SOUTHWESTERN USA
RS ROAD TRIP
RS ROAD TRIP
August 22, 2017 (Day 15)
Ouray, CO to Mesa Verde National Park, CO
Miles Today: 137 / Total Trip Miles: 2,506
Miles Today: 137 / Total Trip Miles: 2,506
Today's Route
(Click on map to enlarge)
Today's route followed two-lane U.S. 550 through the San Juan Mountains. There are seventy avalanche paths that intersect Highway 550 in the twenty-three miles between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado. This stretch of road is called the Million Dollar Highway. The twelve mile section south of Ouray through the Uncompahgre Gorge to the summit of Red Mountain Pass is characterized by steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and a lack of guardrails. Red Mountain Pass features hairpin curves and narrow traffic lanes cut into the mountainside. At an elevation of 11,000 feet, Red Mountain Pass is one of the highest paved passes in Colorado. The origin of the name Million Dollar Highway is uncertain.
Red Mountain Mining
The Red Mountain area was the site of an historic silver boom from 1882 until 1893. The Idarado Mine (aka "Treasury Tunnel") continued operations until the 1970s. The Red Mountains contained mostly very low grade ore except for some rich ore chimneys of thirty to one hundred feet in width plunging into the earth. In these ore-rich chimneys, silver could be found that contained as much as 1,000 ounces of silver per ton of ore. As word spread, prospectors quickly flowed into the Red Mountain area. The nearby towns of Silverton and Ouray fought to become the entry points into the district.
Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad
Ouray immediately built a wagon road across steep cliffs into the heart of the mining. This road eventually became known as the famous Million Dollar Highway. At about the same time it became evident that the really rich ore was on the Ouray side of Red Mountain Divide, Silverton countered with the completion of the Silverton Railroad into the Red Mountain district. This short twenty-mile railroad is today one of the most historic and well known of all the narrow gauge railroads in Colorado. It carried the nickname of The Rainbow Route as it reached forward to a pot of gold (silver in this case).
Durango, Colorado was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1879. Construction on the railway to Durango started in 1881, and construction on the line to Silverton began in the same year. By 1882, the tracks to Silverton were completed, and the train began hauling both freight and passengers. The line was constructed to haul silver & gold ore from Southwest Colorado's San Juan Mountains, but passengers soon realized it was the view that was truly precious. This historic train has been in continuous operation between Durango and Silverton since 1882, carrying passengers behind vintage steam locomotives and rolling stock indigenous to the line. The trip by rail offers a view of Colorado's mountain splendor inaccessible by highway.
Silverton
Silverton (elevation 9,300 feet) is a former silver mining camp, most or all of which is now included in a designated National Historic Landmark District. Silverton is linked to Durango, Colorado by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a National Historic Landmark. Silverton no longer has active mining, but subsists by tourism, maintenance of U.S. 550 (The Million Dollar Highway), mine pollution remediation, and retirees.
Hollywood discovered Silverton in the 1950s. The town’s historic buildings can be seen in the following films: Ticket to Tomahawk (1950) featuring Anne Baxter & Walter Brennan, plus Marilyn Monroe in an early and uncredited role; Run for Cover (1955) starring James Cagney & Ernest Borgnine; Great Day in the Morning (1956) starring Virginia Mayo, Robert Stack & Raymond Burr and Night Passage (1957) featuring James Stewart & Audie Murphy.
PHOTOS
(Click on Photo for a Larger Image
View from Bathroom Window
Mary and I didn't pay extra for this "view room" at the Ouray Chalet Inn. Trip Advisor rates this hotel as 4.5 stars. I'd give it a 2.5 rating. Ouray sits amidst the high and rugged San Juan Mountains.
{Photo on flickr}
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Tomorrow
Mary and I explore more of Mesa Verde National Park.
