Mesa Verde, Durango, Silverton, and Creede
October 4 – 6, 2016
One our way from the Four Corners to Durango, we had time for a short visit to the Mesa Verde National Park.
Because of potential rock slides, they have stopped tours to some of the cliff dwellings, including the one below, which we could still photograph from a distance. It is one Torrey had visited some years back. The only tours available sounded much more strenuous than I wanted to undertake, and on top of that, included climbing an 18-foot ladder. No thanks.
We then drove to Durango for the night. We had reservations for Wednesday morning to ride the Durango-Silverton scenic railroad. It is owned by the same company that owns the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad here in North Carolina. Friends of Torrey's had suggested that we ride in an open car and take the bus for the return trip, so that's what we did. I put back on all the gear I had worn on Pike's Peak, including my Great Northern Railway sweatshirt, parka, etc., and was none too warm. The unobstructed view from the train was worth enduring the cold. It's a narrow-guage train pulled by a steam engine.
Torrey sent me a few of his pictures, and Ted Winter sent me a couple shots from their 2007 trip the day after our ride. I've posted their pictures here.
Without the tourists coming in on the train, Silverton probably wouldn't exist any more. It consists of gift shops and restaurants that serve lunch.
When we got back to Durango, we spent some time in the train museum that has full-sized train cars on display as well as the model trains.
On Thursday morning we took a scenic route toward Alamosa, including the little town of Creede.
Creede has a theater that attracts visitors to the area. It also has an underground volunteer fire department.
The headwaters of the Rio Grande are nearby. You can recognize the river by your not seeing anyone dancing the sarabande.
on to Alamosa ->
<- back to Utah