Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Until Anne suggested that we visit the Black Canyon I had never heard of it. It has been a National Park since 1999. It is called "Black" not because of the rock but because it is so narrow and so deep that the bottom is often in the shadows. The Canyon has formed in the last 2,000,000 years. The Gunnison River has cut through the soft volcanic rock towards the top of the Canyon and is now cutting the hard older rock about 2,000 feet below the rim. We learned that water does have tremendous erosive power but this rock is eroded about 1 inch every 100 years or about the thickness of a human hair every year. We wonder what it will look like 2,000,000 years from now!

The Canyon is so deep and so steep that there has been no evidence found of any pre-history human habitation although such evidence has been found on the rims.

The Canyon is 48 miles long and the first 14 miles are the National Park. Lands beyond the Park boundary have been designated a wilderness area so it, too, will be preserved. There are 11 designated viewing locations on the South Rim where we visited. Each has a unique view of the Canyon. It was hot up there so we didn't stop at every one. In cooler weather we would like to visit the North Rim as it is supposed to be marvelous also. The Black Canyon escaped glaciation during the last ice age which is one reason it still is so steep and narrow.

Yesterday we arrived at Montrose where we still are today. We are in a lovely RV park that is quiet and not terribly crowded. Wonderful mountain vistas are all around us in the distance. We are enjoying it. After setting up camp we got in the Jeep and headed for Ouray (U-ray), a quaint little mining town nested in the San Juan mountains. Many of the original buildings dating back as far as 1876 are still in use although there has been some maintenance. The town is nestled in mountains rising as high as 13,000 feet and Ouray is sometimes compared to the Swiss Alps.

To get to Ouray we had to drive over Red Mountain Pass on the Million Dollar Highway, 11,018 feet above sea level! We're not sure whether the million dollars refers to the cost of the highway or the value of the vehicles that have gone over the side! Anne has told me that she knows where she is going to die. When I asked what she meant she replied, "right here in this seat with you driving!" Yesterday, Anne was driving the Jeep. It was payback time! Highway 550 is narrow, steep, with twisting and turning and 15 mph hairpin turns. Semis greet you roaring down the mountain with their wheels often in your lane. We followed a motor home up the mountain and its tires were constantly going from the shoulder to across the yellow line. There was some paving work being done and this motor home was hitting and knocking over the safety cones as often as a slalom skier hits the gates. It was frightful and we were glad we were not there in our motor home.

From Ouray we drove on to Silverton, another mining community but in a more open environment. We bought gas at a local station and were asked where we had been 4-wheeling when they noticed our little Jeep. I replied that we had just driven up from Montrose and the young lady responded, "my mom says that is 4-wheeling!" We agree. I tried to sleep on the return trip but the constant squealing of tires kept me wide awake. Robert, Suzy, can you remember those trips? I have a new respect for Anne's driving AND her responses from the right seat. I, too, know where I'm going to die!

We have more to see in Colorado but so far we both are enamoured with the wonderful scenery and the plentiful animals. Tomorrow we go to Del Norte where we will rest for three days before going to Creede for our four wheeling adventure. We expect to see the Rockies up close and personal and we are sure our little Jeep will begin to feel its purpose. We hope we do not reach its limitations!

The Rio Grande runs through Colorado and I hope to do some fly fishing while we are in Del Norte. The adventure continues!