Santa Fe-Durango Pix

When we got up this morning I looked up the weather on the Internet and found to my surprise that the temperature was 51 degrees F. It was like deja vu all over again... it felt like an Alaska morning. The high was 71 degrees. The rains were more scattered than in previous days and the forecasters are finally calling for sunnier skies and warmer temperatures. We were welcomed to Durango with a thunderstorm that caused a power failure that lasted a few minutes. The only advantage of the cooler temperatures was that the air conditioner has not been used since we left San Antonio. I'm sure that will all change when we get to Moab, UT, in a few days.

The route from Santa Fe to Durango took us to a different environment from the one we have experienced over the past few days. We left the high desert and headed up into the San Juan Mountains, some of which exceed 14,000 feet (4,267 Meters). After leaving the high desert, the road took us over mountain passes and alpine meadows. Most of the route was at an altitude greater than 7,000 feet and peaked at about 8,000 feet. We thought we crossed some high passes last year on our trip to Alaska, but the highest pass we crossed was about 6,700 feet (the Santa Fe Campground was at 7,000 feet).

Durango is situated in the Animas River Valley in southwestern Colorado. The Animas valley, at least where we are, is relatively narrow. From where I sit at our campsite picnic table, I can see the eastern wall of the valley and it seems like it is less than a mile away. The western wall of the valley rises from just beyond the campground boundary. Downtown Durango is about 3 miles south of the campground and the valley is a bit wider there. This is one of those places that you really need to look up to see the sky.

Because of the weather, the light for photography is not so great in the valley. I'm hoping the weather forecasters are correct and I will get some good shots tomorrow. I took a few this afternoon that give you an idea of where we are, but they really don't do justice to the colors.

When we got up this morning I looked up the weather on the Internet and found to my surprise that the temperature was 51 degrees F. It was like deja vu all over again... it felt like an Alaska morning. The high was 71 degrees. The rains were more scattered than in previous days and the forecasters are finally calling for sunnier skies and warmer temperatures. We were welcomed to Durango with a thunderstorm that caused a power failure that lasted a few minutes. The only advantage of the cooler temperatures was that the air conditioner has not been used since we left San Antonio. I'm sure that will all change when we get to Moab, UT, in a few days. The route from Santa Fe to Durango took us to a different environment from the one we have experienced over the past few days. We left the high desert and headed up into the San Juan Mountains, some of which exceed 14,000 feet (4,267 Meters). After leaving the high desert, the road took us over mountain passes and alpine meadows. Most of the route was at an altitude greater than 7,000 feet and peaked at about 8,000 feet. We thought we crossed some high passes last year on our trip to Alaska, but the highest pass we crossed was about 6,700 feet (the Santa Fe Campground was at 7,000 feet). Durango is situated in the Animas River Valley in southwestern Colorado. The Animas valley, at least where we are, is relatively narrow. From where I sit at our campsite picnic table, I can see the eastern wall of the valley and it seems like it is less than a mile away. The western wall of the valley rises from just beyond the campground boundary. Downtown Durango is about 3 miles south of the campground and the valley is a bit wider there. This is one of those places that you really need to look up to see the sky. Because of the weather, the light for photography is not so great in the valley. I'm hoping the weather forecasters are correct and I will get some good shots tomorrow. I took a few this afternoon that give you an idea of where we are, but they really don't do justice to the colors.

		Chimney Rock, one of the more prominent features on the route to Durango
Views from the Campground

	East		West

	North		South

				The updrafts caused by the mountainous terrain makes this an ideal area sail planes. There is a small grass strip just south of the campground from which this tow plane and sail plane took off.

	The Durango and Silverton Steam Railroad passes between the campground and the Animas River. The narrow gauge steam railroad is one of the major attractions in this area. We will be taking a trip on the train in a couple of days.