This National Recreation Trail follows a mining trail built in the 1890's up Bear Canyon. Our destination was the Grizzly Bear Mine, perched on a steep slope about 2.5 miles in.
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| The first mile of the trail switchbacks up a mountainside made up of slate and granite. |
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| There were some steep drop offs...a hint of what was ahead of us. |
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| That's a wall of slate dropping off below Hans...it would make a beautiful patio! |
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| View into Ouray and beyond. |
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| View South into the Million Dollar Hwy canyon and a Red Mountain |
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| A close up of the above red mountain...where we hiked last week. |
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| Leaving the slate mountain, we turned East and made our way up Bear Canyon. |
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| The mountain loomed high above and far below us. |
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| Looking at snow touched mountains to the West. |
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| The remains of the Grizzly Bear Mine on an aspen covered slope. Poor access was a problem for this mine. |
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| It was hard to fathom how they got this heavy equipment to this remote and steep site. |
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| Heading back the way we came we admired Bear Creek far below us. |
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| Another view of Ouray. |
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| On the return trip the sun was shining on the slate walls. |
This was a gorgeous hike, with a few steps here and there that were kind of scary where the trail was eroded...but well worth the effort!
Isn't that slate gorgeous!!! You captured the acrophobic essence of the Bear Creek hike :) Now we need to decide on tuesday or wednesday for our last hike together. I really wanted to take you up Courthouse Mountain, but alas, there is a fire up there. I'll give you a call.
ReplyDeleteBox Canyon Mark
Yes! What shall it be???? Tomorrow morning, before lunch w/my parents, we may do Weehawken.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos of a somewhat harrowing trail. I couldn't tell if it was strenuous too, but the views sure were beautiful. I never saw slate like that in its raw form before--just know I like it on floors!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was fairly strenuous for us lowlanders. While on the trail two runners passed us (both going and coming) while we were going up the trail! Boy were they fit!
DeleteGorgeous colors on those slates ... yes, it would make a beautiful patio for someone with a stix & brix ;-) Another great hike for me to pin. In some ways, it reminds me of the hike up to Timpanagos Cave in Utah.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we need to put that Cave on our list of places to see!
DeleteNice! I have experienced that "runner thing" several times when I have been hiking 14ers. Show offs! Again, great pictures.
ReplyDeleteShow offs indeed! Of course they were probably 20 years younger than us! :-)
DeleteThat was an exciting trail for an acrophobic like me. I lost one of my hiking poles over the mountainside and couldn't get Jim (or Mark or Bobbie) to go down and get it for me! I was a bit apprehensive on the way back down without it. Beautiful hike, though. Looking at your photos reminds me of the crunching sound the slate made as we walked on it.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your last hike with the Box Canyon crew!
Oh my goodness! I can't imagine hiking this if I didn't like heights! You were brave!
DeleteAwesome hike! Nothing like some ledges to get the blood pumping. Have Hans haul down some slabs for future use:)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your parents and a final hike with Mark!
I tell you, if we lived nearby I'd be heading up there often to sneak pieces out!
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