Wander the West: The 2009 Colorado Rally Prequel - Wander the West

Posted 02 October 2009 - 04:55 PM

Trinidad was neat to see but it was very hot there and poor Diego was becoming very agitated between the heat and the long hours driving. Back to the mountains - Lake Creek campground near Westcliffe:



Next day - Phantom Canyon road from Canon City to Victor:

Posted 02 October 2009 - 04:56 PM

Phantom Canyon road was an excellent drive:

Posted 02 October 2009 - 04:58 PM

Victor, Colorado - amazing gold mining town:



American Eagle Overlook above Victor:

Posted 02 October 2009 - 04:59 PM

Hoist at the American Eagle Mine:



Modern mining at Victor:

Posted 02 October 2009 - 05:01 PM

Looking towards Pikes Peak:



Goldfield in the distance:



The kind of rig you need for a Lance Camper:

Posted 02 October 2009 - 05:03 PM

The Crags Campground:

Posted 02 October 2009 - 05:06 PM

Just before I left on the trip the Western Museum of Mining and Industry in Colorado Springs contacted me about possible collaboration on history related stuff so I said "I'll stop by!":



This was a great museum with a lot of heavy machinery that still worked. This massive Corliss steam engine was put in place and then the building was constructed around it:

Posted 02 October 2009 - 05:08 PM

They have a working stamp mill that they run a couple times a year:

Posted 02 October 2009 - 05:12 PM

And that marks the end of the frantic adherence to a schedule of long miles and hours of photography each day. Time to head back into the mountains to relax a bit. My initial plan had been to drive to Great Sand Dunes NP and spend a few days there but I arrived late Friday and the campgrounds were full. Bummer. Plan B - off to lake city. Historic stage route pass:



County Road 788 is a great way to get to lake city - lots of camping and scenery along the way:

Posted 02 October 2009 - 05:13 PM