ZR-1 Road Trip 2014 - California or Bust

[PhillipsLT5]

We use to got to Sand dunes there in my jeep, let the tire pressure down and cruise and then up into the mountains surrounding the dunes, Great spot, enjoy 4 corner area, beautiful, contact me when in AZ, phillipslt5@cox.net

[gbrtng]

How about a side trip to John Hendrick's car museum just south of Gateway? Founder of the Discovery Channel - about 50 really top dollar cars - includes the 1954 F88 Oldsmobile show car he paid $3 million for. Good stuff.

[PhillipsLT5]

good idea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNQgzpRm180
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm5RqBZ7XqU

[QB93Z]

Hello from Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

For the first time on the trip so far, we were not in a rush this morning. By arriving at Montrose a day early, we had time to relax.

We headed out to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison River National Park.



On the way into the park, we were greeted by a small group of deer:



When we entered the park, we found out that today was the first day the park had been opened since last fall. The snow on the South Rim Road had just been cleared. The North Rim Road will remained closed until the end of April. We felt very lucky to be two of the first visitors to the park. There were very few other people in the park all day so we felt like we had the park to ourselves.

There was still some snow on the trails. Here is the view from the Visitor Center deck:





The Black Canyon is accessible for viewing only by overlooks accessed by the South Rim Road. Each viewing area has a short walk (100-450 yards) from a paved parking area. We had to navigate some left-over snow, but in a few days the paths will be dry and very easy to use.



The canyon offers some of the most spectacular views I have ever seen. The character and condition of the rock walls was dramatically different from one end to the other.



Continued...

[QB93Z]

Here is a pic from one overlook to another. You can start to get a sense of scale form seeing a person in the scene:



We saw several birds that used the air currents to soar over the canyon:



At the deepest point the canyon is 2300 feet deep. That is almost two times as tall as the Empire State Building.



Many areas of the canyon walls were beautifully marked by the layers and composition of the rocks.

The streaks are the result of molten rock flowing into cracks in the mantle rocks deep in the earth. The process occurred over a billion years ago. Uplift and erosion have now exposed the rock. One of my favorite formations was this guy:






In the background the snow-capped surrounding mountains can be seen.




I would rate Black Canyon of the Gunnison River as a "Must See". It is a small National Park, but it is uncomplicated, easy to visit, stunning and memorable.

Jim

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Hey Jim,

Aloha from Hawaii. This is like one of the coolest things to me and thanks for sharing your journey!!! Take care and safe travels. I hope to do some touring when I move to Cali in the Bay Area in a few weeks.

[RICHARD TILL]

Thanks for the share. Safe travels to ya.

[Paul Workman]

Stunning photos, Jim! Majestic canyon walls. (Making me homesick for my adopted State)!

My favorite pic - tho hard to pick just one - is the bird soaring over the canyon.

Thanks for sharing, that we might go along vicariously.

Paul

[ZR-1 Franz]

Hello from Switzerland,

Thank you very much for sharing. Great pictures from great places.
Take care and have a safe trip. God bless you,

Franz

[Godson]

Hmmm.... Gunnison is only 12hr drive from where I live.

Might need to make a long weekender trip some time.