Leadville to Durango, Colorado and Lightner Creek Campground
Part 4 of Our Colorado Odyssey
July 2006
Facilities & Fees
Campground Name: Lightner Creek Campground and Cabins
Campground's Websites:
http://www.camplightnercreek.com/index.html
http://www.coloradovacation.com/camp/lightner/
Address & Phone: 1567 C.R. 207, Durango, Colorado 81301 (970) 247-5406
Last Visited: July, 2006
Number of sites:
Primitive (Tent Sites): 23, $24.00 per night
Water & Electric: 16 (all “back in”), $31.00 per night
Full Hook-Up: 41 (including 17 “pull thru”), $34.00 per night
Note: All sites equipped with electricity are on “30 AMP” service)
Note: “Creek” sites, add $3.00 per night
Camper Cabins: 9, $38.00 per night
Housekeeping Cabins: 2, $140.00-160.00 per night
Lodge Rooms: 2, $85.00-100.00 per night
Extra person (above 2 and older then 5): $4.00 per person, per night
Note: Rates for the ‘07 season should be available by January 2007.
Big Rig accessible: Yes
Shade trees: Yes
Waterfront sites: Yes (Creek)
Swimming Pool: Yes (Heated)
Hike/Bike Trails: No
Fishing: Yes
Boating: No
Clean restrooms: Yes (Very clean) Clean showers: Yes (Very clean)
Pets allowed: Yes (Normal rules apply)
Tents allowed: Yes
Fires/Grills allowed: Shared BBQ grills only. No campfires allowed. Personal charcoal grills allowed.
Family type: Yes
Nightly rate $: See above
Overall Rating (1=poor 10=excellent): 8
Pictures:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/turnke...4fdscd&.src=ph
Pictures associated with this review may only be available at the above link for limited time. If you find that the link is no longer active, feel free to contact me via “Private Message” and I will do my best to e-mail the related pictures to you.
Our Trip:
Well, we’ve made it to Part 4 and the last part of our trip through Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. To those of you who have been here from the beginning of this saga and have returned for the final episode, I lift my hat to you. We’ve covered a lot of ground together and I hope you’ve enjoyed the trip. For those interested in where we’ve been, follow the link below to reach the previous 3 installments of this epic journey.
http://www.wildtexas.com/talk/showth...ugar+Loafin%27
Also, I believe it best we return to a “day to day” format for the final episode. Should make this part of the trip easier to follow and understand. So with all this said, let’s head for Durango, Colorado!
Monday, Day 12: We were up early hitched and ready to go by 8 AM. Really enjoyed Leadville and Sugar Loafin’ and it would not have bothered me a bit to stay a few more days. But, we had reservations down the road and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss a bit of Durango either.
We departed Leadville, heading south on US Highway 24, connecting with US Highway 285 near Johnson City. We continued south through Saguache, and turned west onto County Road 112 near the town of Center. After a short drive we connected with US Highway 160 at Del Norte and followed it west over Wolf Creek Pass (10,850 feet and a story in itself). From there we followed 160 through Pagosa Springs, past Chimney Rock and on into Durango. We continued west on 160 until it ran north with US Highway 550 for a short distance. We again turned west on 160 and followed it for about another 3 miles where we intersected Lightner Creek Road (County Road 207). Going north for about 1.5 miles put us at our destination, Lightner Creek Campground.
As stated above, our drive over Wolf Creek Pass was a story to be told. Not only is this a very long up-hill pull (at least by my standards), we were given the opportunity to do it under some rather adverse conditions. As we ascended from the east, we ran into a nasty thunderstorm. Lots of rain accompanied by some ferocious thunder and lightning. Not exactly what I prefer to drive in much less pull a “5th wheel”. We got to the top and were surprised to get a reprieve from the storm. Stopped there for about 20 minutes to enjoy the view and get a break and some pictures. I particularly enjoyed being there, remembering an old country song done by C. W. McCall entitled “Wolf Creek Pass”. In the song, he tells the story of his ride coming down the west side of the pass as a passenger in an 18-wheeled “flat-bed”, hauling “USDA Approved cluckers” (chickens). The line in the song that describes their speed is something that I’ve always liked:
“I looked on out’a the window and I started countin’ phone poles going by at the rate of 4 to the 7th. power. Well, I put 2 and 2 together, and added 12 and carried 5 and came up with 22,000 telephone poles an hour.”
Their trip ended by crashing into a feed store in downtown Pagosa Springs. Fortunately, I can’t say that our decent was as hair-raising as what he described but I must say that it did “concern“ me a bit.
After our break we headed down the west side of the pass. No sooner had we begun then the storm (or a new one) started up again. This time, not only did we have the thunder and lightning to deal with, we received a peppering of hail/sleet! Definitely not fun, particularly as your approaching and passing those “Runaway Truck Ramps”. None the less, I kept my nerves and my hands steady and we made it to the bottom with no incidents to report. We did pass through a snow shed on the way down. I’ve heard of these and have seen pictures but this was my first experience of actually passing through one. Gets you to wondering about the quantities of snow needed to make a structure like this a necessity. Here are three site references to some pictures and information. The first one is the snow shed that we went through, taken from the eastbound side. The second is a Runaway Truck Ramp on southbound side of US 550 coming down Coal Bank Pass. I’d like to thank Matthew Salek at “The Highways of Colorado” home page for his kind permission to use these pictures. His site is the third reference shown.
http://www.mesalek.com/colo/picts/us160snowshed.jpg
http://www.mesalek.com/colo/picts/us550rtrmp52.jpg
http://www.mesalek.com/colo/index.html
We made it to Lightner Creek with no major problems and got checked in. One of their staff helped us get our rigs backed in and we were soon hooked up and ready to go. As I mentioned in “Part 2” of this saga, we expected to meet with “L” and “E”. They were there and the 6 of us shared a quite evening together.
Lightner Creek Campground turned out to be another wonderful place to stay. It differed from Sugar Loafin’ in that it tended to be more manicured where Sugar Loafin was more rustic. Lightner is far enough off of Highway 160 that you get none of the highway noise. It also backs up to the side of a tree covered mountain/hill that protects it and furnishes the campground a beautiful view as you drive up.
Joe and Cheryl Amorelli are your hosts at Lightner Creek and they built the campground after a number of years traveling the “lower 48” in a truck and trailer rig. Their experience has taught them what campers/travelers are looking for and they have attempted to incorporate those into their park. I must say that they have done a very good job.
The park is well laid out with sites being moderately deep. Shade trees have been preserved as much as possible and spacing between sites is fair. Sites are level and utility connections are well placed with everything functioning as it should. Water pressure and taste was satisfactory and electrical voltage appeared not to fluctuate. Sites are equipped with a picnic table but no fire ring/grill. It was explained to me that the sites were originally equipped with fire rings but due to the many annual “fire bans”, they were eventually removed. This is one thing that we did miss but would not stop us from returning. There are a few shared BBQ grills for your use.
The park also offers both Tent and Group Camp Areas w/Pavilion. These facilities are set away from the
RV area and this is normally found to be a boon to both types of campers. I walked through the Tent Camp Area and thought it very nice for the purpose. The Group Camp Area was occupied at the time I was there so I did not inspect it closely.
The Main Building houses the Park Store/Office, Game Room, Laundry and the two Lodge Rooms. The Park Store offers the normal supplies that a camper may need and is able to furnish bottled LP. Furnishings for recreation in the park include basketball, a playground and a very nice pool in addition to the game room in the Main Building. Shower houses are to be found at the east and west ends of the park. Both include a utility sink. I only had occasion to use shower house at the east end of the park and it was immaculate. I have little reason to think the other would be different.
As in almost all
RV/camping parks, this one is equipped with the ubiquitous “dump station”. As some did, you may find it a bit difficult to locate. The owners have chosen to conceal this facility behind a very nice planter located near Site #27. Since the four of us had our rigs on Sites #1 & # 2 (across from Site #27), I was asked by a number of fellow campers where the “dump” was located! A little hard to find but it sure did look nice.
We found Lightner Creek Campground to be very enjoyable and a great base from which to tour the area. Joe and Cheryl Amorelli have done an outstanding job putting the park together and work hard to keep it inviting to visitors. It is definitely a place that I would return.
Tuesday, Day 13: We were up early as we had plans for this day that wouldn’t wait. Today was the day that we were to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNGRR)! I had been looking forward to this day since we started planning for this trip and I could not wait to get started. Let’s start with a bit of history about the line.
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (originally known as “The Silverton Train”) finds its beginnings back in July of 1892. In August of 1881 the Denver & Rio Grande Railway arrived in Durango, Colorado. A mere 9 months later Durango and Silverton had been connected. In that short span of time roadbed was developed, bridges built and track was laid to follow El Rio de las Animas Perdidas (“The River of Lost Souls”, known to us as the Animas River). The train’s main function at the time was to supply the then ten year old mining camp of Silverton with needed equipment and supplies and to remove the valuable silver ore extracted from the San Juan Mountains. In 1893 the U.S. Government stopped buying silver. This could have spelled the end of the town of Silverton and the train. Instead, the miners in the area shifted their emphasis to gold and other less precious metals present in the mountains.
With the decline in high tonnage trains, the “The Silverton Mixed” was born. This train was made up of a number of freight cars with one or more coaches attached. Unfortunately as the highways improved, freight was taken from the rail line and by the end of World War II, the prospects for The Silverton Train were bleak. In stepped the movie moguls and a chance for the little train to shine again. From 1949 to the present, The Silverton Train has starred in a number of movies, among them being “Around the World in 80 Days”, “How the West was Won”, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “Support Your Local Gunfighter” (one of my favorites). It seemed that though the Denver & Rio Grande Railway really wished to divest itself of The Silverton Train, it was proving to be “the little engine (and crew) that could”!
Even with all of this, the order came down from Rio Grande management; “Abandon the d--n narrow gauge and be done with it.” You would have thought that this would have been enough, but no. A few wise heads prevailed and an experimental tourist train was tried. It ran three days a week and was expected to fail miserably. From June of 1950 and for the next thirty years, “The Silverton Train” made its run, showing the train’s detractors the error of their ways. During that time, two more engines were brought “on line” to help with the load. In 1981 Mr. Charles Bradshaw took ownership of the line and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad was born. As of 1998 ownership of the D&SNGRR switched to and has been operated by American Heritage Railways with Allen and Carol Harper as principle owners.
And it doesn’t look like that “…d--n narrow gauge…” is going anywhere soon. At the peak of each season, seven engines are needed to support enough trains to transport a quarter of a million passengers each year. I’m not sure how this total compares to Amtrak. I will bet you that folks riding the D&SNGRR enjoy it a lot more and get to their destination “on time” more often. Below is a site reference to give you more information on the D&SNGRR.
http://www.durangotrain.com/
We had called and reserved our seats on the train the day before. This is always a good idea if your planning is at all close. The train does fill up. The depot is located at 479 Main Avenue, about 15 minutes from Lightner Creek and there is parking available. Their telephone numbers are 1-888-872-4607 or 970-247-2733. We arrived at the station about 7:30, with our train being the first of four scheduled for that day. After a quick look in the gift shop we got on board, not wanting to risk being left behind. We had discussed the type of seating we wanted prior to purchasing our tickets. On this train we had the choice of two; the open-air gondola or one of the vintage coaches. The coaches are beautiful and I guess if the weather was really bad, they would be a “plus”. But, given an option, I’d never ride this train in anything but one of the open gondolas. The air, sun and breeze with its mountain smells are not something to miss. Even found that fine cinders in my mouth tasted pretty good! Be sure to dress in layers as the mornings are cool to cold and the afternoons can be quite warm. A cheap, pocket rain poncho of the type purchased at Wal-Mart would not be a bad idea either. Hats, sunglasses and a camera are all “must have” items. If I recall correctly each gondola will seat 48 passengers, 24 on a side facing out. You are assigned seats so what you don’t see going out, you’ll see coming back. Also, if you prefer not to sit in the sun, try to get them to assign you to a seat on the left side of the train (1-24, if I remember correctly). That will keep you in the shade in both directions. Seats are comfortable and you’ll have enough room. I wouldn’t worry a lot about sitting though. You’ll be standing at the rail for the biggest part of the trip.
We departed the depot at 8:15 sharp and started to chug our way north. For about the first 20 minutes or so we passed through Durango, crossing a good number of city streets. Soon these started to thin and changed into just a few county roads. Suddenly I noticed that there was nothing around the train but rock, trees and the sun glinting on the Animas River. We continued along at a steady but moderately slow pace, each curve in the track yielding a different view. At times, I could reach out and touch the rock as we slowly passed. At other times, small glades filled with aspen would be before me. As we ascended, the river would switch sides as we passed over old bridges. This would give us a full view of the water as it thundered down the mountain. Through all of this, I was able to enjoy the sites, smells and sounds of a living steam engine as it pulled us up the mountain.
About 20 miles north of Durango, you will pass The Tacoma Power House on your left side. This structure is owned and operated by Xcel Energy and is equipped with three generators producing 8.5 megawatts of hydroelectric power. The building was constructed in 1905-6 and has been supplying power to Silverton since. Water to drive the turbines is supplied by Electra Lake via a wooden flume, one of two still driving hydroelectric plants in the U.S. After passing through the generating plant, the water is drained into the Animas River.
