Our lunch stop brought us to Animas Forks, one of the largest and best preserved ghost towns in the area and a gateway to the Alpine Loop. An eerie presence might be felt as you walk through some of the homes and buildings inhabited by men, women, and children of another era. Following our mid-day stop, the ascent up and over California Pass was another challenging section of this trail, which includes the remains of the Mountain Queen Mine. The mineshaft goes 400 feet deep to meet a quarter-mile-long tunnel going back to lower California Gulch.
Our afternoon drive brought us to Silverton, a location with bragging rights among Colorado towns as having the most historically significant buildings and areas designated as historic districts in the National Register of Historic Places, as well as a number of properties named as National Historic Landmarks. It also has the distinction of being the only place in Colorado with three overlapping National Historic Landmarks: The town itself;the Shenandoah-Davis Mine; and the Durango-Silverton narrow-gauge Railroad. Jagged mountain peaks flank this historic mining town, which appears perilously placed between two rugged San Juan passes. Leftover mining roads are fun fourwheel routes (such as the Alpine Loop, which crosses two passes to Ouray-23 miles away-and Lake City). Silverton is also the infamous location where Butch Cassidy and his gang launched their bankrobbing career, when they robbed the San Miguel County Bank in 1889.
As our Ouray Jeep Jamboree came to a close, we had also been able to evaluate many attributes of the new Grand Cherokee diesel. Our Overland model had heated seats in both rows, perfect to mitigate the climate in this region's high elevations. We also appreciated the 3.0L turbodiesel's 376 lb-ft of on-tap torque for the steep uphill climbs and loose-rock descents. Outfitted with Quadra-Drive II, this new Jeep combines a two-speed transfer case with electronic limitedslip differentials, giving nearly instant response to wheel slippage. We made a pledge to come back at the same time next year. This time, we plan to enjoy the same fall-colored vistas, but drive another Jeep vehicle along new trails.
In 2007, Jeep Jamboree USA scheduled more than 30 backcountry adventures in many of the nation's most challenging and scenically stunning areas. Designed to coincide with drivers' various skill levels and budgets, Jamborees include a full two-day, family-oriented four-wheel-drive trek over a variety of trails. Tow hooks are mandatory for wilderness journeys on trails rated 4-7. Registration fees cover all necessary permits, experienced guides for the entire trip if needed, three meals on both Friday and Saturday ("Just Trails" adventures include evening meals only), continental breakfast on Sunday, and an official Jeep Jamboree T-shirt. For more information about the 2008 Jamboree schedule, go to www.jeep jamboreeusa.com or call 530/333-4777.
The Alpine Loop encompasses some 65 miles of old mining roads between Lake City, Ouray, and Silverton. Most sections can be easily navigated in a two-wheel-drive vehicle with high ground clearance. A few sections have rock shelves and sandy, uphill tracks that require high ground clearanceand four-wheel drive. When not 'wheeling, you can tour the Bachelor-Syracuse Mine, experiencing what it was like to be a miner, while admiring the many original historic buildings that were spared fires that swept through many other similar 19th-century mining towns.
Black Bear Pass is rated a 5 out of 5 (or a 10 on a scale of 1-10) because of its steep track, three-point turns, and the need for four-wheel drive and low gears. Access is by navigating the picturesque and serpentine Million Dollar Highway to the top of Red Mountain Pass, which requires that you go up and over Black Bear, an elevation of 13,000 feet. Highlights include seeing Ingram Falls and the great Bridal Veil falls, with Telluride seen off in the distance. After a visit to Telluride, you can take a gondola ride to the summit for more views of the area, and hop back on the Million Dollar Highway using the Ophir Pass.
Jeep Rental Companies
San Juan Scenic Jeep Tours & Historic Western Hotel: 970/325-4645; 888/624-8403.
Colorado West Jeep Tours, Rentals: 800/648-JEEP (5337); 970/325-4014.