Some suggestions for a 1-week Colo wheeling trip...

[Jim]

A nephew is visiting for a week in the hills. We'll be loading the jeep for camping. A general goal for the week is "mine relics" and "a creek or lake" near the campsite.

We will have ZERO schedule that we need to adhere to (Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh).

I'm looking for suggestions of "don't miss this if you're in the area" comments.

My thoughts for the week (so far).

Three large ticket items:
1) Mollie Kathleen mine tour - Victor / Cripple Creek CO (open Sat / Sun / Mon / Tue) www.GoldMineTours.com (http://www.goldminetours.com/)
2) Animas Forks townsite (Engineer Pass - open)
3) Tomboy townsite / mill (Imogene Pass - open)

As I write the below items - I might need to remove some smaller items...

Sunday (depending upon time, I could I-25 / I-70 this section - but wish to avoid)
Up-n-Over RMNP and take the back way down to Georgetown. Head up Argentine (mine relics). Possibly camp near the creek. Depending upon time, head down to Geneva Creek (mine relics) and likely camp.

Monday (all of this might get removed, due to time constraints, and we might see about hitting Molly Kathleen on Monday aft)
Debatable - US-285 to Fairplay then up to Wheeler Lake - in-n-out (the mill by the reservoir and the hard rock adit by the lake). Down to the eastern side of Mosquito Pass for a stop at the ?American? Mill. I doubt we'll do Mosquito pass as I wish to get down near Victor / Cripple Creek for the Molly Kathleen mine tour. Possibly camp at China Wall?

Tuesday
Molly Kathleen mine tour
Head towards Aminas Forks (via Engineer Pass and possibly any other interesting trail in the way - though perhaps not tincup).

Wednesday
Engineer Pass
Animas Forks
Hotel in Ouray for a shower or camp in the forest and say "smell, _I_ don't smell"

Thursday
Imogene Pass / Tomboy Townsite
Head towards Fort Collins

Any good camping thoughts between Montrose and Granby (likely closer to Montrose)? I'd enjoy camping at Adams Lake (13 miles north of Glenwood Springs) but it's likely too long of a trek to get there for Thurs night (and too far away from DEN/FoCo for a Friday night).

We can do a Friday night camping - close-ish to FoCo / DIA (unknown if we'll go straight to airport or to FoCo for a shower and switch vehicles at FoCo - shower before a 2 hour airplane ride - right?!)

Saturday at DIA for a 4p departure (some time Saturday to load up and get to FoCo or DIA).

Thoughts?

[newracer]

It makes for a longer day but IMO if your going to do Imogene you should do Black Bear first. Maybe run those Wednesday instead of Thursday.

[Java]

I wish you were my uncle. :thumb: There is a cool walk through historic and active mines called Vindicator Valley in Victor.

[Jim]

Thanks Michael - Yes, BBear -> Imogene loop to be the schedule for the day.

Paul - I recognize those buildings from your video! I'll stick the trail onto the hit list.

Argentine / Geneva Creek / Wheeler Lake likely removed from the list with one of them only visited if we end up with extra time.

[FINOCJ]

Not sure what the access is these days, but the alpine tunnel and associated palisades section of track grade/4wd trail would be high on my list. I believe hankock pass is the primary access.

[Tom]

Not sure what the access is these days, but the alpine tunnel and associated palisades section of track grade/4wd trail would be high on my list. I believe hankock pass is the primary access.
Western side is closed. There was an avalanche a few of years ago and it knocked out the trail. Don't think it will ever be repaired. The East side is accesable via Hancock Pass and some hiking.

http://data.pitkin-news.com/HTMLFiles/TunnelRoadDamage.html

There are a number of mine ruins on Mt Antero. Also a bunch of mines on Cumberland Pass. And I am certain you recall, Jim, the mine on Nepolean Pass near Tincup.