I found this to be a singularly attractive structure and would have enjoyed an opportunity to investigate it further. I understand that there are annual tours given and that the area is often toured by different groups and clubs. It should be noted that the location is only accessible via the train or by hiking in. Below is a site the will give more information about the plant.
http://www.tacoma-ames.com/tacoma/Default.htm
We also saw signs in this area for both the Tall Timber Resort and Soaring Canopy Tours. Both are accessible only by train or helicopter in the case of Tall Timber. I did not have an opportunity to investigate either until our return home. Checked both “on-line” and have posted the links below. Tall Timber looks nice, if expensive. As far as Soaring Canopy Tours goes, I’m not sure if my old knees would stand up to the stress (landings may be rough). It does look like a great deal of fun and something I would look into if it were available.
http://www.talltimberresort.com/index.html
http://www.soaringcanopytours.com/index.html
A bit further up the line, it’s time for a stop at the Needleton Tank. Here we took on water and gave the engine a rest before we continued on. It is advised that you get pictures of the tank here as the train does not stop at this point on the return trip. If you look to the rear of the train, you should see what looks like the remains of the foundation of an old water tank. I’ll have a picture of the Needleton Tank in the shots associated with this review. From here we continued up the line until the mountains opened to reveal the town of Silverton before us.
The town of Silverton sits at an altitude of a bit over 9,300 feet in the San Juan Mountains. It was incorporated in 1874 and now is the year-round home to 500 people. Its history, as its name implies, revolves around the mining of silver, gold and a number of base metals (lead, zinc and copper). The prosperity and growth of the town varied over the years based on the market values and demand for these metals. The final large scale demand for ore from this area occurred during the Korean War in the early ‘50s. Demand dropped after 1953, causing many mine closures. In later years, increased foreign competition brought an end to mining on an industrial level in the area. There was a short-lived resurgence of industrial mining in the area with the re-opening of the Sunnyside Mine in 1959. During the 1980’s this mine produced 1000 tons of ore per day and supplied jobs for 300 people. Sadly, by 1991, low grade ore and falling metal prices brought an end to the Sunnyside Mine. There are still those that look for the day when the mines will again produce ore. Unfortunately, being as many of the large claims have been broken up and sold for cabin sites, the likelihood of this happening seems slim.
Today the town of Silverton thrives as a “tourist town“ and, as I have read, a budding ski area. The two hours we were able to spend there was not near enough to allow me to do a proper evaluation of what the town and area have to offer. I will say that the people running the numerous business establishments were nothing but friendly and helpful. Many of these businesses are housed in buildings constructed in the early days of the town. I found the architecture of these old buildings interesting in the extreme.
Outside of the town itself, there is any number of opportunities for recreation. There are a number of outfitters offering scenic tours via 4-wheel drive vehicles. It is also possible to rent a Jeep and tour these areas on your own. Rafting the Animas River is an option along with hot air balloon flights. There is also at least one mine tour that I would have enjoyed taking. As I mentioned earlier, Silverton is developing as a ski area and thus offers other snow related activities such as snowboarding and snowmobile tours and rentals.
In support of these recreational activities, the town offers a number of eateries and housing options.
RV resorts, hotels and Bed & Breakfasts are all readily available. If the advertising that I saw is to be believed, you will find yourself well pleased in most any selection you choose to make.
With only two hours spent in Silverton, I can say that I have only scratched the surface of this town’s offerings. I am forced to supply the site below and hope that you enjoy your time in Silverton as much as I did.
http://www.silvertoncolorado.com
Too soon, it was time to re-board our train for the return trip to Durango. I found it amazing how different the same mountains and river looked by just the change in direction and lighting. It was almost as if we were covering a different stretch of track. I again found myself standing at the rail of our gondola car, fearful that I might miss some new sight. At one point, we passed through a cut in the mountain where the train was perched high on a ledge. It’s been reported to me that this ledge is some 400 feet above the river. Having nothing in or around the river that would allow me to get some prospective, it was difficult to judge if this may have been correct. I will say that it was a very long way to the river below and I have a great respect for the men who cut that ledge and laid the track that we were passing over.
About half way down, we passed through our daily rain storm. As almost all of these are, this one was short-lived but very refreshing. It had gotten to the point that I’d become accustomed to this daily occurrence, almost too where I was beginning to think that I’d miss it on our return home.
As the afternoon wore on, the steady clickety-clack of the train wheels lulled me into an extremely mellow mood. As we again approached Durango, I found myself quite exhausted from the day’s adventures and happy to sit on the bench and watch the last few miles roll past. By now with the late afternoon sun warming the air, I saw many swimmers, rafters and kayak paddlers taking full advantage of the clear river water. Knowing our plans for later in the week, I viewed them with a smile of anticipation.
