Colorado Scenery

With a couple weeks to go before my next doctor's appointment, we decided to go on a mini-tour of the Colorado mountains. Heading south from the Denver area, we ended up on highway 50 going west, and found a lovely campsite by a lake at the Curecanti National Recreation area:

 

We left there the next day, intending to go as far as Ouray, CO, but stopped for a break at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. We liked it so much that we spent the night there -- a day's traveling of about 40 miles!

The Canyon is deep and narrow, with sheer walls that only allow a glimpse of the Gunnison River some 2000 feet below. In 48 miles, the river loses more elevation than the Mississippi River does from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The power of this fast-moving water began carving the canyon about two million years ago, but has since hit extremely hard rock that has slowed the erosion to an inch per century.

 

Colorado scenery is magnificent -- just driving down the roads and highways is amazing -- every curve gives new views of mountains, valleys, lakes and streams. Not being able to hike down trails, or walk easily to viewpoints is frustrating -- but I make progress every day, and soon I'll be able to get rid of my walker/chair and boot!