Mon June 27: OPHIR, ALTA LAKES

Finally, we were able to get all the way across Ophir Pass.  Once thru the little town of Ophir, we took a side road to Alta Lakes for a very relaxing picnic lunch before heading back to Silverton.  This was our first time to visit Alta Lakes; always went to Telluride in the past.

 This is a picture from the 16th to remind you what it was like when we tried to get thru the pass:

Today, we made it!!  Almost 12,000 feet elevation at the top:

 When you see the drop-offs where there used to be snow banks, you really have an appreciation for the cat snow removal crew:

 This ledge road is the hardest part of the trip.  Lots of loose rocks and VERY narrow:

 Looking down at Crystal Lake at the bottem; Ophir at the top

 Looking down at the little town of Ophir.  Some houses, a city building, post office and that's it; not a store in the town.  At one time the population was 500 with 5 saloons, several churches, a school and it own electricity and waterworks.  In 1960, it was listed as one of four incorporated towns in the US with NO residents.  Now there are many summer residents living there.

 On the Alta Lakes trail:

 The old mining town of Alta which was the company town for the Gold King Mine.  We plan to go back again and take a different trail to the old Gold King Mine which operated  as recently as the 1940s.

 Three small lakes at the end of the rough trail.  The Telluride ski area is just over the mountain:

 Janet chilling out:

 Headed home; The post office in Ophir:

 On the ledge road & hoping we don't meet anyone.  One of our fellow campers had his new Rubicon scraped down the side on this road today by another vehicle:

 Almost back to the highway to Silverton:

Another good day!!