Homeless - just passing through

Ranches in various stages of disrepair...

Colorado wildflowers

The Rocky Mountains - in southwestern Colorado

Scenes from downtown Gunnison, Colorado

Old mine along the Arkansas River on Highway 50

The Great Sand Dunes and their Reflections in the park's headquarters

Mountain top house for sale

Off in the distance you can see a house on top of a mountain which is at about 9,000 feet above sea level. This house is for sale.

The nearest piece of civilization is Cotopaxi at 6,500 feet, 8-10 miles away. Cotopaxi is an itsy-bitsy town which consists of a few houses, a convenience store and gas station, church, school, liquor store, post office, sheriff's substation and a real estate office.

If you're interested in purchasing this place, take CR12 (just across from the convenience store), and head north. After about 4 miles the road turns to dirt but it's well-graded and an easy drive. Before long you'll see a "For Sale" sign leading to a trail (also dirt) which leads straight up the mountain. Take a left, say a prayer, and head up - about 2,000 more feet.

Must be a summer place. I don't think there is any way to get up that trail in the winter!

The Royal Gorge - Part II

You will note in the 2nd photo, that some fools get tied up in some rope and then swing way out over the gorge! They do this several times. Perhaps they need a mental health facility at the Royal Gorge?

The Royal Gorge - Canon City

The Royal Gorge is gorgeous! The bridge is magnificent, even if it gives me the "willies." If you look carefully, you will see the railroad running alongside the river at the bottom of the Gorge. We will be posting other photos of the Royal Gorge tomorrow and in the future.

Scene from the Leadville train

The Leadville railroad was cut through rock like this.

We've got to quit meeting like this!

Trucks passing on the north side of Monarch Pass (Monarch Pass is over 11,000 feet above sea level).

Lake Blue Mesa one more time

Mountain goats at 9,000 feet

A hummingbird's life

"Hi honey, welcome home!"

"What are you looking at?"

"Finally, some peace and quiet!"

Mountain cabin

Mountain meadows come with deer

Sprucing things up in downtown Salida...

...and he's getting "expert" advice!

Passing through a pass...

Mountain mining

This is an active mine, located on the way up (south) and over Monarch Pass.

Cows in the road ...

...at about 8000 feet in the middle of nowhere...

Little House on the Prairie

This one's for Ciel at Versailles Daily Photo.

A mountain man's truck...

...with all the necessary accouterments!

House with a view - near Cotopaxi

"Downtown" Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi, Colorado is a very small town between Canon City and Salida on Highway 50 in the southwestern part of the state...It sits benignly under the protection of the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

Cotopaxi, still unincorporated, began its life as a Russian Jewish colony, and you can read all about it here.

Coming in to Leadville

Small Lake on north side of Monarch Pass