Colorado

Do a trip report here....go to another city and want to relate it to what KC is doing right or could do better? Give us a summary in here.
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

Ha! Yes. If you hadn't mentioned that we were back in Colorado, I wouldn't have noticed. Thanks!

Yes, we really are in Colorado now.
Image

This is not a good picture. The bird was originally on an ugly metal fence, so I moved him to the top of a larger portion of the picture.
But he was pretty.
Image

I guess we had to watch where we walked.
Image

You can see visitors returning from their trek down to the pueblos. I sat in the car.
Image

Reminds me of Easter.
Image

Can you imagine living here?
Image

Bathhouse?
Image

I can only guess how these rooms were used.
Image

Continuing to experiment as I show the pictures.
Image

I picked up the frame colors from the visitors' shirts.
Image

The original picture is in the middle. I cut away the edges a bit to reveal a larger portion underneath.
Image

I glued in a larger part of the picture to the top to retain the 4:3 aspect ratio without losing any detail.
Image

Pueblo house tour is over, for now.
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

I like this bridge.
Image

View from visitor center.
Image

Vying for attention.
Image

I believe that one peak has snow.
Image

Here is a little town and a framing experiment.
Image

We're traveling.
Image

Mountains beckon.
Image

We have arrived at Durango, Colorado.
Image

My son is getting tickets for our train ride to Silverton the next morning.
Image

We got up very early on October 7, 2010 to board the train.
Image

Real steam.
Image

Time to kill. Let's snap some flowers.
Image
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

Snapping a few pictures while waiting to board. Hope you like trains.
Image

Passenger car.
Image

My son is ready to go.
Image

From one train to another.
Image

Tight squeeze.
Image

Engineers getting ready.
Image

Is this the right train?
Image

McDonald's be everywhere.
Image

Funky background.
Image

Nice engine.
Image

Huff 'n puff.
Image

Okay, so I'm running out of ideas.
Image

Toot toot.
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

Getting ready to go.
Image

Passengers are seated.
Image

Motorists are being warned that our train is moving.
Image

Bridge over creek.
Image

Ticket, please.
Image

The people who live in this house get to see the Durango-Silverton trains pass every day.
Image

I suppose you could say the same for the folks who live in this house, but they are not as close to the tracks.
Image

We're below road level.
Image

Another house. This is a nice one. They even have a lawn-sprinkling system.
Image

Going around a rocky bend.
Image

Snapping shots of whatever appears in the window.
Image

Tiny train station.
Image

There will be more pictures from the train in future posts.
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

Now that we're on our way, we'll take a look at scenery from the train.
Image

Someone else has picture-taking in mind.
Image

And there's the back part. I didn't realize there was one, open passenger car until just now.
Image

That river would be fun to navigate.
Image

All kinds of train terrain.
Image

Had to go between cars to get good pictures. My son had the camera. He didn't always select good subjects. 8)
Image

Soft trees.
Image

The train's steam prompted many rainbows. I have more than enough pictures to prove it, but I will spare you.
Image

This frame experiment worked better the last time I tried it. Oh, well.
Image

I have many creek pictures. Selecting just one to post was difficult.
Image

This was the only portrait-oriented picture this time. I didn't want to lose those nice tree tops on the edges when I made the oval,
so I used the top of the picture as the background. The result is a bit odd.
Image

More trees. I remember looking specifically for aspens. I found some later on. (To be continued...)
Image
User avatar
Highlander
City Center Square
City Center Square
Posts: 10168
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 1:40 pm
Location: Houston

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Highlander »

Thanks for the photos. Here's a bit of trivia - The gorge picture on the Animas River you showed that was (assumingly) taken from train is the site where they filmed the scene in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" where they were cornered by the marshal and jumped over the cliff yelling ....s...h...i...t.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IbStIb9XXw

Somewhere in the depths of KCRAG, I once posted photos from several climbs I made emanating from trailheads only accessible by that train. It will drop you off at a place called Needleton (a stop in the Weminuche Wilderness) and it's probably easiest route in to the Needle Mountains which are, by far, the wildest range in Colorado with the most challenging peaks. I suspect you saw some backpackers on your train as popular as that backpack has become.
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

Highlander wrote:Thanks for the photos. Here's a bit of trivia - The gorge picture on the Animas River you showed that was (assumingly) taken from train is the site where they filmed the scene in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" where they were cornered by the marshal and jumped over the cliff yelling ....s...h...i...t.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IbStIb9XXw

Somewhere in the depths of KCRAG, I once posted photos from several climbs I made emanating from trailheads only accessible by that train. It will drop you off at a place called Needleton (a stop in the Weminuche Wilderness) and it's probably easiest route in to the Needle Mountains which are, by far, the wildest range in Colorado with the most challenging peaks. I suspect you saw some backpackers on your train as popular as that backpack has become.
Thank you for all that information, Highlander. I do remember that classic movie and the classic jump. Who could forget it? I did not know where it was filmed. I wish I had known about backpackers' using the train to get to drop-off points. I would have looked for them. As it was, I was more interested in the scenery than people. So here are more pictures of scenery, taken from the train. :D

