Welcome to ColoradoTrue, a blog featuring all things Colorado, but mostly the western slope
(and occasionally eastern Utah).
The big news in August was the Pine Gulch Fire, burning north of
Grand Junction and about 30 miles from where I live. The Pine Gulch fire has the dubious distinction of being the
largest fire in Colorado history, burning over 200 square miles. It started at the end of July and there was smoke and
ashfall at my place for most of August. Kind of scary, however it made for some very interesting sunrises and sunsets.
I've included some photos below. The firefighters have done a fantastic job and hopefully will have it totally contained
in the next few days. This would be good, because I plan on doing a little camping at Rifle Falls State Park, which is right between
the Pine Gulch and Grizzly Creek Fires. Hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day.
Posted September 1, 2020
COLORADO PLACES
Last month I reminisced a little about about Cortez and said I was going to feature it as a Colorado Place in the near future. I ended up taking a road trip to Cortez (for my birthday), so naturally I made it this month's Colorado Place.
Last Month's Colorado Place
This Month's Colorado Place
You say you missed some of the past Colorado Places? No problem! All of the Colorado Places that I haved presented here are archived at Highways-Byways.com.
"....get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space..."
Edward Abbey
Upcoming Events
Most events have been cancelled or postponed for the foreseeable future.
COLORADO PHOTOS
This section contains favorite photos from around Colorado. If you have any awesome Colorado photos
you're just dying to share, e-mail them to me and I will put them in the queue (personal snapshots are discouraged).
Send a brief description of the photo and also indicate if I can use your first name and town.
The smoke from the Pine Gulch Fire made for some spectacular sunrises and sunsets as seen in the photos below.
Also, I needed to show off my new Skyshed Pod observatory.
Sunset 7:24PM 8/16/2020
Sunset 7:24PM 8/16/2020
Sunrise 7:11AM 8/23/2020
Sunrise 7:08AM 8/24/2020
I needed another photo
My new Skyshed Pod
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Hikes, camping trips, road trips, off-roading, and other outdoor adventures. I will be post a new article periodically.
Morrow Point Boat Tour
Welcome aboard the Morrow Point Boat Tour. This is a fun half day adventure that the whole family can enjoy.
So buckle up your life vest, sit back, and enjoy all the ambience the Gunnison has to offer.
The Morrow Point Boat Tour is a 1½ hour round trip excursion on the Morrow Point Reservoir in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The boat tour is provided by the National Park Service for a nominal fee ($24 for adults) and reservations are required. They make 2 trips a day, one at 10:00 AM and another at 12:30 PM. The boat tour is accessed from the Pine Creek trailhead at mile marker 130 on US Hwy 50. After a couple of short switchbacks you will arrive at the parking lot.
Sign on Brick Outhouse
Stairs down to the river
After parking, descend 230+ stairs into the canyon and take a leisurely 3/4 mile stroll along the Gunnison to reach the Morrow Point boat dock.
End of stairs
Start of trail
Gunnison River below Blue Mesa Dam
Trail to the boat dock
The trail to the boat dock is all that is left of the rail bed of the Denver and Rio Grande narrow gauge railroad. The tracks were removed in 1949, and most of the rail bed has been submerged by the reservoirs in the Black Canyon.
Tour Boat
Morrow Point Boat Dock
There were two park rangers on the tour. Ranger Ed drove the boat and Ranger Curt did all the talking, giving an excellent presentation. I learned a lot of geologic and human history about the Black Canyon and surrounding areas.
Our tour guide and narrator
Ranger Curt
Under way
Chipeta Falls
Curecanti Needle and Blue Creek
There is one waterfall on the tour, Chipeta Falls, named after the scond wife of Chief Ouray of the Uncompahgre Utes. Aside from the sheer canyon walls, the most significant geological feature on the tour is the 700 ft granite spire called the Curecanti Needle.
The return trip presents the opportunity for lots of photos, questions, and taking in any sites that may have been missed on the outbound part of the trip. It's a good time to eat the lunch you may or may not have brought.
Curecanti Needle
Return trip
Last remaining telegraph pole along the railroad
Debris floating downriver
Chipeta Falls
Return trip
End of the Tour
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