Rocky Mountain High

Traveling in an RV has a long list of benefits as long as you're prepared for the responsibilities and effort required to make it go as smoothly as you wish.  As an avid tent camper in my 20s and 30s, Setting up or tearing down a campsite was always part of the experience.  The same is true in an RV, albeit a little less strenuous on this 60s body thank you.  We made most of our preparations the night before to make an early go of it.  

Our first stop would take us back down to the town of Trinidad, where I could visit the last Starbucks available to me for the next 5 days or so.  We can make coffee anytime but I do have an affinity for Latte's and cannot manage that in the RV just yet.  Doubling back, we followed the Purgatoire River to the small community of Stonewall, Colorado.  I only mention it because this place holds many fond childhood memories for me as our family took several vacations in Colorado stopping here along the way. 

Colorado State Highway 12 is part of the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway.  Stonewall Gap is a gap formed by the Middle Fork of the Purgatoire River through the Stonewall Ridge. The highway leads west from Trinidad to the gap at Stonewall, then north over Cucharas Pass in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the town of La Veta, CO.

One of our concerns along the way was the elevation and lack of oxygen.  This played a part in our decision to stay for 2 days at Trinidad Lake.  Getting acclimated to the thinner air takes time and Cucharas Pass is at an elevation of 9995 feet above sea level.  That said, The drive was breathtaking in more ways than one.  

Rounding a corner to see the snow covered peaks of the Rocky Mountains beyond is always a high point.  Handheld canisters of oxygen are available for those with any concerns at high altitudes and we had them at hand just in case.  We were able to cross over Cucharas Pass and down into La Veta without incident.  Once through La Veta, We were back on the rolling plains headed west towards the Great Sand Dunes National Park.  This is sort of a spectacle and seems out of place among the Rockies.  At first glance from a distance it just looks like a slightly lighter color of rock at the foot of the mountains, But looks can be deceiving and approaching the dunes it becomes clear this is so much more.  The Dunes are more like Mountains in their own rite.  There is a river that flows around the dunes several meters wide and what appears to be only a few inches deep.  In reality, the river is several meters deep as well and simply hidden by the sand peeking above the surface during the wetter seasons and disappearing from view when the levels are lower.

Great Sand Dunes National Park is busy with tourists 

especially in the summer months and the RV park
there is often booked up months in advance.  We did not intend to stay but only to visit and explore the visitors center.  Unfortunately the Visitors Center was undergoing renovations so our stop was cut short and we headed back out across the plains to make our way northwest towards Gunnison, CO.

Along Colorado Hwy 114 onward, the geography draws you into a maze of beauty as it wanders the steep canyon bottom carved out by the Cochetopa Creek.  There was so much to take in and hardly a chance to get a shot of this drive that would do it any level of justice.  We did stop to take a break along the way just to be able to relax and soak in the moment. 

There were several pull offs along the way with picnic tables where the canyon bottom provided enough room between the road and the creek.  From what I understand now, we could have parked here overnight.  As tempting as it was, this was just to be a short break in our drive.  Georgie Girl gently meandered along coasting downhill through the canyon until it began to open up and meet with US Hwy 50 which would take us into Gunnison, CO.  We stopped to pick up a few supplies and reacquaint ourselves with the map and remaining distance to our destination just outside of Crawford, Colorado.  

The first several miles were uneventful and we were aware of road closures and delays ahead on US Hwy 50 and a more direct route would enable us to turn off short of the road work and follow the Gunnison River along Colorado Hwy 92 starting at the Blue Mesa Lake.  I have a hard time describing what follows as I was completely unprepared for both the road and its geography.  This was both intense and dramatic, with curvy twisting 2-lane road following along what I can only describe as a deep gorge cut out by the Gunnison River.  I would find out later, further north this is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  Lynn was firmly gripping her armrests the entire time while I was in awe of what looked like a bottomless crevasse.  There were many times I was unable to see the bottom and Lynn would clearly point out I need not try to describe it to her but just keep my eyes on the road,  Good advice as this stretch was fraught with many 15 Mph turnbacks warning to keep in your lane.  After what seemed like over an hour of this, The highway finally broke away from the canyon rim and settled into a much gentler landscape finally reaching our next stop near Crawford, CO.  Home to a few close relatives who had space for us to hook up and get Georgie Girl Leveled and settled in for a nice visit.   

As impossible as it was to take any pictures along the drive up Hwy 92, We did drive up to the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and took a short hike out to a vantage point on the rim.  I wish these pictures could give you a sense of the grandeur we experienced.  

NOTE:  All of the photos can be clicked on to enjoy full screen on whatever display you're viewing.

We'll be staying here for 5 days before we head northeast across the Rockies for a 2 day stay in Loveland Colorado.  There's So much more to come, and I look forward to your comments and suggestions.  

(I really do)