DD Report - Sept 2009 Colorado Rally

Quick summary then on to some pics:

1. Weather was more rainy than I had hoped but we still managed to carve out some chunks of good weather.
2. WTW folks were great as usual and I was happy to meet a few new folks!
3. Colorado is amazing - I'd like to go every year.
4. Magellan couldn't find it.
5. Bob made bacon for everyone in the morning so he rocks.

My trip was three weeks long and only the second half was with WTW peeps. I'll post a prequel a bit later. Marc was the first to arrive and I talked him into making the extra drive to meet me in my favorite Colorado town Lake City. We camped there for the night and then rolled over Cinnamon Pass to Eureka - the rally gathering spot.

Starting up Cinnamon Pass:

We had some pretty good rain on Cinnamon Pass but it was still a good run.





The morning before we headed to Eureka, simimike had posted that he was sitting in the brewery in Silverton - but we thought he was joking since he never said he was coming to the rally. We were surprised to roll into Silverton six hours later and find that simimike really was in town - and still at the pub

Eureka:

The next morning Marc and I decided to drive Eureka Gulch - which is a road that starts just across the valley from Eureka. Mark ascending the first grade:



Looking down at Eureka:

Big flock of sheep (Marc honked at them so we had to deal with angry sheep later)


Mined out vein - Eureka Gulch:

We encountered heavy rain again on our Eureka Gulch run:




Still a fun run though......

It was still raining pretty hard when we got back to Eureka so we hunkered down in the campers for a while. Just as I was about to get my nap going I heard a chorus of "bahhhhh" from across the valley. Poked my head out of the camper and sure enough, there were 1000 sheep filing down Eureka Gulch road to come down and get Marc for honking at them:





These poor people were stuck for about an hour:

The sheepdog was a friendly fella that ran out to greet all the people that had converged on the road to witness the sheep carrying Marc off. I think maybe the dog was a Kuvasz?

simimike and Marc:

We had some more WTW folks show up that night and the next day decided on a run to Animas Forks then up California Gulch. Getting started:


KC:

Animas Forks:





Trucks introduce themselves much like dogs do:

Heading up California Gulch towards the Frisco Mill:

We took a wrong turn into Placer Gulch but it turned into a good move as it turned into and outstanding loop that dumped us out just a few miles above Eureka. Ascending Placer Gulch:



Mine buildings in random spots:

A mine is a hole in the ground, owned by a liar - Mark Twain

Summit above Placer Gulch

Descending toward Picayune Gulch

Good ole Bob



More people showing up. I think we had 10 trucks total and our tenth guy rolled in having no idea that we were having a rally. He was a bit surprised

Mtn-high's buddy Mark showing us the Eagle Scout method of making a fire:

The next day's run was going to be Cinnamon Pass to Lake City and back. Here we go! Bob heading out of Animas Forks:



WTW crew takes over Cinnamon Pass Summit: