Wednesday, August 29, 2012

GOLD

Jessie Petersen arrived in the Blackhawk/Central City area in the 1970’s. He has been mining for gold ever since. We met him when he put on an interpretive program at our campground.

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After the program Betty and I were invited to tour Jessie’s mining operation on our next day off. Here is Jessie taking a break and talking with us about the mine.

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The main mine has been worked by early Spaniards and Chinese as well as Jessie’s crew.

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Jessie at the main mine entrance.

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Entrance warning sign.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

Monday, August 20, 2012

PEAKS

Our campground management job is conveniently located within day trip distance of quite a few of Colorado’s tallest peaks.

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The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum  is located in Leadville Colorado. The highest incorporated town in the USA. Elevation 10,200. Senior admission price $6. A very cool place to visit and learn.

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Golden age passport free admission into Mount Evans access highway, North America’s highest highway. Many wonderful sights all the way to the top.

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Pike’s Peak has always attracted folks. At the summit we ran into a group of BMW motorcycle riders that included a NASA Astronaut.

Our sharp eyed buddy Pete was doing the driving that day and he was the first to realize that we were in the presence of an authentic spaceman. We were all at the summit sign taking photos. 

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

PIKE

Pike’s Peak, another one of Colorado’s 14’s, or mountains that reach above fourteen thousand feet of elevation.

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The air is a bit thin here at the summit. Note that Poco is showing some anxiety in the rareified air.

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Many twists and turns as we climb and climb for miles.

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We drove up out of the trees into the alpine tundra.

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Soon we drove into the zone where the air is so thin that nothing grows and just under the surface there is permafrost.100_3297

Clever sign that we just had to photograph.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

ALTITUDE

At fourteen thousand feet of altitude, it is a breath taking drive. Mount Evans, to get to the top, you drive past summit lake and it’s rest area.

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Yep, that’s a glacier in the above photo and it is the month of August.100_3305

The end of the road, near the very top, has this very explicit sign board to warn all that pass this way. Click photo for larger view.

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Wild and very cool looking, the house at the top was one of the several fee use areas along the way to the top.