Monday, June 30, 2014 Hurricane, California

Several Jeeps headed toward California Gulch this morning.

Hard to believe tomorrow will by July and we are still playing in the snow!

Here's some old mining debris: 

 Thru the windshield:

Like the reflection of snow on the windows:

On Hurricane Pass, looking down on a still frozen Lake Como:

On the way to California Pass:

 

California Pass is "way up there!"

Is Mackie looking for a phone signal?

Charles must be explaining the meaning of life:

Looking back down at Lake Como from California Pass:

 

Wildflowers starting to pop up on the top of California:

 

 

 Looking back at the path we just drove:

 Back down on the Animas Road leading to Silverton:

Sunday, June 29, 2014, VELOCITY, CR35

We took Mackie up to Velocity Basin to see where Shaun White built his "secret half pipe" to practice his snow boarding for the Winter Olympics.   This is a great video of Shaun coming to Silverton to the "secret half pipe."  This would be where we walked today.
http://www.snowcrunch.com/videos/1083-shaun-whites-private-half-pipe-red-bull-project-x
Note:  the video opens up with the highway above Silverton that we drive the RV into town.
One of the things I learned this year is that two world speed skiing championships were won on Storm Peak (the high peak you see here in Velocity) in the 1980s.

 Still snowdrifts along the road getting there:

There is a glacial lake at the bottom  (usually with small icebergs on it), but as you can see, the lake was not visible this year due to the high volume of unmelted snow. 



Charles, Mackie, and Jane climbing up Storm Peak:

They were joined by Aaron (from LA) who actually skied down partway on his feet.

He's the kid at the top in shorts!!!

Everybody made it down with all limbs intact;

No, they didn't go to the top and Yes, I am too smart to try it!

View driving out of the basin:

Going up one of the lesser traveled trails off Gladstone Mining Area:

 

Road getting more narrow:

A challenge for Jim!  Outside ledge very unstable; too much snow on inside:

Too difficult to back down, so we knocked some snow off:

Coming thru:

Charles spotting him:

Now it's Charles' turn; Jim spotting:

Still couldn't get all the way thru, but some breathtaking views along the way.

Found an easier spot to turn around.

I think Mackie is falling in love with Grandpa's Jeep.

She has had two driving lessons in it:



Coming back down thru the same challenge:

 

Famous green chili soup at Handlebars for dinner and

S'mores under the bazillion stars for dessert!

 

Saturday, June 28, 2014 MAGGIE GULCH, CUNNINGHAM GULCH

Yesterday was cool & rainy.  Some of our crew slept till almost noon (I won't mention any names, Jim & Mackie).  Anyhow, we hung around town and acted lazy all day.  So, for yesterday, I will live vicariously thru Sig's picture.  It snowed on Charles & Jane on the trail.  We missed it! :(

And I just can't resist including this picture of Hank who minds the office.

Note:  He likes to eat tens and twenties!

 

We started this morning off with Mackie's second driving lesson from Grandpa.

I watched thru the RV window:

After lunch, we headed to Maggie Gulch:

 Saw lots of waterfalls today; snow really starting to melt at the higher elevations:

 

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 Lots of old mine debris:

Marmot enjoying the sunny day:

 Looks like we won't be making the side-trip off Maggie today. 

Even Jim's Jeep can't get thru this drift:

 

  Next trail, Cunningham Gulch:

 

This was deeper than it looked but we did make it thru and back okay: