Monument Trail, Million Dollar Highway

COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT

National Monument is named after the river rather than the state and covers a relatively small area of eroded red rock formations and canyons near Grand Junction.

We begin our ascent on the 20 miles scenic drive along the plateau rim.

Independence Monument

The hiking trail is among the most popular in the park.  The 400 foot tower of Independence Monument is one of the main attractions.

First explored early in the 29th century, John Otto began building trails on the plateau and into the canyons.   1911 the area was established as Colorado National Monument Park.  Otto was hired as the first park ranger, lived in a tent in the park and made $1/month.

Marc's waving at ya! 

In the 1980s the park became well known partly due to the inclusion as a stage of the international bicycle race, the Coors Classic (known as "The Tour of the Moon").

The plateau that forms the "mesa" part is 6,000 feet above sea level and 2,000 feet above the Colorado River.   Riding in the passenger seat, looking down can give one a queazy feeling.

An unfortunate driver pummeled over the edge last summer.   

Playing with Tazz one afternoon in a park, I happened to mention to a dad, minding his children at the park, that we drove the Monument Trail.   He said when in highschool, his buddy lived in the upper canyon and drove every day to and from down town.   He visited and stayed overnight one evening at the friend's house and while driving down one morning, they went over the edge - the car got hung up on a tree and they dangled for over three hours.   Rescuers finally came and winched the car back up and both were saved.

Red Canyon Overlook:   a view of ancient bedrock over 1.5 billing years old.

THE ARCHES (Utah)

4 miles north of Moab, is Arches National Park.   Home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches within the 76,518 acres of park.

Balancing Rock

The national park lies atop an underground evaporite layer or salt bed, which is the main cause of the formation of the arches, spires, balanced rocks, sandstone fins and eroded monoliths (a large single upright spire of stone).

Although the park's terrain may appear rugged and durable, it is extremely fragile.   More than 1 million visitors each year threaten the fragile high desert ecosystem.   The problem lies within the soil's curst which plays a major role in the survival of the ecosystem.   The soil's crust is composed of bacteria, algae, fungi, and lichens which grow in the dusty parts of the park.

Sandstone fins form typically in sedimentary rocks, mainly sandstone   Sandstone is bedded, which provides zones of weakness, along which weathering and erosion takes place.   Iron oxide and calcium carbonate cemented sandstones produce fins.   Freezing and expansion breaks off chunks of sandstone, small recesses develop and grow bigger with each storm.   This process turns fractured rock layers into fins, and fins into arches.

Back to Grand Junction and getting ready to move onto Albuquerque, New Mexico.

From Grand Junction took highway 550  from Ouray to Silverton, Colorado - the  Million Dollar Highway.

THE MILLIION DOLLAR HIGHWAY

A scenic two-lane highway that  meanders through a series of sharp grades and hairpin turns, over three mountain passes before Lookout Point, where you look down on the quaint town of Ouray (considered to be the Switzerland of the U.S.).

The summit is at an elevation of 11,018 feet.

OURAY

Mineral Creek

Legend has it that the name Million Dollar Highway comes from the 1920s cost to build the highway at over $1 million a mile   Others say that the fill dirt used to make the road contains $1 million in gold ore; while other claim the name stems from the panoramic million-dollar views.

Narrow lanes, steep cliffs, and no guardrails.   One misstep and you're doomed.  Many snowplow drivers have catapulted to their deaths along this stretch of highway.

One driver in an SUV in front of us was scared enough that he would drive on the left hand side of the highway until someone else was coming and he was forced to move to the right hand lane.   We are pulling the 21 foot trailer and various semi's and large horse trailers traverse this road.   The poor dude probably had the longest 25 miles in his life.

Mining town of Silverton

Home to approximately 600 year-round residents, the area is known for outdoor activities.   Heli Skiing, hiking, rafting, four-wheeling.....

Less than an hour away, is Purgatory Resort.   A blend of steep tree skiing trails and wide-open cruisers, with stunning views.

Annual snowfall is 260 inches/year   Summit elevation is 10,822 feet.

Another 5 hours and we arrive at Enchanted RV Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico (west side of I-40).     Decided it was too far out and away from everything and no where to walk or play with Tazz.   Every place was totally fenced for miles, so no chance of getting off the beaten path to take Tazz.  

Also, would have been a lot of driving to meet up with our friend (from Winnipeg), visiting other friends in Albuquerque, and pickleball.

So, off to the KOA we go for a week.   Skyline Road NE.