Soon we were back in the vehicles and
headed back toward Silverton. Our
eagerness had gotten the best of us and
we couldn't wait to get started on seeing
this beautiful area. After a short stop to
purchase an oxygen bottle (my life saver at
this time), we headed north towards the
Animas Forks Ghost Town. This is the hub
where many roads and trails come together.
We knew that from here we could decide
where to go with ease. Animas Forks did
not disappoint. It was booming already
with rigs from all over the U.S. and we ran
into several people attending the event and
were just out having a good time before
everything got fired up on Wednesday.
Heading back to the west was
California Gulch and California Pass.
To the northeast was Cinnamon Pass
and Engineer Pass through Lake City
and the Alpine Loop. So many options
and such limited time. We continued
to the west across California Gulch
through the middle of the mountains.
Entering California Pass was the
beginning of making a dream come
true. Off-roading in Colorado is the
penultimate of a redneck Arkansas boy
that had grown up thinking the Ozarks
were the top of the world. Switchback
after switchback we began to climb. The
road narrowed to one lane with just a
few places for those descending to pass.
We ran into a large group at the top
coming down, but after a few minutes
we made it to the summit. I parked and
set my parking brake with both hands.
There was no room for error here. After
a short climb to the summit and many
photos later, I walked back to the vehicle
to find Jube standing beside his Tacoma
with glassy eyes. His raspy voice filled
my ear about a fear of edges, about how
shelf roads were not his thing, and how
we could not get him off this mountain
quick enough. We laughed together (it
might have been just me) as we looked at
our long descent and path back to camp.
It didn't look like it got any better to
him. To me it was heaven on earth.
At the bottom of the hill we came upon
Lake Como and the entrance to the
infamous Poughkeepsie Gulch Trail.
Climbing up the mountains again I
could feel the kid come out in me as we
encountered our first snow. I had to touch
it. After passing many more mines and
mountain peaks, we came to the trailhead
of Corkscrew Gulch. Shortly after this we
began our descent back into the tall aspen
trees and the scenery changed completely.
Jube expressed his sense of relief as he
knew now if we slid off the road, the trees
were there to catch us.
The wildfires burned much of the forest
in Colorado just before our arrival but
recent rains had put them out and the
event was still on. Terry was stopped
in Durango at a mudslide that had the
highway shut down. We were taking it
all in. Eating a big southern breakfast
while watching the elk feed across the
meadows high up on the mountainside
was something only dreams are made
of. Mrs. Jerrie (Jube's better half) was
strolling through after a morning walk
as Terry and Julie pulled in, their Lexus
GX not even phased after the long trek
from eastern Arkansas. After Terry
settled in, we headed into Ouray to
TOYOTA TRAILS
13