COLORADO - 2

                    
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COLORADO - 2

Across the Fence 



By Arvord Abernethy 



Well, I did make it back and if you want to hear it I’ll tell you some more about our trip to Colorado. 

We took Highway 24 that leads south from Salida to Leadville as far as the Twin Lakes. On that 40 mile drive there was a range of mountains to the west in which there were 11 peaks that towered over 14,000 feet high. And right along side of the highway on the other side the Arkansas River gushed in its hurry to get away from those dizzy heights. 

Twin Lakes were formed by glaciers back in the Ice Age as they slid down off those high peaks. In the time since then tall pines have clothed the mountains, making a scene that is “as pretty as a picture”. Glance off to the north and one can see Mt. Elbert which is Colorado’s highest at 14, 433 feet. Colorado has over 50 peaks that soar over 14,000 feet. 

We knew that we had to go over Independence Pass to get to Aspen, but as we looked at that range of mountains before us we couldn’t keep from asking, “How can we possibly make it over them”. The highway took off up a valley, and then after numberless hairpin curves we reached the top which is over 12,000 feet high. There was an observation place there so we stopped. The trouble was we were up in the clouds so when one would come by there would be mist and sometime sprinkles. There were some beautiful views from this pass. 

We drove on into Aspen and Aspen is a must when seeing the beauty of Colorado. It is so different and quaint. Being a town that caters mostly to tourists, especially skiers, it is full of specialty shops, sidewalk cafes and lodges. The clothing stores were displaying their colorful ski sweaters, snow suits and equipment. Practically every store front had its own characteristic touch. 

The beauty of Aspen is enriched by some streets that have been turned into park malls. Trees have been planted along out in the streets, curbed in six foot frames which have been divided into four triangles, each lavishly displaying flowers of a different color. On one street there are two rows of trees, grass and flowers and a little stream of water runs down the center of each. 

We drove on to Glenwood Springs where we entered a canyon of the Colorado River as we turned back to the east. This canyon reminds one of the Royal Gorge as it is very narrow with almost straight up walls of solid rock. In fact it is so narrow, it might not be best for you to enter it if you are bothered with claustrophobia. 

Here the Arkansas River, the highway and the railroad share a space that a four lane highway usually takes up. The railroad has scratched off enough space right along by the water’s edge to lay its tracks and even it has to dart through a short tunnel in some places. Interstate 70 is planned for this route so they are practically double decking the road to make room for the other two lanes. Colorado is doing a lot of work on their highways as they bid for tourist money from all over the United States. The Colorado River, as were all other streams both large and small, was running full of clear, cold water from the heavy snowfall of last winter. 

Speaking of rivers, I have before me a map of the United States that shows all the major river systems; showing only the main stream without any tributaries. Colorado is the source of five major rivers, the Colorado, the North Platte, the South Platte, the Arkansas and the Rio Grande. Three other states provide the source of two rivers each. When one looks at this map the impression is given that there is a gigantic fountain of water in the center of Colorado. 

The Platte River leaves its mother, the mighty Missouri, at Omaha and heads west as did the early settlers. It then bears to the northwest in Wyoming, but when it strikes the arid country in central Wyoming it makes a loop and reverses its direction coming back into Colorado hunting for that fountain of water. From what we saw that the rivers and streams doing up there one would think that the Pacific and Atlantic would run dry if it wasn’t for the Colorado water. 

As one drives through the Rockies, so aptly named, and see miles upon miles of ocean floor rock and formations that have been twisted and lifted thousands of feet into the air to form those beautiful mountains, you have to ponder about the unimaginable force that it took. Here is another expression of God’s love for man in waiting until the last creation to make man. Had he done so earlier before the earth got through its formation period, man could have gone the way of the dinosaur. 

We drove on through Vail, that other famous ski resort, but did not see much of interest to us. It lies in a beautiful valley between mountains, but is made up mostly of miles of nice condominiums. Another evidence of where Colorado looks for much of her income, vacationers. 

