San Juan Triangle Tour 2009

IntrepidXJ · Sep 1, 2009

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

Headed up into Governor Basin

Jan stopped at an overlook along the way

Saint Sophia Ridge

Mountain Top Mine

IntrepidXJ · Sep 1, 2009

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.

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.

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.

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.

Saturday and Sunday still to come.....

IntrepidXJ · Sep 1, 2009

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

This pond was all reflection this early in the morning

Two-track in Silver Basin

A recent structure that was sitting at the end of the road??

Jan heading up

View from the end of the trail

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.

IntrepidXJ · Sep 1, 2009

Jan at Oh! Point

Engineer Pass.

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

IntrepidXJ · Sep 1, 2009

After checking out Animas Forks, we headed up California Gulch. I stopped to photograph this boiler.

Jan continued up to the pass

We stopped at Lake Como on the other side for some lunch

Click here for larger image.

After lunch we made our way over Hurricane Pass

Lake Como in the background

IntrepidXJ · Sep 1, 2009

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.

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

Yankee Girl

We found our campsite on the road to US Basin

IntrepidXJ · Sep 1, 2009

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

Sunday still to come...

twodollarbill · Sep 2, 2009

Awesome pics as always!

IntrepidXJ · Sep 2, 2009

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

Jan taking a photo of a marmot on the rock

Heading down towards Telluride

Telluride down below.

Just past 'the Steps' and on our way down the switchbacks

IntrepidXJ · Sep 2, 2009

Jan rounding the most famous switchback

Bridal Veil Falls

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.

Jan in the Social Tunnel

IntrepidXJ · Sep 2, 2009

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.

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.

xjblue · Sep 2, 2009

Great report Randy! looks like you guys had a good one. Jan is going to have to adjust a little from high mountains to low deserts when we cross all of Southern Utah next week.

Jes · Sep 3, 2009

Awsome pics and scenery.

XJBANKER · Sep 5, 2009

I love it!

Original_MudButt · Sep 8, 2009

Pisshhh!!

That doesn't compare to our So Cal deserts.... We got sand...... And........ Well, rocks........ And, and........ Sand and...... Oh!! Creosote!!

(Sigh)....I gotta get outta here........:rattle:

Beautiful pics man.....

Black Bear pass? Must be the same as in the song "Black Bear Road" by C.W McCall??

DrMoab · Sep 8, 2009

Original_MudButt said:
Black Bear pass? Must be the same as in the song "Black Bear Road" by C.W McCall??

The same. Oh and everything he talks about in that song...it's there.

XJEEPER · Sep 8, 2009

Great trail, great song.......

San Juan Triangle Tour 2009

IntrepidXJ

NAXJA Member #647

IntrepidXJ

NAXJA Member #647

IntrepidXJ

NAXJA Member #647

IntrepidXJ

NAXJA Member #647

IntrepidXJ

NAXJA Member #647

IntrepidXJ

NAXJA Member #647

IntrepidXJ

NAXJA Member #647

twodollarbill

NAXJA Forum User

IntrepidXJ

NAXJA Member #647

IntrepidXJ

NAXJA Member #647

IntrepidXJ

NAXJA Member #647

xjblue

NAXJA Member #496

Jes

NAXJA Memeber #293 URF Racing

XJBANKER

0IIIIII0

Original_MudButt

NAXJA Forum User

DrMoab

NAXJA Forum User

XJEEPER

NAXJA Member # 13

Similar threads