____________________________________________________
Today's route followed two-lane U.S. 550 through the San Juan Mountains. There are seventy avalanche paths that intersect Highway 550 in the twenty-three miles between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado. This stretch of road is called the Million Dollar Highway. The twelve mile section south of Ouray through the Uncompahgre Gorge to the summit of Red Mountain Pass is characterized by steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and a lack of guardrails. Red Mountain Pass features hairpin curves and narrow traffic lanes cut into the mountainside. At an elevation of 11,000 feet, Red Mountain Pass is one of the highest paved passes in Colorado. The origin of the name Million Dollar Highway is uncertain.
Red Mountain Mining
The Red Mountain area was the site of an historic silver boom from 1882 until 1893. The Idarado Mine (aka "Treasury Tunnel") continued operations until the 1970s. The Red Mountains contained mostly very low grade ore except for some rich ore chimneys of thirty to one hundred feet in width plunging into the earth. In these ore-rich chimneys, silver could be found that contained as much as 1,000 ounces of silver per ton of ore. As word spread, prospectors quickly flowed into the Red Mountain area. The nearby towns of Silverton and Ouray fought to become the entry points into the district.
Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad
Ouray immediately built a wagon road across steep cliffs into the heart of the mining. This road eventually became known as the famous Million Dollar Highway. At about the same time it became evident that the really rich ore was on the Ouray side of Red Mountain Divide, Silverton countered with the completion of the Silverton Railroad into the Red Mountain district. This short twenty-mile railroad is today one of the most historic and well known of all the narrow gauge railroads in Colorado. It carried the nickname of The Rainbow Route as it reached forward to a pot of gold (silver in this case).
Durango, Colorado was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1879. Construction on the railway to Durango started in 1881, and construction on the line to Silverton began in the same year. By 1882, the tracks to Silverton were completed, and the train began hauling both freight and passengers. The line was constructed to haul silver & gold ore from Southwest Colorado's San Juan Mountains, but passengers soon realized it was the view that was truly precious. This historic train has been in continuous operation between Durango and Silverton since 1882, carrying passengers behind vintage steam locomotives and rolling stock indigenous to the line. The trip by rail offers a view of Colorado's mountain splendor inaccessible by highway.
Silverton
Silverton (elevation 9,300 feet) is a former silver mining camp, most or all of which is now included in a designated National Historic Landmark District. Silverton is linked to Durango, Colorado by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a National Historic Landmark. Silverton no longer has active mining, but subsists by tourism, maintenance of U.S. 550 (The Million Dollar Highway), mine pollution remediation, and retirees.
Hollywood discovered Silverton in the 1950s. The town’s historic buildings can be seen in the following films: Ticket to Tomahawk (1950) featuring Anne Baxter & Walter Brennan, plus Marilyn Monroe in an early and uncredited role; Run for Cover (1955) starring James Cagney & Ernest Borgnine; Great Day in the Morning (1956) starring Virginia Mayo, Robert Stack & Raymond Burr and Night Passage (1957) featuring James Stewart & Audie Murphy.
PHOTOS
(Click on Photo for a Larger Image
Mary and I didn't pay extra for this "view room" at the Ouray Chalet Inn. Trip Advisor rates this hotel as 4.5 stars. I'd give it a 2.5 rating. Ouray sits amidst the high and rugged San Juan Mountains.
{Photo on flickr}
Red Mountain Mining District
Historic Railroad
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad backs into Silverton.
Historic Railroad
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad after passengers disembarked at the Silverton terminus.
Time Warp
Vintage car parked in front of historic building in Silverton.
Twilight over Mesa Verde
The terrain here was severely burned in a forest fire.
Tomorrow
Mary and I explore more of Mesa Verde National Park.
____________________________________________________
Copyright
These photographs are the property of Leon Jackson, and are protected by copyright laws. Photographs may not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Leon Jackson. © 2017 Leon Jackson. All Rights Reserved.
_________________________________________________________________
These photographs are the property of Leon Jackson, and are protected by copyright laws. Photographs may not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Leon Jackson. © 2017 Leon Jackson. All Rights Reserved.
_________________________________________________________________
1 comment:
Nice photos, Leon!
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