Letter from Roger Williams
Access – November 2005 – Colorado Central Magazine
Editors:
On my way to Chaco Canyon and other points, I investigated the old road that descends from some old cabins below treeline on the slopes of South Parry Peak or nearby, at the end of Mt. Elbert’s long southeast ridge, to Route 82 just west of Twin Lakes. I’ve descended this twice on traverses of Mt. Elbert (North Parry Peak is near James Peak above Winter Park/Mary Jane, and Loch Lomond). All I found was NO TRESPASSING signs. Ugh! I’m glad I followed this down not up both times. (I returned to Half Moon via the Colorado Trail after a night on the trail or in the Nordic Inn). I don’t remember these horrid signs, which I’d like to make a bonfire of as usual. I thought it was San Isabel N.F.
The advice in your magazine about places to hike in the San Luis or Arkansas R. Valley was most welcome. I visited several: the Nancy Whipple Trail (any relation of astronomer Fred Whipple?) behind Buena Vista, Zapata Falls (wade up the creek to see the falls), and Penitente Canyon near La Garita which I visited on KUVO’s Milagro Tour a few years ago. I also visited the old wagon ruts nearby–on my way back–and did a couple of loop trails. Visited Sand Dunes and climbed Humboldt, Blanca and Ellingwood long ago. Never did find a way to Buffalo Peaks.
Some old railway rolling stock is parked on rusty old tracks–apparently abandoned–just E. of S. Fork. Some passenger cars are on one side of US-160 while some freight cars, a steeple-cab Diesel and an SP GP (General Purpose, a B-B or 4-traction-motor road switcher) are on the other. I wonder who owns it and the tracks; it looks as if it’s been there for years. I spent the night in Dolores on the way back: it has a Railroad Avenue but no tracks. I saw a picture of a “Galloping Goose” rail bus parked on a piece of track that doesn’t go anywhere in front of the old railway station, but didn’t visit it. The old railway station on the Denver, S. Park & Pacific in Jefferson, near Como at the foot of Boreas Pass, is now a private residence; the tracks are long gone.
Roger Williams
Boulder