We arrived in the Durango Station at 5:30, all four of us completely spent. We had planned to investigate the Gift Shop and the D&SNGRR Museum on our return. Exhaustion dictated that we save these for another day. It should be noted here that in addition to the museum in Durango, there is also the Silverton Freight Yard Museum at the other end of the line. I would suspect that both would be worth some time and are included in the price of your train ticket.
Beyond what I have described here, there are a number of other tours offered by the D&SNGRR. Some of these are combination train/bus tours, a Mountain Express tour and the Cascade Winter Train, which I look forward to taking some time in the future. There are also some options in regard to the type of car you ride in and the level of service provided. It is even possible to charter a car or the entire train for ones private use. Further information about these options can be found at the train’s home page, referenced above.
To say that I enjoyed our trip on the D&SNGRR would be a tremendous understatement. This is one of the points on our trip that I had truly looked forward to and I was not in the least bit disappointed. If I had been given the opportunity to repeat the trip the very next morning, all that I would have said was “Don’t get in my way as I’m boarding the train!” This was truly a remarkable day that will live in my memory for many years to come.
Wednesday, Day 14: Believe it or not, we took a day “off“. After 13 days of traveling and sightseeing, we decided it was time for a rest to give our bodies a chance to relax and recover. Did a few light chores around the trailer, went swimming in the pool and basically “goofed off” the entire day. “T” and I went over to Wal-Mart about mid-afternoon to pick up a couple of things for dinner. Mainly we went to have a look at generators, not being able to decide if these would be a good idea for us or not. Still haven’t decided. Think I’ll wait and rent one the next time we decide to camp where there are no “hook-ups”. That should answer my questions without me having to make a large investment. At any rate we had a very relaxed day, readying us for our next trek scheduled for Thursday.
Thursday, Day 15: This was another one of those days when we were up and on the road early, knowing that it was best to reach our destination prior to the sun getting too high. Mesa Verde National Park is located approximately 56 miles and about an hour and a quarter west of Durango on US Highway 160. The park turn off will be to the left (south) and is clearly marked. Park entrance fee is $10.00 per private vehicle and the pass is good for 7 days.
Approximately 4 miles after entering the park, you will come to the turn off for the Morefield Campground. As hard as it may be to believe, we did not check this campground. Probably should have but just didn’t want to spend the time on it. Information I’ve been able to glean tells me that the campground could be good if you wish to stay in the area. The campground is open from early May until early October. There are 435 sites ($20 per night), many well shaded and it is said that they are rarely “full”. Sites may be reserved and are equipped with picnic tables and grills. Included in the total are 15
RV sites ($25 per night). It is stated that these sites have “hook-ups” and I would assume that this refers “electric & water” only. These sites are available on a “first come, first served” basis. “Group Sites” are available and may be reserved ($5 per night, per person with a minimum $55 per night).
Morefield Campground also offers some nice amenities for the camper. Coin-operated laundry, a park store and complimentary showers are among them. Of course, the ubiquitous “dump station” is available. All facilities needed for a nice camping trip would seem to be available. One possible word of caution; all of these facilities plus the facilities at the Far View Visitor Center are concessions managed by a company called Aramark. My limited experience with this company has been slightly less the outstanding.
After passing Morefield Campground, you continue southward coming to the Montezuma Valley, Park Point and Geologic Overlooks. All three are worth the time to stop. By the time you have reached the Far View Visitor Center, you have traveled approximately 15 miles and are at 8040 feet in altitude. As said in previous parts of this saga, keep the altitude in mind and don’t over exert. Also, hydration is a must as the environment is very dry.
The Far View Visitor Center is equipped with restaurants, lodging and a gift shop. You can also obtain printed information about the park as well as book and pay for any of the guided tours that you may be interested. We took a guided tour of Cliff Palace and found it reasonably priced and very enjoyable. The tour was guided by “Mrs. Ranger” and we found her to be informative and interesting. We were able to get far more out of our limited time by taking advantage of the tour. I would have been in favor of taking more of these tours but as said, our time was limited.
In addition to taking the Cliff Palace Tour, we drove the extent of Chapin Mesa, stopping at nearly all of the sights. One of the areas that I found of great interest was the Pithouse. This is the remains of a structure built by the people of this area approximately 1500 years ago. What can be seen is the pit that had been dug about 1˝ feet deep. This pit was then enclosed using poles and mud to provide a secure dwelling. According to the information at the park, this is the first permanent dwellings constructed by these people and these sorts of remains can be found over the entire area. I will be including some pictures of the Pithouse in the photo spread associated with this review.
