The Magnificence of the mountains......

Thanks to all for your kind words of condolences at the passing of my mother.    As the ever-eloquent Jan (P's wonderful sister) wrote....."you are never too old to be a mother-less child."   A celebration of her life will be held next month.   

We are currently in a most favorite area of the country.    Colorado is diverse and stunning and magnificent.   It begs one to get out and be a part of it.     We left Denver and drove south and then west and settled in Pagosa Springs.    It is a small community, near a ski resort and the hot springs.    We are at Wolf Creek Run, in a pretty site with view of the creek and aspen.   

Yesterday, we headed 50 mi west to Durango....it has grown significantly since our last trip.    Not as 'wild west' looking as I remembered.    We stopped at the Saturday morning Farmer's Market and found some fresh squash, spinach and garlic.    Then we headed north ...............   I took 290 pictures......I'm sharing about 15 of them and it was very hard to just pick these.    Most of them are "right out of the box" with only a couple lightened or enhanced a bit.    

 

 The San Juan Mtns are magnificent.   More rugged and 'newer' than the eastern  Rockies.

 The road is slow, with switchbacks and hairpins and 10-15 MPH speeds in many areas.   There are no guardrails and the shelf roads are narrow and intimidating......there are warning signs about the danger.....and yet............RV's make this daunting drive...all sizes including ones as long and wide as ours.    I would have to crawl in a fetal position on the bed if anyone ever suggested trying it.   Between Silverton and Ouray, it is called the Million Dollar highway as that is the reported cost for 1 mile when it was built in the '20's.    There is a nice tribute to 3 men who were killed in past years in their snowplows keeping the road open.

 Our purpose was to return to Ouray.    Many many many years ago, well, about 25, we had  a place for a week and rented Jeeps and spent our days on the high mountain trails both terrified and amazed.   The boys and a very pregnant Jenna joined us and it was an unforgettable time.  

 Ouray was settled in the 1870's when most of these buildings were designed.    It is nestled among

 these towering walls.   This area is known for its "alpen glow"....when the  setting sun causes a glowing off the rocks.  

 The first snowfall has frosted the peaks.

 This final picture was taken with my new iPhone 5....using the panorama mode, I was able to take a 180 degree view ....   It is dark and not that great but you get the idea.

If you ever need to be awed, plan a trip to the western mountains this time of year and prepare to be humbled by it's beauty.