We started the day off moving . . . again! For some reason, the management here seems to like to play musical sites. We got all set up again and went into town to Kip's (where the locals hangout) and had lunch on the patio. Just as we were leaving, it started to rain. It usually clears up fairly quickly so we decided to head west and try out some old logging roads into the forest. Lime Creek and Mineral Creek -- not to be confused with trails by the same name near Silverton. I drove today. The roads were not bad, but terribly bumpy in places. They are like mazes that wind all over the place; over mountains and into valleys. We never see these kinds of valleys around Silverton. The Rio Grande meanders all over the place. There are signs of that darn pine beetle everywhere; sadly lots of dead trees. We are still in search of critters! Seems like everyone is running into herds of elk, a bear, etc. We are always in the wrong place!
We found this game-trail with hundreds of hoove prints; several different kinds,
so we KNOW there are critters out here somewhere!
This area was devestated by winds of up 125 mph on October 10, 1977. The winds blew down over 700 acres of spruce and fir trees. This is extremely rare at this elevation (11,000 feet).
Jane finds a tiny flower.
Small lake ahead:
The Aspens seem to be healthy.
To the right of this pond -- a beaver "condo"
Well, we finally found a herd of critters -- Big, fat, COWS!!
I believe that might be Bristol Peak:
More cows, grazing on the slope
Close up of the Rio Grande River
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