By this time we were beginning to feel the afternoon heat coming on and the start of strong hunger pangs. It was decided that we had seen all of Mesa Verde that we wished to on this trip and it was time to leave. I found this park quite interesting and would consider a return trip when we are next in the area. I would like to have had the time to take advantage of some of the other tours offered. Also, we spent no time on Wetherill Mesa and have no idea what that part of the park may have to offer. I’ve include a link that should give you more information regarding Mesa Verde National Park. If you are in the area, this park is worth at least a daytrip. Those interested in these people and this time in history could spend weeks in this park.
http://www.nps.gov/meve/
We had another reason for leaving Mesa Verde when we did. This was the day we had set aside for our trip to the Bar D Chuckwagon Suppers in Durango. If your like us and have never tried something like this, the Bar D seems like it would be a pretty good introduction. This outfit will furnish a very good dinner and a show for a price that will keep even the most avid penny-pincher happy. For as little as $17.00 ($8.00 for children under age 9) you will receive a very good roast beef or chicken dinner. Add a few more bucks and you can get a combination plate or a steak dinner. The meal comes with all the trimmings and you will not go away hungry. The ticket booth opens at 5:30PM and seating is assigned from the stage back (reservations are required). The serving line starts at 7:30PM and it moves fast! They say that they can serve the capacity seating of 700 in 30 minutes and from what I saw, this would not surprise me. After the meal a stage show is presented by the Bar D Wranglers. Even though cowboy music is not my favorite genre, the Wranglers put on a great performance combining music and light comedy in a very appealing manner.
In addition to the dinner/show combination, the Bar D also offers a number of shops and small stores to keep you occupied prior to the opening of the serving line. There is also a train ride for the kiddos and the Bar D Chapel. The Bar D Wranglers are available at the Record Shop to sell and autograph copies of their CD’s.
The Bar D Chuckwagon is located 9 miles north of Durango, just east of US 550. Go east on County Road 252 from US 550, across the Animus River and turn left on County Road 250. After a short drive north, the Bar D will be on your right. The site below should give you any additional information you may need.
http://www.bardchuckwagon.com/
As stated, this was our first experience with this sort of dining and I’m hoping it won’t be our last. I have done an “on-line” search and have found that there are other such outfits scattered across the country. You can bet it will be something we will be looking for as we plan our future trips.
Thursday, Day 16: This was our last day of the trip. We would be heading for home in the morning and I, for one, was bound and determine to make the most of it. I guess I have to take the “blame” for what we did this day as it was my idea and I kind of pushed it a bit. At my suggestion (insistence?), we reserved spots for a half-day rafting trip on the Animus River. I’m not sure how pleased DW and “T” & “M” were with this idea but I do know that I was thrilled and they went along with me on this one.
I reserved spots with an outfit called “Mild to Wild” due to a recommendation from the management at Lightner Creek. They informed me that though there are a number of outfits in the area offering these types of trips, “Mild to Wild” provides the best and most reliable service. Having only the one experience of this sort, I have nothing to compare this trip to. I will say that I felt we receive excellent value for the money spent and would have no trouble recommending “Mild to Wild”.
This adventure started with every one assembling at Mild to Wild’s office at US 550 and Animus View Drive. After checking in and filling out the usual paperwork, we were fitted with life vests and oriented as to where to be prior to departure. It later became obvious that the staff was also using this time to evaluate the entire group so as to place the right people in each of the boats going on this trip. This is a sign of a well run company intent on pleasing their clientele. As all of this was happening, our rafts were being loaded onto trailers hitched to school buses. We soon boarded these buses and were on our way to our “put-in” point on the Animus River. We soon arrived and watched as the rafts were unloaded and placed at the river’s edge, ready for our departure. It seemed like we spent a great deal of time getting to this point. I’m sure that my desire to get underway made this period seem a good bit longer then it truly was.
We were soon assigned to our boats and we prepared to load up and head out. At this point, a decision about seating had to be made. Two members of our group were going to be seated in the very front of the raft. Being the way I am, I gave others an opportunity to request these spots. After a courteous wait of close to 25 nanoseconds, I stated that I would be pleased to occupy one of the two front seats. At the same time, I invited “T” to occupy the other front seat. He accepted but with a bit less enthusiasm. You might think that there would be a bit of a battle for these positions, but not this day. Though the sun was out and shining brightly, it was still only mid-morning and the river water was going to be pretty cool. As everyone knows, on a river raft trip, it’s a pretty good bet your going to get wet. This proved very true as the associated pictures to this review will testify.
