Took the Xterra to Durango CO
Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 12:47 pm
Took a trip to Durango CO in the Xterra. Just out of Ouray, CO, we made a trip as far up Yankee Bot Basin Road as we could get. The plows hadn't cleared it all the way, but here are a few pics. Just beyond Governor's Basin Road, Yankee Boy Basin Road gets narrower and less flat. With the recent rain/snow and melting snow it was a little slick in places. I bottomed out a couple times on the receiver hitch and caught one of the rear mud guards on one small drop but didn't damage anything.
Worth the trip if you are ever in the area.
Also took the Durango & Silverton RR from Durango to Silverton and back. What a ride. It was absolutely amazing.
Turn around point.
On the way back down. Quite a bit of snow in the higher elevations. A little beyond this point, I wish I had pictures of where we met somebody going the opposite direction and had to squeeze by hanging all the way out on the edge of the drop. We had to back up to a spot just wide enough to get passed each other. My wife was, let's say, not enjoying the scenery out her window!
What a view!
Entrance to Governor's Basin, also not open all the way.
Lunch on Govoner's Basin Road with my cousin, her husband, and aunt.
Durango & Silverton RR
A shot of the steam engine and coal car lined up in Silverton for the return trip.
On the way up
We had an enclosed car, but the weather was great, so we were able to enjoy opening the windows for fresh air.
We had to stop twice for water for the steam engine. The staff stood guard to make sure train robbers didn't take advantage of the opportunity.
The whole time in CO, my wife wanted to see a bear, so zoomed in on the previous pic...
A few more pictures from the way back.
A look down into the gorge below.
Worth the trip if you are ever in the area.
Also took the Durango & Silverton RR from Durango to Silverton and back. What a ride. It was absolutely amazing.
Turn around point.
On the way back down. Quite a bit of snow in the higher elevations. A little beyond this point, I wish I had pictures of where we met somebody going the opposite direction and had to squeeze by hanging all the way out on the edge of the drop. We had to back up to a spot just wide enough to get passed each other. My wife was, let's say, not enjoying the scenery out her window!
What a view!
Entrance to Governor's Basin, also not open all the way.
Lunch on Govoner's Basin Road with my cousin, her husband, and aunt.
Durango & Silverton RR
A shot of the steam engine and coal car lined up in Silverton for the return trip.
On the way up
We had an enclosed car, but the weather was great, so we were able to enjoy opening the windows for fresh air.
We had to stop twice for water for the steam engine. The staff stood guard to make sure train robbers didn't take advantage of the opportunity.
The whole time in CO, my wife wanted to see a bear, so zoomed in on the previous pic...
A few more pictures from the way back.
A look down into the gorge below.
