I'm going to post pics pretty much as we ran the passes etc.
The run started in Silverton with 8 Raptors from New Jersey, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
We all made out introductions and Trey did a little coordination meeting with everyone then we Headed over Hurricane pass into Animus Forks get some pretty awesome break in terrain to see what was in store for the next few days.
Heading over Cinnamon pass from Animus Forks brought us out in lake City where we grabbed lunch at Packers Saloon. Good lunch and we headed down the hwy to Creede Colorado. Hwy 149 was where the recent fire was giving firefighters a heck of a battle the past couple of weeks. It was no wonder when you saw how much damage the Bark Beetle has done to the forests in these areas.
I'd say at least half if not more of the trees in the forest are dead. Luckily the fire was out.
When we got into Creede Trey decided one short loop up to the Last Chance Mine would be fun to check out. The canyon we went up first was where they had filmed some of the new Lone Ranger movie.
The Last Chance mine was founded in 1889 by the original family that discovered it and then sold it to this gentleman for the county assessment value of $2900 in 1999. He has restored many of the buildings and the mine has 44 miles of tunnel and goes down 1500 ft.
He had a lot of neat old mining equipment and one old guy that has never left the place and is still working in one of the mine shafts.
After leaving Last Chance Mine, We headed back down to Creede to check into the hotel that had been reserved.
I drove a couple of miles out of town and found a great camp spot overlooking the valley and was treated with a great rainbow and some wildlife. My bed cover had opened a little and when it rained during the day my sleeping bag got a little wet but all was good. Maddy and I still got a great nights sleep.
End Day 1