As we drive or atv around the countryside adjacent to Lake City I'm ever more impressed by the sheer immensity of the landscape and the beauty it holds. In this segment I share some of my favorite spots, a mere sampling of what there is to see.
The falls on Nellie Creek is not large by many standards, but it splashes and pools alongside the trail we're atv'ing, creating a welcome refreshing, cooling scenic stop. I often say "I never can get a really good waterfall picture", but keep trying.
We're still on Nellie Creek trail here, looking back mostly south from whence we came. Visible here are five layers of mountains in the background, and every one of these layers presents its own world of rugged wilderness.
Nellie Creek trail, with little exception, follows the creek upstream to the hiking trailhead which leads on upward.
This is the access point for hikers to ascend to "The Big One," Uncompahgre Peak; we're told it's a grueling 2-1/2 miles, not for sissies.
Based on the number of vehicles parked at the trailhead, I'd estimate there were 10-15 hikers up there that day. The hardy ones backpack and camp up above this point; others camp in open areas around the parking area.
The distinctive shape of Uncompaghre as we approach the trailhead on our atv.
We stop on the way down for another shot at the falls; this is a little better view of the entire cascade and pool and the interesting coloration of the rocks that are constantly dampened by spray as the tumult of water hits bottom.
Here we see Clear Creek Falls, in a totally different type of landscape...a high plateau lying above the headwaters of the Rio Grande River.
We took an impromptu atv ride from the falls to an even higher plateau, near Bristol Mt. We intend to go back and ride up Bristol Mt. after the aspens turn golden.
We chose this hunting camp for our lunch stop; camps like this one are frequently seen throughout the areas where we ride. Elk and deer hunting are a big business here; deer archery season has just opened.
This kind of scene makes me stare in wonder....sheer rock cliffs jut above deep, steep canyons, hills pillow and mound in between where wildflowers flourish and die with the seasons and weather, small creeks and streams partition the landscape into unique ecosystems.
And yet, isolated as we feel, there's a sign of civilization...wouldn't surprise us to see a beautiful ranchhouse or lodge seated down there at the bottom of this sweeping scene.
This scene with the picnic bench near Clear Creek Falls just says something to me. Hello, is there anyone out there?
Our ATV ride to the top of Cinnamon Pass in early August provided this less traditional view of American Basin, flowers not being the object this time. The picture was taken from well above the trail which we normally take right into the Basin, we reached this spot via a number of tight, uphill switchback turns. Seeing the trail snaking out in front of us gave a whole different perspective on the distances and elevation changes we experience on these trails.
Between where I stand to take this photo and the furthest mountain peak in the background, I'm certain there is no town, no village....only isolated mountain homes, ranches and rugged wilderness.
Hinsdale County bears the label "The Most Remote County in the Nation," meaning that there are more places where the crow could fly long distances without crossing any sign of inhabitation than anywhere in the U.S.
Ditto, another jawdropping scene.
Yet another ATV ride took us up the Big Blue Road or Trail, which terminates at a trailhead and campground. We travel first by ranch vistas and then wind uphill through forested areas, home to much wildlife including wild turkeys, then down through a vast valley of meadow and stream, around the mountain's edge and upward to the trailhead. This view looks back down another valley where there is no trail, no road, no civilization.
I try here to show just how immense the landscape is....those are large tents down there amidst the pines.
The Powderhorn Valley, through which Cebolla Creek runs, is a different scene...the valley is all ranch land and at this season haying is at its peak. Every piece of land that can be cultivated appears to be in hay, right up to the creek's edge.
A large herd of horses, probably 35 in all, work over a newly mowed and baled field. The creek is the lifeblood of this valley; you can see by the adjacent hills that all is rocky and dry up there.
Accessible spots along the creek like this draw us to stop and linger for lunch. Most of the land is private here and not accessible to the public, but there are enough places in its wandering journey where fishing or just picnicking can be enjoyed to keep us going back every year more than once.
