Camping last few days

[Cr33p3r]

We decided since it has been more than 6 years since we last went camping it was time to go again especially since I am on vacation for 9 days. We went up to Leadville and stayed at Turquoise lake for a couple of nights and explored the town and some of the trails around the area that we could take the car on. We did the Baby Doe/ Matchless mine tour which was very informative even though it is short and also did the National Mining Museum which took about 3 hours could have been much longer depending on how much time you take to read all the stuff. Combined ticket cost $10/person which is cheap. We wanted to do the train ride but ran out of time for it, it is $35/person.

Caught some pan size lake trout yesterday morning at sunrise in the rain which was cool to sit there and watch the rain move in across the lake from the west, was not to cold due to the clouds holding the temp in.

We did run up the Hagermann pass trail which is accessible by car up to the original tunnel that collapsed shortly after opening, From that point it is four wheel drive road. There is some camping areas and lakes up there at around 12-13k feet and some serious bear country. Was wondering if anyone has done the trail up there yet?

I will put up pictures this evening of the trip after I get back from taking dad up to Estes Park to fish today.:thumb:

[Funrover]

Great to hear you are getting out! Looking forward to the pictures, that is a beautiful area

[Cr33p3r]

Well dad and I did not get home last night til 9:30 and I am realizing that I did break something in my left foot while camping as it is swollen and hurting like hell and putting any weight on it is really really painful even after taking two pain killers.

Anyway here are some pics;

1) Our camp
2) Our car at the campground
3) Looking East down the valley from Hagermann Pass
4) Looking West up to Hagermann Pass
5) Old mining time clock
6) 24 oz. Gold nugget found around Central City

[Cr33p3r]

Some pics from the mining museum, the 1st pic is a model of the Climax mine and the rest have descriptors in the pics, except the large white quarts crystal and the jade.

[Cr33p3r]

Day of fishing with dad, we did catch a few rainbow trout and yes we did do our usual practice of catch and release.

1) Dad fishing
2) My pole showing the cloudy overcast
3) Clouds over Trail Ridge Road area
4) The double rainbow after the rains(one lands right over a fisherman in his boat)

[Cr33p3r]

1) Val posing with the last steam train that Ran in Leadville
2) Matchless Mine/ Baby Does last living cabin
3) A Frame @ Matchless Mine
4) Looking down the man side of the Matchless mine shaft
5) Baby Does Cabin where she froze to death
6) News paper article from 1935 on the wall of the cabin

[Cr33p3r]

There is an interesting story behind the Hagermann tunnel, how it came to be and what happened to it collapsing.

1) Hagermann Pass parking area
2) Hagermann Tunnel collapse
3) Looking inside Hagermann Tunnel

[Cr33p3r]

The area in the red circle is where I broke the small toe at the last joint where it connects to my left foot. Nothing they can do for it so I have to hobble around until it heals. I guess to play you have to pay in one way or another.

[Funrover]

Great pics, looks like a great time!!! Bummer on the foot. Would taping one toe to the other help?

[otisdog]

Nice pics. The wife and I love trips like that.
Jim

[Chris]

Good stuff Sean, thanks for the reminders of some of the stuff around Leadville. We have some out-of-state friends coming in a couple weeks and Leadville is on their "want to see" list along with BV.

[Java]

Cool trip and great pictures!! :thumb:

[Pathrat]

I loved the pictures and your descriptions Sean. I have not been to Leadville in at least ten years and I did camp at Turquoise lake. Really cool stuff to see up there. You have put it on my list of what to see again.

[Rick]

Good stuff Sean, thanks for the reminders of some of the stuff around Leadville. We have some out-of-state friends coming in a couple weeks and Leadville is on their "want to see" list along with BV.Go to the Antique store about midway on main street.We were there a couple weeks ago and spent a couple hours there and easily could of stayed longer(if you like antiques) then went up to Clear Creek Lake,also a neat place w/ a 1st come camp ground

[Cr33p3r]

Yeah we wanted to hit that antique story also but ran out of time. I did find out the I did not break my toe and the pop/crack I heard and felt was when it rolled under my foot it dislocated and relocated but tore the ligaments and tendons, only thing kept it attached was the muscles. By the time I got to the Dr.s yesterday she said it was really too late to do anything with it since it happened while camping last week, so oh well march on!