Drive to Vicksburg and Winfield Ghost Towns

Wednesday was our last 'fun' day to do something before the move Friday to Gunnison, so Rob, Dee, Dave and I drove north of Buena Vista, first driving along the eastern side of the Arkansas River.  We were able to see a number of rafters and 'duckies' (those are very short stubby one-person kinda kayaks) going through the Numbers portion of the the river.  This are is classified as IV and V - only for the either experienced or crazy folks.  Nope, no thank you.  Gawked at them for awhile then drove more north to Clear Creek Reservoir and then headed up into the mountains.

These tunnels are opposite downtown BV

Lovely 

We had seen these markers before, Rob explained they were claims

Duckie - the green one, nope

Lots of people enjoying the lake, all kinds of boats, rafts, paddle boards, fishing, even saw hikers who were on the Colorado Trail which is a 500 mile trail between Denver and Durango.  Nope on that too.

Clear Creek Reservoir

This waterfall was wayyyy in the distance, did not see snow

A family was living in the end home.

Passed a pretty waterfall and was amazed even with the dryness that there was a significant flow down the mountain.  Beaver homes, raw land.  Gorgeous.  Got to the top where Winfield and Vicksburg ghost towns are, walked around and lookie-see them, then continued further north, climbing to over 11,000 feet.  Amazed that back in the day (late 1800's) there was a stagecoach that come up the mountain to the towns, you had to pay $1.50 which was a tremendous amount back then.

Huge beaver dam

Living in 11,000 feet plus altitude, harsh winters

Let's see teachers be enforced with these rules. Hah.

Can't imagine living in the mountains like this, very harsh

Very recent blow-down, area was pretty immense with blow-down

Woman walking along the Colorado Trail - near Clear Creek Reservoir

Rock climbing

Smoke seen coming over Mosquito Range, from fire in Fairplay

One of the fire fighting helicopters - drags a bucket into water to dump