Day 8 (Black Canyon)
Day 8
June 29, 2006
Colorado Springs, CO to Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO (234 miles)
Today’s drive was an exercise in beauty and elevation change! There was by far more up and down today than on any other. The “high point” of the trip was Monarch Pass, which featured a 17-mile climb on a 5-7% grade to the summit at 11,312. Wow! The minivan pulled the hills fine, but the 9-mile downhill on the other side was hard on the brakes. We had to stop and let them cool. We have learned that when they warn you of a grade in Colorado, you had better pay attention!
As one would suspect, there was considerable beauty today, too. Perhaps the most beautiful part of the trip was the roughly 50 miles that U.S. 50 ran along the banks of the Arkansas River between Canon City and Salida. We also drove beside Colorado’s largest reservoir, Blue Mesa, which featured numerous National Parks campgrounds with impressive water views unobstructed by trees (or anything else).
As we crossed the highland valley floors, we saw in the distance rain falling from clouds while we were in bright sunshine. We had seen this before in Florida, but it was more dramatic in Colorado because of the way the clouds played off and against the various peaks and valleys.
The campground at Black Canyon South Rim was the antithesis of Garden of the Gods Campground in C. Springs. It was remote, quiet, 3/4 empty and didn’t have any hook-ups. All of the water available in the park has to be trucked 20 miles uphill. This is a rugged and remote place.
After setting up our trailer, we drove to the visitors’ center and watched a movie on the canyon’s history. Like most early explorers, the guys who first surveyed the Gunnison River’s Black Canyon were daredevils who risked their lives many times over to get the job done. The most amazing thing we learned was that in 1905 Italian and Irish immigrants bored a tunnel 8’ tall by 10’ wide and 6 miles long by hand through solid rock as a means of bringing Gunnison River water to the valley to the south for irrigation. What’s more, they started the tunnel from both ends simultaneously and were only off by 2 inches when they met in the middle! The fertile valley that we drove through to the south is testimony to the efforts of these early Americans.
After the movie, we walked out to the canyon’s edge and took in our first view of it. All four of us were impressed. It has to be one of the most narrow, vertical, deep canyons anywhere. The walls are not smooth, but contain jagged fissures that add interest and beauty.
We returned to our campsite for a spaghetti dinner and then drove along the Rim Road, stopping at various overlooks. Emily said “This is the best place we’ve been so far on our trip.”
June 29, 2006
Colorado Springs, CO to Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO (234 miles)
Today’s drive was an exercise in beauty and elevation change! There was by far more up and down today than on any other. The “high point” of the trip was Monarch Pass, which featured a 17-mile climb on a 5-7% grade to the summit at 11,312. Wow! The minivan pulled the hills fine, but the 9-mile downhill on the other side was hard on the brakes. We had to stop and let them cool. We have learned that when they warn you of a grade in Colorado, you had better pay attention!
As one would suspect, there was considerable beauty today, too. Perhaps the most beautiful part of the trip was the roughly 50 miles that U.S. 50 ran along the banks of the Arkansas River between Canon City and Salida. We also drove beside Colorado’s largest reservoir, Blue Mesa, which featured numerous National Parks campgrounds with impressive water views unobstructed by trees (or anything else).
As we crossed the highland valley floors, we saw in the distance rain falling from clouds while we were in bright sunshine. We had seen this before in Florida, but it was more dramatic in Colorado because of the way the clouds played off and against the various peaks and valleys.
The campground at Black Canyon South Rim was the antithesis of Garden of the Gods Campground in C. Springs. It was remote, quiet, 3/4 empty and didn’t have any hook-ups. All of the water available in the park has to be trucked 20 miles uphill. This is a rugged and remote place.
After setting up our trailer, we drove to the visitors’ center and watched a movie on the canyon’s history. Like most early explorers, the guys who first surveyed the Gunnison River’s Black Canyon were daredevils who risked their lives many times over to get the job done. The most amazing thing we learned was that in 1905 Italian and Irish immigrants bored a tunnel 8’ tall by 10’ wide and 6 miles long by hand through solid rock as a means of bringing Gunnison River water to the valley to the south for irrigation. What’s more, they started the tunnel from both ends simultaneously and were only off by 2 inches when they met in the middle! The fertile valley that we drove through to the south is testimony to the efforts of these early Americans.After the movie, we walked out to the canyon’s edge and took in our first view of it. All four of us were impressed. It has to be one of the most narrow, vertical, deep canyons anywhere. The walls are not smooth, but contain jagged fissures that add interest and beauty.
We returned to our campsite for a spaghetti dinner and then drove along the Rim Road, stopping at various overlooks. Emily said “This is the best place we’ve been so far on our trip.”
posted by Hazzard Family | 10:01
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