Early Sunday morning we drove over Wilkerson Pass on Rt 24 toward Buena Vista, Colorado. That's one of the mountains in the "Collegiate Range" (Mts. Princeton, 14,197 ft, Yale, 14,196 ft, Columbia, 14,073 ft, and Harvard at 14,420 ft. ) This area has the highest concentration of 14,000 ft peaks from Alaska to Panama. Colorado has 52 "14ers".
On our way to Independence Pass and Aspen we passed Twin Lakes and just had to get a picture of the mountains in the background.
Crossing the Continental Divide at Independence Pass, elevation 12,095 feet. There were several trails that led to stunning views of the mountains.
The "road" leading to Aspen was limited to vehicles 35 feet and under. There were areas that the road was only 1 1/2 lanes wide and of course, no guard rails. Colorado doesn't spend a lot of money on guard rails! Downtown Aspen was busy, even for a Sunday afternoon. The streets are lined with exclusive shops and cafes. They are having a real problem with up to 40-50 bears roaming the streets at night. They sure keep the police busy!
Returning on the same road, we stopped at Independence Ghost Town and had a picnic lunch. At an elevation of 10,290 ft, Independence is located in the upper Roaring Fork Valley. The surrounding mountains are in the 13,000-14,000 ft range. Legend has it that gold was discovered here on July 4, 1879. Eventually the town had over 40 businesses with 3 post offices and a population of 1500. As the gold production dropped so the the population and in February 1889 a series of severe snow storms drove the few remaining families away.
We arrived in Leadville, the highest incorporated city in the United States at 10,200 ft. elevation.
Monday morning found us having breakfast at "Doc Holliday's". Doc Holliday's stay in Leadville is one of the most infamous. It was marked by ill health, tuberculosis and drinking. Conflicting accounts of his story abound, but the records indicate that he shot and wounded Bill Allen in August, 1884 in this very building, once a saloon.
A pretty mountain stream flowing into Turquoise Lake.
Our next stop was the Leadville Fish Hatchery. After viewing the spawning tanks we took advantage of their 1 mile nature trail. Here I am beside DeMary Ditch, used as early as 1913 to divert water from Rock Creek to irrigate pasture lands to the east of the hatchery. It flows from June to October.
This is Evergreen Lake with Mt. Elbert in the background. Mt. Elbert is the highest peak in Colorado at 14,433 ft and the second highest peak in the lower 48 states.
Another view of Evergreen Lake with Mt. Massive in the background. Mt. Massive is the second highest mountain in Colorado at 14,421 ft and having 3 summits over 14,000 ft. Leadville is truly blessed to have these two mountains just west of town. What a view!
After grabbing lunch at a Subway, we went to the Leadville Colorado and Southern Railroad for a 9 mile scenic journey through untouched wilderness. This is the old steam engine #641 and is no longer in use.
The 1955 diesel engine takes the passenger train up to the timber line and the headwaters of the Arkansas River.
We stopped at the top of the mountain by this old water tank.
A thousand feet above the valley floor, the top of the line stops at an overview of the Climax Molybdenum Mine and Freemont Pass. After the gold, silver, zinc, lead, and copper mines closed a great resurgence came in 1918 with the opening of the massive Molybdenum Mine north of Leadville. It employed more than 3000 workers and supplied half of the world's molybdenum used in high strength steel alloys.
On our way to Independence Pass and Aspen we passed Twin Lakes and just had to get a picture of the mountains in the background.
Crossing the Continental Divide at Independence Pass, elevation 12,095 feet. There were several trails that led to stunning views of the mountains.
The "road" leading to Aspen was limited to vehicles 35 feet and under. There were areas that the road was only 1 1/2 lanes wide and of course, no guard rails. Colorado doesn't spend a lot of money on guard rails! Downtown Aspen was busy, even for a Sunday afternoon. The streets are lined with exclusive shops and cafes. They are having a real problem with up to 40-50 bears roaming the streets at night. They sure keep the police busy!
