Impromptu Road Trip to Colorado Part 2

After leaving Pitkin, we took the Alpine Tunnel trail which was part of the former Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad route from Denver to Gunnison. At just over 11, 500 feet, it was the first railroad tunnel built through the Continental Divide in CO and is still the highest railroad tunnel in North America. In 1910, the line suffered some minor damage and was abandoned. Though the tunnel itself is sealed shut, the trackbed is now a hiking and ATV trail with straight vertical cliffs on one side and still visible black ash from long ago trains.

We had shown up to Taylor Park on Sunday without reservations; thus we were being tucked in among the existing ones and had to move to a different cabin on Wednesday morning.

Our new cabin was much smaller and not nearly as comfortable as the first...

...also it's very possible the bathroom might have been an afterthought!

 bathroom view from standing on top of the refrigerator

Also the door didn't QUITE meet the ceiling or the wall...hahaha!

After tossing our stuff in the new place, we decided to try driving to Aspen. We had heard there was a trail that would lead there, that it was very difficult and that there were also still areas that were impassable due to snow.  "You can't get through to Aspen," we had been told. Mental response: "YOU can't get through to Aspen!"

Here are the hardheads determined to try

And here are the hardheads NOT making it to Aspen! After accessing the situation, Pat decided that, while it might be possible, it didn't seem prudent in light of our "unpreparedness."  

He was very disappointed but immediately started making his prep list because, next time, conquering the Aspen trail will be priority#1!

Plan B (the Lily Pond Trail) and Plan C (Tellurium Creek) were not in the cards either, although we saw some beautiful scenery while trying.

After our 3rd failed trail attempt, we ran into a family we had met earlier in the week and ended up spending a great time together, finding the route to the Lily Pond trail that we had missed earlier in the day, visiting an old mining site with gorgeous views and making some new friends.

 

The trees in this forest reminded me of something from a fairy tale:

Mining Camp

Mirror Lake

The main thing we learned during this impromptu trip to Colorado was that our first mountain vacation would definitely not be the last, and we are already making plans to head back as quickly as possible. The next time, we will have reservations, supplies, and a plan. Until then, here's to finding the beauty that constantly surrounds us...if we only take the time to notice.