sfarson
New member
Returned yesterday. One of those simple overnighter rides simply delivering a fantastic time. Minimal words, letting pics and captions tell the tale, including a few images found after the ride, of how it looked over 100 years ago.
The Silver Thread Scenic Byway is on my very short list of favorite 100+ mile roads, anywhere. From Blue Mesa on Hwy 50 to South Fork on Hwy 160, 120 miles of curves, passes, rivers, scenery, loneliness, wilderness, and two cool towns.
Here's the location of the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, ridden from north to south...
So we have a pause at Blue Mesa, the largest body of water in Colorado, formed by a dam on the Gunnison River. I'm at the eastern side of the reservoir here. It extends for another 17 miles to the west though not visible here...
Just after Lake City there is the ascent of Slumgullion Pass. Whenever you see a swath of Aspen trees like in the background here there's a good chance a forest fire cut a swath through the same place years prior...
Pulling over at a lookout to the west from near the top of Slumgullion. The jagged 14,000ft. sentinels of Wetterhorn on the left and Uncompaghre on the right stand guard over a largely unspoiled wilderness. This Hinsdale County has a population of only 820 residents with the majority in Lake City down below...
OK, zooming in on the peaks...
I know you've done this... having so much fun on a swooping road you don't even pause for a pic. So Spring Creek Pass is passed. I see the headwaters of the Rio Grande river, but I do pause at the town of Creede. This is the "Silver Thread" Scenic Byway for the history of silver mining along the way. Lake City and Creede boasted much larger (mining supported) populations 100 years ago. Here's Creede in 1892...
Here's Creede today...
The destination is Durango for the evening, and this means the tedious chore of ascending/descending Wolf Creek Pass . From the top looking east...
And on the western descent. The RT is in its element on this ride...
The Silver Thread Scenic Byway is on my very short list of favorite 100+ mile roads, anywhere. From Blue Mesa on Hwy 50 to South Fork on Hwy 160, 120 miles of curves, passes, rivers, scenery, loneliness, wilderness, and two cool towns.
Here's the location of the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, ridden from north to south...
So we have a pause at Blue Mesa, the largest body of water in Colorado, formed by a dam on the Gunnison River. I'm at the eastern side of the reservoir here. It extends for another 17 miles to the west though not visible here...
Just after Lake City there is the ascent of Slumgullion Pass. Whenever you see a swath of Aspen trees like in the background here there's a good chance a forest fire cut a swath through the same place years prior...
Pulling over at a lookout to the west from near the top of Slumgullion. The jagged 14,000ft. sentinels of Wetterhorn on the left and Uncompaghre on the right stand guard over a largely unspoiled wilderness. This Hinsdale County has a population of only 820 residents with the majority in Lake City down below...
OK, zooming in on the peaks...
I know you've done this... having so much fun on a swooping road you don't even pause for a pic. So Spring Creek Pass is passed. I see the headwaters of the Rio Grande river, but I do pause at the town of Creede. This is the "Silver Thread" Scenic Byway for the history of silver mining along the way. Lake City and Creede boasted much larger (mining supported) populations 100 years ago. Here's Creede in 1892...
Here's Creede today...
The destination is Durango for the evening, and this means the tedious chore of ascending/descending Wolf Creek Pass . From the top looking east...
And on the western descent. The RT is in its element on this ride...
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