We were out to see the country, so we drove on up to Steamboat Springs. This drive was different as it was up on a high plateau. We drove for miles close to the Yampa River where we saw a lot of farming, most of it being haying. Near Steamboat Springs we saw wheat being combined. The Continental Divide is 10 or 15 miles east of the town so skiing is a big attraction there. 

Our route back to the southeast brought us to Hot Sulphur Springs where we spent the night. It is a neat little village of just a few hundred people, but they have one of the finest small museums I have seen anywhere. 

The former schoolhouse was turned over to the Historical Society and they have done a professional job through state and national grants in making it a nice showplace. The original log courthouse was taken down log by log and reassembled there on the grounds. The interior was redone to look like it did in a late 1800 photograph with the manikin judge and all. The log jail was small enough to be moved there in one piece. 

As we stood outside late in the evening just looking at the scenery, an Amtrak train came zipping through its sixteen silver and red striped coaches and the sound of the whistle echoing from mountain to mountain. 

Beautiful Lake Granby made a great introduction to the scenery we would be seeing throughout the Rocky Mountain National Park, another must. 

The road through the park takes you over Trail Ridge High Point Pass which at 12,183 feet is the highest continuous highway in the country. Here you are really “Sitting on Top of the World”. Near the summit is a large curio store and other facilities. One large room contains displays of historical and geological information, and from a glassed in observation room one gets a wonderful view of a deep canyon below and the mountains beyond. 

To get the most out of as visit to the park one should take their time, pull off at the many scenic turnouts and just feast on the scenery all around. 

After spending the night at Nederland we got up early Sunday morning and headed south to hit Interstate 70 at Idaho Springs, which is about 20 miles west of Denver. This drive had been a very interesting one as it took us through canyons and about five tunnels. 

We turned west on 70 and stopped at the historical mining town of Georgetown with all its gingerbread houses and old businesses. Farther on west one goes through the one and three quarter miles Eisenhower Tunnel which is a great work of engineering. 

Leaving Highway 70 at Silverthorne we went south and got to Fairplay in time for church services. There we found a neat little church full of friendly people singing the same songs out of the same songbook we have here. Even in this small church a male quartet did a great job on a special. 

Colorado Springs had its famous points of interest like the Garden of the Gods, the Cave of the Winds and the Air Force Academy. 

We had a most enjoyable visit with an uncle and aunt at Pueblo who are well into their 80s. He has always liked to sing so he played several tapes of his songs. Some of where he had dubbed in his voice on all four parts of a quartet, making the song a one man quartet. 

To get a last look at the beauty of Colorado, we made a loop out west of Pueblo where we saw beautiful Lake San Isabel in its setting of pine covered mountains. The restaurant at Walsenburg where we ate lunch had glass all across the south so we could see the mountains. As we watcher, a cloud rapidly built up to a great height and covered the mountain. It soon flattened out and in a few minutes another cloud did the very same thing. We saw four or five clouds follow this same pattern. We mentioned the fact that hail could form in such clouds, which proved to be correct after we got up in among the mountains. 

We first noticed some hail in the weeds right at the edge of the pavement, but pretty soon small hail began falling on us at a rate that soon had the pavement white. It was too small to do any damage, but did give us some excitement. This experience, along with the great scenery that we saw, made our loop from Walsenburg out through the mountains and back in at Trinidad really worthwhile. 

A small lad and his grandfather were out looking at the mountains late one evening. The lad said, “Who owns the mountains, Granddad?” The reply, “Anyone who can be inspired by their beauty and majesty owns a part of them.” We came home very rich.

Shared by Roy Ables

ACROSS THE FENCE 

 

 
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People and Places: Gazetteer of Hamilton County, TX
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Copyright © March, 1998
by Elreeta Crain Weathers, B.A., M.Ed.,  
(also Mrs.,  Mom, and Ph. T.)

A Work In Progress