Crested Butte and Schofield Pass

July 17, 2011 Gunnison, Co.
Today we met with Paul and Mary at our campsite at 10:00. The plan was to take both of our Jeeps up to Crested Butte and pick-up Nicky D. and her roommate Nick whom live in Mount Crested Butte just north of the town. But, we weren't going for a walking tour of the town nope, we were searching for scenic vistas and an easy off-road tour of the Colorado wild flowers. Nicky D. and Nick would be our tour guides!
Driving toward Crested Butte we couldn't help but be amazed by the mountains in the distance.

We picked up Nicky D. and Nick after getting a quick tour of their rented condo. The condo was very impressive with a creek in the back. Then they took us north out of town up a dirt road towards the old mining town of Gothic and Schofield Pass.

GOTHIC

Once a mining boom town, Gothic, Colorado has faded into ghost town status like many early mining communities. While vivid stories of the old days abound and historic buildings dot the landscape, Gothic also is rich in science and summer activities due to the longtime presence of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL). Gothic brings together Colorado's mining history with cutting-edge, modern-day science.

Located eight miles north of Crested Butte at 9,500 feet, Gothic is situated at the confluence of Copper Creek and the East River in the shadow of the 12,625-foot Gothic Mountain. In 1879, two prospector brothers, John and David Jennings, discovered silver high above Copper Creek and the rush was on.

We continued to climb before descending into the old mining town. The scenery was just breathtaking. Everywhere we turned was a photo opportunity.

Joyce and I

Rubi and Rocky

Paul and Mary

We traveled as far up the road as we could reaching over 10000 ft. until we came across a barricade stating the road was closed. So we parked our Jeeps and hoofed it. 

Road Closed

Nicky D.

The reason the road was closed was due to the fact that the snow pack was still blocking the narrow shelf road.

Snow packed shelf road leading to Schofield Pass and Emerald Lake

Our guides, Nick and Nicky D.

Before getting loaded back up in the Jeeps, we put the cameras on timers and posed on this fallen log.

All together now!

Joyce

On the way back down to the valley, we stopped at one of the many stream crossings to test the water's temperature...

 and tip toe through the beautiful and lush flowers. 

Joyce and Nicky D.

We thoroughly enjoyed our wild flower excursion. Our thanks to Nicky D. and Nick for being our guides. We dropped them back off at their rented condo and wished we had more time to spend but we had to get back to Gunnison for a pot luck dinner and we also needed to stop along the way to visit another blogging couple the Wishnies whom were staying in a NFS campsite near Almont.

Joyce and I both reflected that the trip to Crested Butte and the off-road drive were perhaps the most beautiful scenery we've seen to date in our travels. Absolutely beautiful!