
RIDING – Durango/Silverton train.
SWIMMING/SOAKING – Pagosa Springs (The Springs Resort & Spa) and Bottomless Lakes in New Mexico (Lea Lake).
EATING – several campground group meals (mountain man breakfast, lasagna, hot dogs), group lunches at Kip’s Grill (Creede) and Shady Lady (Silverton), group dinner at Taqueria Jalisco (Roswell), numerous Dairy Queens along the way.
GEOCACHING – in Texas (roadside stop), New Mexico (Manzano Mountains and Bottomless Lakes), and Colorado (Trinidad State Park).
FISHING – in mountain streams (a first for Susan). Beverly caught a trout, grilled it and shared a taste! Yummy!
TRYING to stay dry and warm.
What we saw the most: RAIN! RAIN! And MORE RAIN! Everywhere!
Lake Meredith Sunrise (photo by Sandy)
One of the scenic pullout (headwaters of the Rio Grande) between Creede and Lake City
Treasure Falls near Pagosa Springs
The entertainment for the evening (West Fork Campground)
Those Flickin’ Chickens laid some eggs at North Clear Creek campground.
For more pictures, please go to the Yahoo group or the Meetup event. Lots of photos in both locations.
Some comments from fellow campers:
“Thanks for the opportunity to travel and experience the beauty of a road trip, to camp and hang with friends, and to create wonderful memories with my mother and everyone.” Susan
“The 4-wheel Jeep trip was up Priest Gulch Rd out of Durango to some old mines. The map shows Hesperus Mtn along that route at 13,000 feet. I don’t know how high we got but the sleet was sticking to the ground as our shortest driver notified us she couldn’t see over the steering wheel!” LindaBW
“On the day when some went to Mesa Verde and some rented a Jeep, Eola and Marilyn hiked a section of the circa-1870’s wagon road between Chris Park Campground and Haviland Lake. The wagon road is part of one built to allow miners and their equipment to get to mines in Silverton before the rail line was constructed. The section we walked was only a mile in length but rain and thunderstorm slowed us down. Along the way we passed “Miners’ Trace,” a junk pile of old barrels and cans. Haviland Lake area was very pretty (and wet). We decided to walk back on the road when a car full of young people gave us a lift. I guess we looked like we needed it!” Marilyn
Totals (driving on the road to/from – not including side or short trips) = 47 hours and 40 minutes, 2203 miles.
Thanks to all that joined me and made this a memorable and awesome trip! Until next time, happy camping!
Gloria