This is my favorite picture of summer of 2009. Here you can get some perspective of the size of the valley; it flows onward in the opposite direction for perhaps 6 more miles. I love it!
The falls on Nellie Creek is not large by many standards, but it splashes and pools alongside the trail we're atv'ing, creating a welcome refreshing, cooling scenic stop. I often say "I never can get a really good waterfall picture", but keep trying.
We're still on Nellie Creek trail here, looking back mostly south from whence we came. Visible here are five layers of mountains in the background, and every one of these layers presents its own world of rugged wilderness.
Nellie Creek trail, with little exception, follows the creek upstream to the hiking trailhead which leads on upward.
This is the access point for hikers to ascend to "The Big One," Uncompahgre Peak; we're told it's a grueling 2-1/2 miles, not for sissies.
Based on the number of vehicles parked at the trailhead, I'd estimate there were 10-15 hikers up there that day. The hardy ones backpack and camp up above this point; others camp in open areas around the parking area.
The distinctive shape of Uncompaghre as we approach the trailhead on our atv.
We stop on the way down for another shot at the falls; this is a little better view of the entire cascade and pool and the interesting coloration of the rocks that are constantly dampened by spray as the tumult of water hits bottom.
Here we see Clear Creek Falls, in a totally different type of landscape...a high plateau lying above the headwaters of the Rio Grande River.
We took an impromptu atv ride from the falls to an even higher plateau, near Bristol Mt. We intend to go back and ride up Bristol Mt. after the aspens turn golden.
We chose this hunting camp for our lunch stop; camps like this one are frequently seen throughout the areas where we ride. Elk and deer hunting are a big business here; deer archery season has just opened.
This kind of scene makes me stare in wonder....sheer rock cliffs jut above deep, steep canyons, hills pillow and mound in between where wildflowers flourish and die with the seasons and weather, small creeks and streams partition the landscape into unique ecosystems.
And yet, isolated as we feel, there's a sign of civilization...wouldn't surprise us to see a beautiful ranchhouse or lodge seated down there at the bottom of this sweeping scene.
This scene with the picnic bench near Clear Creek Falls just says something to me. Hello, is there anyone out there?
Our ATV ride to the top of Cinnamon Pass in early August provided this less traditional view of American Basin, flowers not being the object this time. The picture was taken from well above the trail which we normally take right into the Basin, we reached this spot via a number of tight, uphill switchback turns. Seeing the trail snaking out in front of us gave a whole different perspective on the distances and elevation changes we experience on these trails.
Between where I stand to take this photo and the furthest mountain peak in the background, I'm certain there is no town, no village....only isolated mountain homes, ranches and rugged wilderness.
Hinsdale County bears the label "The Most Remote County in the Nation," meaning that there are more places where the crow could fly long distances without crossing any sign of inhabitation than anywhere in the U.S.
Ditto, another jawdropping scene.
Yet another ATV ride took us up the Big Blue Road or Trail, which terminates at a trailhead and campground. We travel first by ranch vistas and then wind uphill through forested areas, home to much wildlife including wild turkeys, then down through a vast valley of meadow and stream, around the mountain's edge and upward to the trailhead. This view looks back down another valley where there is no trail, no road, no civilization.
I try here to show just how immense the landscape is....those are large tents down there amidst the pines.
The Powderhorn Valley, through which Cebolla Creek runs, is a different scene...the valley is all ranch land and at this season haying is at its peak. Every piece of land that can be cultivated appears to be in hay, right up to the creek's edge.
A large herd of horses, probably 35 in all, work over a newly mowed and baled field. The creek is the lifeblood of this valley; you can see by the adjacent hills that all is rocky and dry up there.
Accessible spots along the creek like this draw us to stop and linger for lunch. Most of the land is private here and not accessible to the public, but there are enough places in its wandering journey where fishing or just picnicking can be enjoyed to keep us going back every year more than once.
This is my favorite picture of summer of 2009. Here you can get some perspective of the size of the valley; it flows onward in the opposite direction for perhaps 6 more miles. I love it! 
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