We soon pushed off, a flotilla of about 8 rafts headed down the Animus River, bound for adventures unknown. It quickly became obvious that the staff of Mild to Wild had been spending their pre-launch time wisely. It could be seen that members in each raft were in age groups to which they fit. In addition, guides had been assigned roughly on the same criteria. Our boat was occupied by 4 couples plus our guide. All of us, including our guide were in or near what should be called our “senior” years. This was good as we were not as interested in some of the more “energetic” activities that we observed members of other boats participating in. We ended up referring to ourselves as the “Geriatric Boat” and tended to stay clear of most of the other groups. The reasons for this will be obvious when one takes a look at the pictures relating to this review. At one point we did get a bit close to one boat occupied by a younger group. This boat and another were engaged in a water fight, utilizing 5 gallon buckets to heave river water at each other. “T” thought it great fun to use his paddle in an attempt to get involved. Of course, his action drew immediate retaliation in the form of a 5 gallon bucket of water coming our way. As you have already probably guessed, “T” saw this coming and ducked. I didn’t. Good gravy! That water is cold!!!
I have already mentioned our guide. He was an older gentleman who was retired from the national park service. His prior experiences working on the water in national parks serves him well in his present position and was a great boon to us as we traveled the Animus River. He willingly shared his knowledge of river lore as we glided along with the current. At times he explained flora and fauna as we passed by. I don’t believe we could have had a better guide for this trip.
A bit further down the river we came around a corner and found that we were about to enter some “Class III” rapids. This area is known as “The Smelter” and is set up as a slalom course for kayakers with removable gates. It is also a point where Mild to Wild has chosen to set up a camera to take pictures of their clients as they come through the area. We acquired four of these pictures and at least two of them will be included in the photo spread associated with this review. Rather then say anything more about this section of our river trip I believe I will let the pictures speak for themselves. As it has been said many times, “A picture is worth a thousand words”.
Far too soon, the trip ended. We again boarded the buses at the “take out” point and were returned to Mild to Wild’s Durango office. This really was an outstanding experience that I will carry with me for a good while. The whole trip was well managed by people who seemed to know and enjoy their business. I could recommend them for this type of trip at any time and hope that you get a chance to experience the fun that we had. The reference below should furnish the information you need to plan and book a future trip.
http://www.mild2wildrafting.com/index.htm
After our rafting trip, we stopped at “Serious Texas BBQ” for lunch. Though this is not Cooper’s BBQ in Llano, Texas (And what is?) “Serious” does a great job of satisfying my cravings for BBQ. Give them a try.
http://serioustexasbbq.com/contact.htm
Being as we were leaving in the morning, we decided that this was enough for one day. We spent the balance of the day at the camp site, preparing for an early departure. We did take the time to participate in that evening’s “Ice Cream Social”. As I sat eating ice cream, I reflected on what a great trip we had just been part of and how fortunate I really am. Sometimes I forget but times like these make me remember how blessed we are to live in this country.
Friday, Day 17: Well the day to head home had arrived and though I really didn’t want to leave, if I had to go I wanted to begin as so as we could. We wasted little time getting hooked up and on the road. We had a 2-fold reason for wishing an early start. First, we had a lunch stop planned for Albuquerque, New Mexico. DW and I had decided to take the time to see my Dad for an hour or two on our way home. Best way to do this was for all 5 of us to meet at a restaurant. This worked out really well and I got the chance to see him and reassure myself that he is doing OK. After lunch, we still had a pretty long drive ahead of us as it was our plan to make it to Lubbock, Texas prior to stopping for the night. Well, plans come and plans go. This one went.
After leaving my dad, we headed east on Interstate 40 until just east of Santa Rosa. Here we turned southeast on US 84 to Ft. Sumner where we joined with US 60 to head east. We had intended to run east, through Clovis and into Texas where US 84 swings southeast again for it’s run down to Lubbock. All went well until we were about 20 miles west of Clovis.
As we had been driving along, we had noticed that the outside temperature had been rising steadily. This was to be expected as we were no longer in the mountains but returning to a much lower and hotter terrain. This rising temperature proved to be a bit much for one of “T,s” trailer tires. I suddenly noted a distinct burning smell and asked DW if she could smell it. As I asked her this, the right rear tire on “T’s” trailer exploded! In less then 2 seconds, there was nothing left of that tire but the sidewalls.
I started honking the horn and flashing the lights as it appeared that “T” was not aware of what had happened. Shortly, he pulled over and we both stopped on the side of a long, empty stretch of highway. There was a fair shoulder but I still felt way too close to the road. On top of that, every time a “semi” would roar by, both of our rigs would rock from the air movement. Fortunately, the “blown” tire was on the right side.