Confused rock.
Image

The yellow trees jumped out.
Image

I call this "Ess Creek" because it meanders and draws the letter "S".
Image

I have a lot of pictures of this creek. I won't post all of them here.
Image

I do like trees.
Image

Trees under glass. On top of it, too.
Image

Lone yellow tree.
Image

Rapid rapids.
Image

I think the train must be stopped. The picture above and the one below show the same scene.
Image

Side water and maybe a little junk.
Image

We have definitely stopped.
Image

This creek looks pretty big when viewed next to the train.
Image
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

As mentioned last time, the train stopped. Here is why. It is getting a fill of water.
Image

Just to be different, I applied a filter to make these trees look like an oil painting.
Image

Not sure what these men were waiting for. I'd guess they were waiting for the train to leave so they could do their work.
Image

Caught a sleeping house.
Image

I was looking specifically for aspens. This one was hiding.
Image

I think this is a better shot of the same tree.
Image

This one almost looks like a painting, but I did nothing to it.
Image

I have many pictures of this creek.
Image

Trees, trees, trees.
Image

More of the creek.
Image

More trees over and under glass.
Image

A parallel set of tracks.
Image
KCKev
Valencia Place
Valencia Place
Posts: 1568
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:23 pm
Location: Tucson Arizona
Contact:

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by KCKev »

Really enjoying the train ride.The things I miss here in Arizona are trees and creeks
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

KCKev wrote:Really enjoying the train ride.The things I miss here in Arizona are trees and creeks
Hi, Kev. I'm glad you are enjoying the train ride. We liked it, too. But you have all kinds of wonderful things in Arizona! Including trees
and creeks! Plus canyons of all shapes and sizes. The slot canyons are especially intriguing.

Now for the next Colorado batch...

These look like trees in a magical forest.
Image

Love that river.
Image

The white trees wear white hats. (Translation: They are good.)
Image

A little surrealism doesn't hurt.
Image

Aspens in context.
Image

Notice the aspens on the hill.
Image

That peak gets around.
Image

Love those aspens.
Image

Skinny aspens.
Image

Yet more.
Image

The yellow leaves are a nice touch.
Image

Maybe this picture should have been discarded, but for some reason I like it. I was on a moving train.
Image
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

Still on the train. Pretty much all trees this time.
Image

Can't beat trees, creeks and mountains.
Image

Found some white trees.
Image

Soft trees and hard rock.
Image

Hope this doesn't get boring.
Image

Train sneaks into view. And it is a nice view.
Image

You can see the train's shadow bottom left and its smoke top left.
Image

Picture within a larger section of itself.
Image

Here's another picture within itself but handled differently.
Image

Smoke gives away the train's presence.
Image

Smoke is not so obvious here, but it softens the image.
Image

The different tree types play well together.
Image

Go hug a tree!
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

This picture was portrait-oriented, so I pasted it within a larger portion of itself. I like the effect. And I just love those aspens.
Image

Out of all the "tree" pictures, I picked one to use for our 2010 Christmas card. Here is that picture, on the outside of the simulated card.
Image

And here is the inside.
Image

Caught a bridge.
Image

More trees, in their natural habitat.
Image

Rocks, trees and water.
Image

If you looked up, this is what you would see.
Image

Shall we gather at the river.
Image

Yellow tree caucus.
Image

Abandoned mine.
Image

We have arrived at our destination: Silverton!
Image

Nice mountain.
Image

Keep on track, and you will achieve your goal!
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

We got off the train in Silverton.
Image

We walked around town a bit, taking pictures.
Image

Oddly dark sky on one side. But the sun was shining.
Image

Those taillights certainly show up well.
Image

Eww! Chocolate-covered INSECTS!
Image

I think we ate lunch here.
Image

Fun place.
Image

The mountain peaks look almost mystical.
Image

Back to the streets. Nice streets, though.
Image

More charming shops.
Image

Across the street. (I hate those overhead lines, but I'm too lazy to clone them out.)
Image

Silverton is a nice town.
Image
User avatar
Highlander
City Center Square
City Center Square
Posts: 10168
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 1:40 pm
Location: Houston

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Highlander »

What time of the year did you go? Looks cold with some new snow up in the mountains. Silverton is one of the few mountain towns in Colorado I can still tolerate. The rest have become so over commercialized that it makes me sick - The Telluride area has become a regrettable disaster.
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

