The evening rains bring a dusting of snow to the mountains and forests of Estes Park. Winter has come to the Rocky Mountain National Park overnight and we enter the park early in the morning to photograph in the best morning light. The golden aspen leaves shimmer with icicles and droplets, and the pine forested mountain ranges appear to have been dusted with powdered sugar. The elk herds are out in the meadows and the bulls’ bugles echo through the valley floor. It is a sight to behold and a reminder of how close to nature we are in this vast place. As the sun rises higher in the sky, the snow line gradually rises and disappears.
Today is a long driving day and we make our way west toward Vail as the skies alternate between cloudy and drizzly. As we drive through Fremont Pass, we pass a series of huge reservoirs and begin to wonder why they are there at 11,000 ft in elevation when we come upon a HUGE mine that has stripped the entire mountain. The sign says Climax Molybdenum, which we learn is used in the manufacture of lightweight steel and other chemicals. We are shocked by its size! It is clear now that the names of Copper Mountain, Leadville, Telluride, Silverton originated from all the mining in Colorado.
The rest of the drive is uneventful as we make our way south to Gunnison Dinner is burgers at a local Gunnison joint with John Wayne posters on the wall and a very western small town feel.
Our lodging in Gunnison is at Lost Canyon Resort, 8 miles from town – the skies area about as dark as they can get. We find the old log cabins sitting along the Gunnison River and deep in the heart of fly fishing country. Inside, the walls are lined with logs, the ceiling and floor with wood and a pot bellied stove stands in the corner. The tiny gas stove lights with a match, only a few outlets are in sight and there is no internet, but the place is cozy and reminds me of a Laura Ingalls Wilder story!