Returning on the same road, we stopped at Independence Ghost Town and had a picnic lunch. At an elevation of 10,290 ft, Independence is located in the upper Roaring Fork Valley. The surrounding mountains are in the 13,000-14,000 ft range. Legend has it that gold was discovered here on July 4, 1879. Eventually the town had over 40 businesses with 3 post offices and a population of 1500. As the gold production dropped so the the population and in February 1889 a series of severe snow storms drove the few remaining families away.
We arrived in Leadville, the highest incorporated city in the United States at 10,200 ft. elevation.
It is a colorful city with a colorful history! Leadville's mining history began in 1860 with the discovery of, what else, gold! By 1880, Leadville had over 30,000 residents and innumerable stores, hotels, and of course, more than 100 saloons, dance halls, gambling joints and brothels.
Along with the rough life of the town, an upper class developed. Horace Tabor made millions from silver discovered in the area and built and opened the famous Tabor Opera House in 1879. He also owned the Bank of Leadville and the Tabor Grand Hotel. Along the way he infamously left his wife, Augusta, and married the young "Baby Doe". He rose to state and national political status and built a mansion in Denver.
Along with the rough life of the town, an upper class developed. Horace Tabor made millions from silver discovered in the area and built and opened the famous Tabor Opera House in 1879. He also owned the Bank of Leadville and the Tabor Grand Hotel. Along the way he infamously left his wife, Augusta, and married the young "Baby Doe". He rose to state and national political status and built a mansion in Denver.
Monday morning found us having breakfast at "Doc Holliday's". Doc Holliday's stay in Leadville is one of the most infamous. It was marked by ill health, tuberculosis and drinking. Conflicting accounts of his story abound, but the records indicate that he shot and wounded Bill Allen in August, 1884 in this very building, once a saloon.
In March 1885, he was acquitted and released. Allen was the last man on record shot by Holliday.
After breakfast we took a drive to the far end of Turquoise Lake. This picturesque shot is shows Leadville at the far end of the lake. We talked with the workampers at the campground. They come to Colorado for the summer to escape the heat in Texas. This is basically a fishing lake sporting mostly cutthroat trout.
(Click on the picture for a larger view)
After breakfast we took a drive to the far end of Turquoise Lake. This picturesque shot is shows Leadville at the far end of the lake. We talked with the workampers at the campground. They come to Colorado for the summer to escape the heat in Texas. This is basically a fishing lake sporting mostly cutthroat trout.
(Click on the picture for a larger view)
A pretty mountain stream flowing into Turquoise Lake.
Our next stop was the Leadville Fish Hatchery. After viewing the spawning tanks we took advantage of their 1 mile nature trail. Here I am beside DeMary Ditch, used as early as 1913 to divert water from Rock Creek to irrigate pasture lands to the east of the hatchery. It flows from June to October.
This is Evergreen Lake with Mt. Elbert in the background. Mt. Elbert is the highest peak in Colorado at 14,433 ft and the second highest peak in the lower 48 states.
Another view of Evergreen Lake with Mt. Massive in the background. Mt. Massive is the second highest mountain in Colorado at 14,421 ft and having 3 summits over 14,000 ft. Leadville is truly blessed to have these two mountains just west of town. What a view!
After grabbing lunch at a Subway, we went to the Leadville Colorado and Southern Railroad for a 9 mile scenic journey through untouched wilderness. This is the old steam engine #641 and is no longer in use.
The 1955 diesel engine takes the passenger train up to the timber line and the headwaters of the Arkansas River.
We stopped at the top of the mountain by this old water tank.
A thousand feet above the valley floor, the top of the line stops at an overview of the Climax Molybdenum Mine and Freemont Pass. After the gold, silver, zinc, lead, and copper mines closed a great resurgence came in 1918 with the opening of the massive Molybdenum Mine north of Leadville. It employed more than 3000 workers and supplied half of the world's molybdenum used in high strength steel alloys.
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