August 12, 2010
August 12, 2010
We made a strategic planning error. We want to go to Aspen today and photograph the nearby Maroon Belle peaks. They are probably the most photogenic of Colorado’s mountains. We camped last night at one of the two entrances to Aspen. Unfortunately we found out this entrance is treacherous, especially in a motorhome. It has a 12,000-foot pass with very narrow switchbacks. Vehicles longer than 35 feet are prohibited. We are legal but Aimee has heard horror stories from the locals. I still want to go but we decided to let the weather be the deciding factor. Of course my lucky charm of a wife prayed for rain and we woke to a downpour. Never bet against my wife.
It is a three-hour drive to the other end of Aspen so we punt and head southwest. It seems every road we take in Colorado is scenic. It is a most picturesque state. The only downfall is winter comes early. We can already sense it with the cold nights. Snow is just around the corner. Plus our RV is getting a workout. We have been over several high mountain passes in the last few days.
We cross another to reach the Gunnison River and Curecanti National Recreation Area. Downstream is Black Canyon National Park. That narrow canyon is hard to appreciate because the granite walls are shear and 2700 feet high. There is no hike down. Curecanti on the other hand is upstream and contains four dams. The first section consists of several lakes good for boating. It doesn’t interest me. The lower section is like a mini-Black Canyon. After driving along the clifftop we come upon a side canyon that we can use to drive down to the Gunnison River just below the third dam. From there we take an easy hike along the 700-foot granite gorge. Just stunning!
We made a strategic planning error. We want to go to Aspen today and photograph the nearby Maroon Belle peaks. They are probably the most photogenic of Colorado’s mountains. We camped last night at one of the two entrances to Aspen. Unfortunately we found out this entrance is treacherous, especially in a motorhome. It has a 12,000-foot pass with very narrow switchbacks. Vehicles longer than 35 feet are prohibited. We are legal but Aimee has heard horror stories from the locals. I still want to go but we decided to let the weather be the deciding factor. Of course my lucky charm of a wife prayed for rain and we woke to a downpour. Never bet against my wife.
It is a three-hour drive to the other end of Aspen so we punt and head southwest. It seems every road we take in Colorado is scenic. It is a most picturesque state. The only downfall is winter comes early. We can already sense it with the cold nights. Snow is just around the corner. Plus our RV is getting a workout. We have been over several high mountain passes in the last few days. 
We cross another to reach the Gunnison River and Curecanti National Recreation Area. Downstream is Black Canyon National Park. That narrow canyon is hard to appreciate because the granite walls are shear and 2700 feet high. There is no hike down. Curecanti on the other hand is upstream and contains four dams. The first section consists of several lakes good for boating. It doesn’t interest me. The lower section is like a mini-Black Canyon. After driving along the clifftop we come upon a side canyon that we can use to drive down to the Gunnison River just below the third dam. From there we take an easy hike along the 700-foot granite gorge. Just stunning!
posted by Mike and Aimee at 10:06 PM
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