In between irrigations Terry and I took off for a little day trip.
We headed to Lake City by taking the short-cut at Sapinero, then on to Creed, Pagosa Springs, Durango and back home over Molas, Coal Bank, Red Mountain and the Million Dollar Highway passes.
Lake San Cristobal (the reason Lake City, Colorado, is called Lake City) is the second largest natural lake in the state of Colorado.
Located on Slumgullion Pass (elevation 11,530 ft) which is named for the nearby earthflow, a gigantic landslide of yellowish soil. The early miners thought it looked like slumgullion stew.
It was here the Alfred “Alferd” Packer became more than famous.
On the other side sits the little town of Creede where the headwaters of the San Juan River and the Rio Grande make thier start.
(Have you noticed I seem to always focus on water…?!?)
I had to cut short the 200+ photos and try to give you the ones that bring out the drama of this little trip.
Along the way you will see
history still standing.
The second you leave Durango you start climbing Molas, and Coal Bank passes.
Then when you start down you travel along Red Mountain Pass and the Million Dollar Highway.
The views are stunning
I never seem to tire of what I see
My mind usually wanders trying to figure out how those that came to settle this area felt…
We made it home in enough time to see to change the water.
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
I wouldn’t get tired of seeing those views either!
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Oh my what beautiful views you enjoy on trips! Glad the two of you got away if at least for a little bit. Send some of your dry, wonderful weather this way. Still hot, humid and sticky here. Winter is around the corner though!
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What a fabulous day trip you had, Linda… The views were absolutely fantastic… It’s wonderful to see areas of the country which are not so populated. Our area around the Smoky Mountains is gorgeous also—but there are SO many people that it becomes distracting. That’s why George and I love to hike to waterfalls which are NOT so popular… Many of my favorite waterfalls are the smaller ones way back in the mountain where George and I are the ONLY people there!!!!!
Thanks for some beautiful pictures, Linda… I could see all 200 and love them.
Have a good weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy
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Thanks for the tour…….you travel in day trips the way we do. Short and always home to finish work 😉
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Fantastic scenery Linda. Real wilderness isn’t it?
Would this area be State owned or are there farms/ranches in the region?
I really wonder what the pioneering people in the waggon trains thought of it – quite hard
to visualise! The pioneering spirit must have been really something that we of today can only
dream of.
Cheers
Colin (HB)
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HI,MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS BORN AT LAKE CITY IN 1879,SO SEEING ALL THE PICTURES WAS GREAT! THANKS LINDA!!
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Just beautiful Linda. Your scenery is amazing and I love day trips too.
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Gorgeous pictures as usual! Looks like a beautiful place to drive around and see the sights. We like to do that coming home from Utah back down into Phoenix. The landscaping is so different. The girls are constantly yelling at each other to look this way, check out that mountain, look at the water, etc…
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It must be great to get away for a day trip. The countryside is beautiful and I can understand why you never tire of it.
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Beautiful day trip
we have camped somewhere near or at Lake City
if gas was not so high we would go to those far away places again (o:
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You brought out the nostalgia in me, Linda. I have been to all of those places when I lived in CO from 67-72. Time does not seem to change them much…they are oh-so beautiful! Thanks for the pics, glad you got a day trip in during your busy summer.
Blessings!
CottonLady
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Beautiful country! I enjoyed the link to Alferd Packer..what a guy. They named a cafeteria after him..unbelievable.
You are like me, I often wonder how the pioneers made it through all the swamps and around all the lakes..and tonight..how they survived the skeeters:(
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The photos remind me of views in California. We both live in beautiful country. Great photos.
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Ohhh. Those are the summer vacation spots of my youth. Thanks so much for sharing them. What a day trip.
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Next summer when my daughter Tarynn and I take our trip through Wyoming, we are going to dip below the border a bit and steal two nights in Estes Park. I hope the views will be as stunning as your pictures!!
I am glad to see that you still look at the surroundings and do not miss the beauty. I see that happen alot around here. People live in the most gorgeous places here and they don’t ever look out the window!
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Beautiful!
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Love your photo’s Linda! What a beautiful trip. Also like the new header photo with the rainbow!
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WOW! Such beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing!
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