Black Cannyon of the Gunnison NP

Aug. 15, 2022

The original plan was to stay in a BLM area just outside the park.  We found a spot, setup and started relaxing. 

After a while a National Park service law enforcement ranger came driving through and we asked if there was anything we should know about the area.  He told us there was a breakin the previous weekend.  We would have rather stayed in the park anyway but thought all the sites were reserve only. He said all of loop "C" was first-come first- serve.  We drove the 2 miles to the park, found a spot, came back, hooked up, went back to the park and set up in our new site.

(Picture from a few days later, after the rain!)

It was a tight fit but we made it work.

The first full day in the park started out rainy but cleared after a few hours so we did some sight seeing.

Closer view of the river.

As we got to the Painted Wall overlook, it started raining again.

This overlook is named "Sunset view", with rain.

More to come...

More from Hartman Rocks, Gunnison CO

Aug. 14, 2022

Note: Been out of cell service for a couple weeks, trying to get caught up.

Most of activities were hiking on the multi-use trails. We found the black diamond (dificult) bike trails were the most interesting to hike.

View of campsite from the Rattlesnake trail.

Moutain Bikers riding the same rocks we just scrambled across.

Day trip to Gunnison for Saturday farmers market.

Saturday morning jam session.

Examining the vains of quartz in the Granite bedrock. 

Interesting way the sun (behind the camera) lights up the rain complete with a reainbow.

Another beautiful sunset to end our time at Hartman Rocks. 

Coming next, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Hartman Rocks BLM, Gunnison CO.

Aug. 3. 2022

After 2 weeks in the lush green of Crested Butte, we travled 37 miles south to Gunnison CO and the high desart of Hartman Rocks recreation area.  As recommended by many reviewers, we approached via the "back" enterence, CR 32.  This big rig friendly route avoids the steep rough main entrance.  We dropped the trailer on a very nice (but boring) pull through site.

After unhooking, we went scouting for a more interesting location.  We found a wonderful site high on the ridge nestled among the rocks with a view into the valley. 

We plan to stay here the full 2 weeks, more to come.

Final images from Crested Butte CO.

Aug. 2 2022

Elk Ave., the hub of activity. Touristy but pleasent to walk. 95% of the restaurants in Crested Butte are in a 5 block stretch of Elk Ave.

Sunday morning farmers market.

Interesting Crested Butte statistics from a real-estate magazine. 

Wildflowers 

East River trail 

Budd trail.

The road to Gothic CO.

Just north of Mt Crested Butte there's a parking lot where you can stop and pitch your tent in this field of wildflowers. 

Gothic mountain.

Downtown Gothic, CO. A former mining town turned ghost town turned Botanical research station ... with a coffee bar.

We stayed our full 14 days in the Crested Butte area and loved it.  We'll definatly be back.

Many faces of Crested Butte Mt.

Aug. 1, 2022

Surreal.

Ghost mountain.

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Wind from the north (left) creating clouds on southern face. 

Early morning.

Nestled on a bed of low clouds.

Golden sunset.