2nd Season Colorado Camping Trips

   

  Once again we are in the San Juan mountains of southwestern Colorado at Priest Gulch Campground - our second season here. We increased to a 4-day work week working anywhere between 10-20 hours per week. We've also made use of our days off for a few camping trips in Thundra.  

    Side note: the campground is up for sale for a cool 6.9 million. If interested, let me (Rick) know, I can go in at 1%.

*    Our first trip was a one-night stop north of Mancos State Park (Monday, May 26th) in an area known as Crystal Creek. This spot was enroute to Durango as we anticipated shopping the following day, and was just fifteen minutes north of Mancos Colorado on road # 42. We had a clear view of both Hesperus Peak and Sharkstooth Peak, which still had a substantial amount of snowpack. 

    Tuesday morning, before we headed out to Durango, we took a little sight-seeing ride up to the "Jersey Jim" lookout tower - a super nice structure that can actually be booked for a stay! The tower and the old Aspen Guard Station are run by the Jersey Jim Foundation. You can check all the details here... jerseyjimfoundation.lodgify.com  These locations are booked well in advance.

    Small piece of advice: if you book the tower, don't drink any liquids late afternoon or so. The clamber to the outhouse is 55' each way!  I will also say (speaking from experience), that outhouse facility is  nicely maintained.

*  Our second camping trip was May 28th through the 30th at Metaska Recreation Site. The area is approximately 35 miles north of Cortez Co.  About a 1/4 mile from the McPhee reservoir dam, we located a great spot to set up camp which, allowed us to enjoy camping right next to the tailwaters from the dam. Rick didn't catch any fish, but the weather was great and relaxation was spectacular. 

                                                                Our camp at Metaska

         I know it looks like Noreen is trying to break out of prison, but she chose to use the fence to

  climb the spillway as I had encountered a rattlesnake in the brush the day before. Yes, she climbed the entire length of that fence!

                          

View: From the top of the spillway. Here we were treated to a beaver swimming in the waters below. Their tail creates a LOUD SLAP when they dive under water!

View: Mcphee reservoir from the top of the dam.

                           View: Taken from the top of the dam, the valley where we camped. This area is not for summer camping as temperatures can easily exceed 90 degrees. However, in late May, we enjoyed mild temperatures in the mid 70's

Alta Lakes (internet picture)

3*  Our third camping trip was to Alta lakes on June 11th & 12th. This is a high altitude, cool weather location, and we're prepared. The five mile, rocky road drive is doable by car but not really recommended. We enjoyed a couple days of good food, cool weather, and a nice mile and a half hike around the lakes. A unique attraction is "The Observatory at Alta Lakes". This is a very exclusive lodge that rents for about $2500.00 a night for up to 12 guests. Individual rooms are not for rent: one must secure the entire lodge so, it's great for a group of family or friends! For much of the year the Observatory is not accessible by car, it's either off-road vehicles, or snow cat. 

Our dispersed camp site at Alta lakes.

The lake closest to "The observatory"

 Random phone booth outside "The Observatory"

This is a stock picture of  "The Observatory". 

The lodge seemed to be having work done when we were there so, we didn't have an opportunity to get a good picture. 

Looks like a Thomas Kinkade artwork.

*   Our fourth camping trip took us past South Mineral Campground outside of Silverton Co. June 23rd through 26th.We took Co-585 where the Rico-Silverton trailhead is located. This is a lush alpine valley filled with beaver ponds. At an elevation of approximately 10,000 feet, this is a cool weather location. We were blessed to grab a spot near the creek and spend a few days fishing for cutthroat trout, watching beavers, and seeing a moose. We also enjoyed a favorite waterfall we had come across on a previous trip.

 

A view of the valley we call "The Beaver Ponds"

Can you find Thundra with the yellow canoe on top?

The moose was a couple hundred yards away. This picture was taken through binoculars.

Our normal sleeping arrangement in Thundra for the past two summers.

This is our favorite spot in the Mineral Creek area...just so picturesque. I caught a nice rainbow trout here.

 

Though still camping enthusiasts, we had come to the conclusion that crawling in-and-out of the rear of Thundra has had it's (physical) affects on us and therefore, resulted in us discussing change. We regressed (or, as we see it), we improved our situation profoundly - we purchased a tent! Oh, not just any tent: we had to eliminate the cumbersome frame puzzling, time-consuming setup, low-ceiling, ground-sleeping, and the restricted/confined area.  Rick's research widened our vision to an inflatable "Hot-Tent".  A hot-tent is designed with a stove jack which allows for the admission of an internal stove thus, heating the tents' interior. Our intent is NOT to utilize a wood-burning stove, however, we have taken FULL advantage of this new, all-weather outdoor retreat...we've made it our "Chalet". 

We've perfected the inflation to 120 easy-to-set-up pumps! 

Inflatable tents have a very good reputation to withstand heavy wind and provide ample space. Along with other qualities, our "Chalet" features a large 5x4 ceiling mesh and clear window (wonderful for star gazing), front and rear entrances with one side that converts to a full-window, a 10x7 footprint with a high tub which prevents water from entering the tent. We have just enough space to move freely and adding our two cots makes for grunt-free mobility.

This tent has definitely made camping a PLUS! 

* Our 5th camping trip: In late July we had two of our teenage grandchildren from Tucson come stay with us for ten days. We decided to repeat our fourth camping trip at south Mineral Creek and the beaver ponds knowing that they would enjoy the beaver and moose experience. It also gave us our first opportunity to use our new Airbnb, "the Chalet". The grandkids slept in the truck 🤭. We took Barlow Creek road up to Bolam Pass, down through Purgatory, then up highway 550 just past Silverton. Within 1/2 mile from the turn-off onto Mineral Creek road, our granddaughter spotted a moose. Super cool experience to be just fifty yards away from such a large, beautiful creature! The next few days were spent fishing, hiking, playing games, watching a couple of (downloaded) shows, and just hanging out.

 

 After three days of camping, we packed up and drove to Ouray for an OHV excursion. What a blast to 

4-wheel over extreme terrain that Thundra's dreams are made of. We drove on shelf roads overlooking small waterfalls, green hillsides, rock overhangs, and steep drops. The advantage of driving a Razor (OHV) is that other 4-wheel (domestic) vehicles pulled over allowing us to pass as we are capable of going faster.

We are left with sweet memories of our family's visit. So blessed that Hi-schoolers were able to fit us in their active schedules. 

Mt. Sneffels (14,157 ft) 1.4 mile hike from Yankee Boy Basin (12,400ft)

*   Our 6th camping trip was near an OHV trail staging area, off road 38, and along the west fork of the Dolores river. We secured a very secluded spot right on the river. We had found this spot on a previous scouting trip; so peaceful to have the river all to ourselves with deer roaming about. No luck fishing though.

This camping trip also gave us our first close up look at what the Stoner-Mesa fire was about. Though later we learned that three nearby forest service campgrounds were evacuated, we kept a close eye on the smoke. The fire ended up being about two miles from us, as the crow flies. 

*   On our 7th camping trip we re-visited the Hermosa Creek area. Another spot right on the creek and the fishing was super fun. I must have caught close to a dozen cutthroat trout (catch and release only). Most of the fish were only about 6-8 inches long. We also took a day trip to Molas Lake. I caught three decent sized rainbow trout...12-14 inches. That evening, we had Surf & Turf when we added our fresh-caught fish with our steak dinner.

 

We have felt very special to have both family and friends come to PGC for their getaway. 

It has been our joy to play Tour Guide!