A quick inspection showed that there was no significant damage to the coach and “T” had a serviceable spare and all the needed tools to change it. It didn’t take more then 30 minutes to have it changed and we were back on the road again. Unfortunately, it was decided that this delay plus a need to slow our pace a bit was enough to make it impossible for us to make it to Lubbock that night. “M” did know of a small trailer park just outside of Clovis that would serve our purpose for the night. She made a quick call and secured two sites for us and we were set for the night.
Ideal
RV Park may not be the fanciest place we have ever camped in. It has little to offer as far as recreation goes and I can’t see it as a vacation spot. But, it does have a few things going for it. First off, it’s well located just off of US 84 on County Road 311. Entrance and egress is easy, even for large units. Next, it’s clean, neat and well set up. The site we occupied was way deeper then we needed, a “pull-thru” and dead level. Very nice given how tired I already was. Power, water and sewer all worked as they should with 30/50 amp service. The final “plus” is price. It’s hard to argue with $14.00 per night for “full hook-up” and garbage service. “Weekly” and “monthly” rates are also available. There are laundry and shower facilities on the premises and sites are equipped with picnic tables. Though I may not see this as a place for a long term stay, I sure will keep it in mind the next time we travel through this area. Below I have given their telephone numbers and e-mail address for those who may be interested.
505-791-3177 (Office)
505-799-2315 (Cell)
idealrv@zianet.com
After getting set up, “T” & “M” left to go into town. They wanted to get their tire fixed so as to get an early start in the morning. Unfortunately this was not to be and they were going to have to finish the job the next day and get a later start. After being assured that there was to be no difficulty getting the tire fixed in the morning, it was decided that we would depart early leaving “T” & “M” in Clovis. Can’t say I was real pleased about it but there really was nothing I could do to help. After a quick dinner, we all retired for the night, knowing we all had a good many miles ahead of us the next day.
Saturday, Day 18: This was our last day on the road for this trip. We woke early and got everything set for a quick departure. As said above, I was not happy leaving “T” &”M” in Clovis but all needed plans were in place and I knew that they would be fine. Plus, we both had our “cells” and knew we could keep in touch.
After some coffee and getting hitched up, it was time for DW and me to leave. It really was tuff leaving great friends behind. The four of us had shared a marvelous experience and I didn’t want it to end. At least I know that come next spring, the four of us will be together for some shared camping in the Texas Hill Country.
It wasn’t long before DW and I were on the road for the final leg of this trip. The day’s run went with nothing noteworthy beyond some changes to the terrain along US 84 and Interstate 20. Seems that since the last time I drove this stretch of highway, someone has come along and planted a windmill “farm”. I was amazed to see the numbers of these wind generators that have been constructed on the ridges to the south of the highways. I had heard about them but this was the first time I had seen them. Many have complained concerning the changes that these windmills make to an area. Some claim that they destroy the ecology. Many say that they just spoil the view. Until now, I have been neutral on the subject but after seeing these windmills on those ridges, I’m not quite sure what I think about them. I don’t see them as the blight that many claim. Also, I’m equally sure that they are not the threat to the environment that many would have us believe. Windmills are a good alternative energy source, being completely renewable and totally non-polluting. With all that said, those ridges looked better before the windmills were installed. ‘Nuf said.
We arrived home safely, late that afternoon. After our long drive, all we did was put the trailer in the drive, plug it in and put off unpacking until the next day. We kept in touch with “T” & “M” and knew that they also got home with no further difficulty. “T” did say that the first thing that he intended to do was arrange for 4 new tires on their “5th”. Probably best.
Well, this just about wraps up the saga of our Colorado journey. I find myself sitting with nothing more to say and wondering where I need to go from here. We spent a great deal of time in the planning of this trip. We then had an outstanding time executing our plans. Since our return, I’ve been able to relive our trip through the writing of these reviews. Now that the reviews are complete, I see the trip as truly over. I find myself feeling a bit melancholy, wishing there was a way that I could turn back the clock. Guess that’s why it’s taken me a bit longer to write this last review. I just see it as the final end to a wonderful experience.
It is my hope that those who have read my ramblings have enjoyed them. If you have been able to get some useful information from my writing, that’s even better. If I can help you plan a similar trip or answer any questions, feel free to contact me through this message board. I will be more then happy to help in any way that I can. Until then and always,
Happy Camping!
Note: Information and site references contained in this review were current as of this writing. I apologize for any errors you may find and will attempt to correct them if notified. Further, any copyright infringement that may have occurred during the writing of this review was purely accidental. In the case of such infringement, I will be more then happy to give proper credit or delete the infringing material when notified.
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