By Ron Finger

Pat Neveau, Ron, Janet and Sue Finger along with Rick, Connice, Rylee, Patrick and Dawson Finger made a trip to the Telluride-Ouray area of Southwestern Colorado on the four day 4^th of July weekend. We camped at 11,300 ft on one of the Alta Lakes just out of Telluride.

View from near the campsite

The first evening it rained as we prepared dinner and the second evening it rained and hailed at the same time. Other than that the weather was great and the campsite was beautiful.

Thursday and Sunday were mostly travel and set-up/take down days. We tried to make the most of the remaining days by being on the trail and enjoying the gorgeous scenery. Friday we started out by doing Ophir Pass. It is one of the easiest but also very scenic.

We got on highway 550 coming off the east side of Ophir and drove to Silverton. From there we headed to the old mining town of Animas Forks. Following lunch and some exploring we headed over California Pass and Hurricane pass and down Corkscrew Gulch, back to highway 550, and over Ophir Pass again to our campsite.

A portion of the trail from the Town of Ophir heading towards the crest of the pass

Part of the group at the crest of Hurricane Pass

On Saturday we did Imogene Pass from Telluride to Ouray with a brief side tour to Yankee Boy Basin. Pat removed the hard top from his jeep. Rylee and Patrick enjoyed the open jeep from the back seat and others traded off sitting in the front with Pat.

A group shot from Imogene Pass with Black Bear behind and left

Pat’s jeep passing through a short tunnel

After we had some ice cream in Ouray and did the obligatory t-shirt shopping we headed south out of Ouray for Red Mountain Pass (on highway 550). We were able to convince a reluctant Connice that she mastered shear drop-offs by doing Imogene and Black Bear Pass would not be any worse. By the time she wished she hadn’t agreed to this it was too late as Black Bear is a one-way trail and we couldn’t turn back.

I can’t imagine why Rylee and Patrick thought this was more fun than my Pathfinder

The steps were behind us as we stared down the switchbacks into Telluride

Another view of the switchbacks.

There is a power house on a 450 ft shear cliff in view near the center of the picture.

Connice and Dawson at the top of the switchbacks with Telluride in the background

Pat makes a switchback turn

It was a great trip and the cool mountain passes a welcome relief from the heat of the Phoenix area. Although, we could have done without the hail on our supper, everyone enjoyed the trip and is looking forward to the next opportunity we have to enjoy the beautiful San Jaun’s.

Ron Finger