Highlander wrote:What time of the year did you go? Looks cold with some new snow up in the mountains. Silverton is one of the few mountain towns in Colorado I can still tolerate. The rest have become so over commercialized that it makes me sick - The Telluride area has become a regrettable disaster.
All of the pictures taken while we were riding on the train and walking around Silverton were shot on October 7, 2010. I don't remember it being cold during that vacation, but I did wonder why I was seeing rather heavy jackets on passers-by when I posted these pictures this week. I don't recall all that much commercialization, probably because my son, whose interests lie mostly in geology, selected more remote areas. We were following his itinerary. I suppose the areas weren't all that remote, as he no doubt watched out for my safety. And we didn't camp outside.
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

Still roaming around Silverton, Colorado, on October 7, 2010
Image

Something a little different.
Image

Ominous hills.
Image

City Hall.
Image

Peeking peak.
Image

Street peak.
Image

Just a peak.
Image

Nature and civilization.
Image

Nestled businesses.
Image

Vestiges of Autumn.
Image

More businesses.
Image

Colorful row of businesses, leading to snowy peak.
Image
User avatar
Highlander
City Center Square
City Center Square
Posts: 10168
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 1:40 pm
Location: Houston

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Highlander »

Roanoker wrote:
Highlander wrote:What time of the year did you go? Looks cold with some new snow up in the mountains. Silverton is one of the few mountain towns in Colorado I can still tolerate. The rest have become so over commercialized that it makes me sick - The Telluride area has become a regrettable disaster.
All of the pictures taken while we were riding on the train and walking around Silverton were shot on October 7, 2010. I don't remember it being cold during that vacation, but I did wonder why I was seeing rather heavy jackets on passers-by when I posted these pictures this week. I don't recall all that much commercialization, probably because my son, whose interests lie mostly in geology, selected more remote areas. We were following his itinerary. I suppose the areas weren't all that remote, as he no doubt watched out for my safety. And we didn't camp outside.
Silverton isn't very commercial - it's at nearly 10,000', has no appreciable ski area, and US 550 (the only way in by car) has major passes on either side making it inaccessible in the winter to all but the most adventurous. Durango certainly has become that way and Telluride, while they manage development in terms of aesthetics, is over the top with pretentiousness. Only a few unspoiled places like Silverton left in Colorado - Lake City and Creede are others that have not been tainted by large scale tourism and real estate nonsense but they aren't as spectacular. Spectacular places are only a jeep road away though. I've been climbing in the area since the late 70's, so many more people nowadays.
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

Highlander wrote: I've been climbing in the area since the late 70's, so many more people nowadays.
I think I'll leave the climbing thing to the more rugged types, like you. :)

I somehow forgot to post the twelve pictures for last week, so you get twenty-four this week.

Still roaming around Silverton, Colorado, on October 7, 2010.
Image

Something a little different.
Image

Ominous hills.
Image

City Hall.
Image

Peeking peak.
Image

Street peak.
Image

Just a peak.
Image

Nature and civilization.
Image

Nestled businesses.
Image

Vestiges of Autumn.
Image

More businesses.
Image

Colorful row of businesses, leading to snowy peak.
Image

I'll grab all the flowers I can find.
Image

Quaint town with beautiful mountains. What more could anyone want?
Image

I think we're getting ready to get back on the train and go back to Durango.
Image

Image

Snapping shots of nearby buildings while waiting.
Image

Image

Image

I noticed that the three pictures above could form a panorama. So I made one. Sort of.
Image

The wind is trying to roll this flag around its pole.
Image

I like restorations. Of the car, not my son.
Image

Protective flag.
Image

I like the R.I.P. comment.
Image
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

American Legion memorial vehicle.
Image

Street view of Silverton, Colorado.
Image

This is a street view in the opposite direction.
Image

Not sure how this vehicle is used.
Image

Notice my son in the window, ready to travel back to Durango.
Image

Shot from the train window.
Image

Blowing off steam.
Image

Nice trees.
Image

Nice Peaks.
Image

Applied a little artistic tweaking.
Image

Maybe a little here, too.
Image

Continuing to experiment with graduated cuts. It suggests a mirror frame.
Image
User avatar
Roanoker
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:16 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Colorado 2010 III

Post by Roanoker »

These shots from the train window look so much alike, but the scenery is beautiful, and I cannot discard any of them.
Image

The original picture was a bit blurred, so I applied a Photoshop filter to salvage it. I kind of like the result.
Image

Train on the right side.
Image

PIcture within itself.
Image

Fall continues to yellow-up the trees.
Image

Let's go pebble-hunting.
Image

Tracks are always nearby.
Image

You can see the tiniest hint of the train engine to the right.
Image

More of the same, with a bit of tweaking.
Image

Nature does a pretty good job when left to its own devices.
Image

Such a pretty creek neighborhood.
Image

Found a flower! This picture is a small section of a larger, portrait-oriented image.
Image
Post Reply