Tuesday, June 15, 2010 GLADSTONE TO CALIFORNIA PASS

WOW -- that's about all you can say about today.  Charles & Jane arrived yesterday, so three Jeeps started out of Silverton towards Gladstone this morning . . . easy ride.  Passed many mines along the way.  This route closely parallels the old tracks of the Silverton, Gladstone & Northerly Railroad from 1899.  The rail operated until 1924 and was abandoned in 1937.  The tracks were torn up and sold for scrap during World War II. 

THEN, we turned towards Hurricane Pass.  I highly recommend you click on the pictures to enlarge them today (use the back arrow to return to the blog).  Many pictures that look like snow, actually have Jeeps in them:

We took a side trip to the Sunny Side Saddle.    It was like being inside a bowl of frosting! 

Looking back at the road we just traveled:

We were able to make it to the top of California Pass in our Rubicon, but Patrick & Janet tried hard & their Jeep just kept slipping in the snow on the steep incline.  Since it was a ledge road and nobody wanted to see them go over the edge, they and Charles & Jane who were following them, backed down back to Hurricane Pass. 

This incline is where Janet and Patrick's Jeep started to slide:

Going back down to join the others

The switchback that was most difficult:

People often ask what happens when we meet someone? 

Well this is what happens. (Janet took this picture of us)

There is an extreme drop-off beside the snowdrift on the right!

Trying to decide who's gonna give up (another of Janet's pictures)

After finally getting out of the snow, we took one of the trails down to a mine.  There were two government vehicles leaving as we approached.  Not sure what they were doing, but we saw them at another site later with shovels and plastic bags taking samples.  We understand that the mine is going to be re-opened.

Jane & Charles teaching Janet how to hammer the rocks:

Jim and Patrick talk "Jeep"

Patrick and Charles

Janet, Jane, Jimmy

A marmot peeks out of his hole:

A well-deserved lunch on Natalia's patio

We ended up the evening having Patrick & Janet's homemade blackberry wine and cheese.  They leave tomorrow morning headed to Michigan and we will miss them on the trails.  It has been great getting to know some new friends and we hope to see them along the road again.