Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - OPHIR PASS

Yesterday, Jim had an appointment in Durango, so it was an off-day for us.  Today's picnic run was across Ophir Pass with Larry & Cathy.  The pass elevation is 11,789 feet.  The trail takes us thru a heavily wooded area, onto a shelf road bordered by a talus slope (loose rock).  Once off the shelf road, you enter an area of Aspen trees, and then into the town of Ophir.  Some steep drop-offs and very tight switchbacks along the way.  The town currently does have a post office, but that's about it - no stores or services.  It is primarily used by summer residents.

A little history from "Backcountry Adventures Colorado" by Peter Massey Jeanne Wilson & Angela Titus:  The trail was originally called the Navajo Trail and was well used by Indians.  Trappers and then prospectors followed in the 1800s.  It soon became a wagon road and became a TOLL ROAD!  At one time the town had a population of 500 and boasted five saloons, several churches, a school, and its own electricity and waterworks.  By 1929, it was a ghost town.  In 1960, it was listed as one of four incorporated towns in the US with no residents.

One of my favorite stories:  Due to avalanches, the town was often snowed in.  In 1885, mail carrier Swen Nison left Silverton with 60 pounds of Christmas mail & packages, never to be seen or heard from.  Residents were sure he had absconded with their mail.  Not believing it & never giving up, after two years, his brother discovered Swen's skeleton with the mail sack still around his neck.

Now for some pictures; hard to narrow it down, 

but probably shouldn't post 100 (and as always, you can click on pictures to enlarge):

Entering the trail:

 

 Jingles off leash getting some snow-time.  

She will always come to our friend, Cathy.

 Loves those belly-slides:

 Passage seems more narrow this year, but less snow height. 

 Nothing on the other side of that snowbank on the right - straight down:

You can see the town of Ophir just off center:

 View from our picnic site:

 

 Our luncheon dining room for today:

 Headed back home. 

Some of that talus on the left of the ledge road:

You can see something down below:

 Here's a long lens shot of it; believe it "was" a motor home. 

CanNOT believe anyone would drive that across this trail. 

 Some downed tress from an earlier snowslide:

 Anytime we pass this turnout on 550, we stop to see if the Moose family is out.

They hang out here every year.  Not today:

Another great day in Paradise.  So thankful to be able to do this.