It was one of those Big Birthdays — you know, one ending in a zero — coming up. And I wanted to celebrate in a big way. And I don’t mean having a bash thrown for me at the Sit n Bull saloon, which is what my lady had done for her birthday.
No, I’m a mountainman. I was in Colorado. I was between contracts. I wanted to spend it in the mountains.
I hooked up the Jeep to the back of the motorhome and headed south on US Hwy 285. That’s the road to South Park. After South Park, it continues on to the little town of Buena Vista, Colorado and thence to other points south. Just outside of Buena Vista, up a long driveway off of US 285, was an RV Park owned by a Texan that in those days was part of the KOA system (it has since changed hands and is independent). I haven’t been there since it changed hands, so I shan’t vouch for it here, but at that time it was, in my opinion, top notch. The owner made a Texas-style brisket every Saturday night that was to die for.
The RV park is partway up the east sidewall of the Arkansas River canyon (yes, the Arkansas River begins in Colorado) with a spectacular view of the Continental Divide on the west side of the Arkansas:
This was shot in the RV park. The view from it is spectacular. Off the right edge of the photo are more Fourteeners, named after various Eastern universities. They call it “the Collegiate Range.” Off to the left of this photo are more mountains.
For the next two days, I explored those mountains in the Jeep.
Off to the left side of Mt. Princeton, between it and Mt. Antero, is a deep, steep canyon carved out by Chalk Creek that eventually becomes a four-wheel-drive (4WD) road going over the Continental Divide to an old mining camp known as Tincup. To the right of Mt. Princeton is Cottonwood Canyon, which also goes over the Continental Divide on a somewhat better road.
I apologize for not having any more pix for this post. There will be many shots in the next one. In fact, there are so many I will have to split it in two.
To be continued
Ken, it occurs to me that your boys are getting a view of your life as you post your stories and photos - just living life and expanding your horizons.
The first picture of Mt. Princeton has to be my favorite picture among your stories thus far. There is something deeply appealing to me, as if I had been there long ago. I've never been to Colorado, but it sure looks inviting from the images, especially the ones in the park. But the first one is the "perfect picture", in my estimation, for it has everything; balance, depth, story, color variation and, most important to me, I have this compulsion to look deeply and to commit it to memory. Definitely great work, Ken, pat yourself on the back for this one. 👍🏻😲😁