Colorado Springs, CO - Reminiscing

Oh, the memories. Mark was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs from 1981 to 1984. It has been just shy of 40 years since we have visited the area. They say you can never go back home- and they maybe right. A couple of quick observations…First, we lived here during simpler times. Second, the traffic is absolutely horrible! The population of Colorado Springs was 270,000 in 1980 and is now over half a million plus all the vacationers, like us. 

We explored and hiked the Garden of the Gods Park. Free for everyone and crowded, but beautiful. 

When my best friend, Karen and I wanted to get the kids out- we would meet at the Broadmoor Hotel, feed the ducks and let the kids play at the playground. Now, it is gated with guards. 

We passed Fort Carson and noticed that all of the WWII buildings have been taken down and replaced. Both Lauren and Morgan were born in the old white paint chipped long WWII hospital that we named Bethlehem. Why? Because snow was, literally, coming in the labor room between the wall and window and gathering on the floor. 

We found our first home. All that I can say is….“We have come a long way, baby”! We bought it brand new for $52,000. I clearly remember physically shaking writing the check at closing. It had an adjustable rate mortgage, but we knew we would sell and move before the rate went up. We made a small profit and sold it to a broker without ever having to show it. It last sold for $340,000 two years ago. We budgeted every penny of income, fed the savings account $50 per month and had maybe $20 left over for entertainment - thanks to cloth diapers and the post commissary!  It was a happy time, we were poor but felt rich. We were blessed to have so much in our lives at the ripe ole ages of 22 and 23!  

Our first bricks and sticks. Except it was all sticks. No bricks!  We had planted a couple of blue spruce trees in the front yard that have been cut down. 

We could look out our front window and see Pikes Peak. Impossible now due to all the construction. Mark hiked Pikes Peak from the base to the top with his platoon. I drove it a couple of times or took the cog up. It was free to drive up at the time. Now, you must pay to drive the road. 

Lots of mule deer with velvet roaming around. 

Royal Gorge Bridge, Cañon City. Colorado

I visited the bridge with the Fort Carson Officers Wives Club, in 1981. You were allowed to drive across the bridge, at that time, and it wasn’t the tourist attraction that it is today. 

Here are a few fun facts about the bridge:

It only took 7 months to build the Royal Gorge Bridge…

A team of about 80 brave men constructed the Royal Gorge Bridge in just seven months! Starting on June 5th, 1929, the men began building what would be at the time the world’s highest bridge at 956 feet above ground. The Royal Gorge Bridge was open to the public in December of 1929.

and it was very expensive

The original cost to build the bridge was $350,000 and was reportedly $100,000 over budget. Current replacement costs are well over $20,000,000. Here are some quick stats on the Royal Gorge Bridge:
-The bridge towers stand 150 feet high.
-The bridge is 18 feet wide.
-The total length is 1,260 feet.
-Original builders’ average wage was $.50 an hour.
-The original toll was $.75 per person.

The Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest suspension bridge in America. 

The Royal Gorge Bridge currently holds the title of America’s highest suspension bridge, and is the 7th highest bridge in the world. 

A devastating fire damaged most of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park…

On June 11, 2013, the Royal Gorge Bridge withstood the devastating Royal Gorge Fire. While 90 percent of the park was destroyed, the Royal Gorge Bridge was only minimally damaged. One hundred wooden planks of the bridge were burned and needed to be replaced. The Royal Gorge Fire burned for five days. The flames ultimately scorched 3,218 acres and destroyed 48 of the 52 structures at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.

Speaking of planks…. 

some of the gaps between the planks are fairly large. 300 planks are replaced each year. It seriously made me queasy looking down between the planks. 

Mark took advantage of the swing ride over the gorge. 

And we both rode the zip line across the gorge. Super fun. 

The gondola ride provides a great view of the gorge. 

Silver Thread Scenic Byway, Colorado

Today, we explored the Silver Thread Scenic Byway from Creede to Lake City. 

First stop - North Clear Creek Falls - a tributary to the Rio Grande River - water falls over solidified ash from a volcano that erupted 27 million years ago. 

We crossed the continental divide and got closer to snow in the mountains. 

The stagecoach charged $16 for a two- to three-day trip, including meals and lodging, for the ride from Lake City to Creede. The 1880s brought railroad tracks and trains to haul supplies for another fifty years.

Automobiles replaced toll road and most railroad traffic in the early 1920s. Asphalt eventually replaced dirt roads.Beginning in 1968, the segment from Creede to Lake City was paved. 

At Slumgullion Pass, we went on a wild moose chase. Everyone we talked to said moose hang out in a marshy area 4 miles down a dirt road. After a very bumpy ride - no moose were spotted! 

The edge of this mountain broke off 850 years ago. You can see the barren patch. Geologists say it continues to move down about 20 feet a year. 

It is not often you can see where a river starts. This lake is the headwaters to the Rio Grande. 

We had lunch at the very popular Freemon’s General store. I about cut off the store hours but it says 8 to 5:59!  

We shopped the downtown Creede stores and stopped for beer at the Spare Keg Brewerks. Lots of friendly pups and pretty good beer. 

We ended the day with an incredible sunset. 

Creede, Colorado

Creede was the last silver boom town in Colorado in the 19th century. The town leapt from a population of 600 in 1889 to more than 10,000 people in December 1891. We drove Bachelor’s Loop to view the old mines. 

 The Creede mines operated continuously from 1885 until 1980, and were served by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. The old railroad tracks are disintegrating. 

We took a tour of the underground mining museum and were amazed at the horrifying jobs and the working conditions for the miners. 

Testing equipment for the ore. 

Next to the mining museum is the underground volunteer fire department. Dug out and finished by local community volunteers. 

The area is stunning!  

This moose sculpture is made from Ferrari car parts. 

Our campground sits in the Rio Grand river and is lovely! 

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Today we visited our 21st National Park! 

The park was originally established as Great Sand Dunes National Monument on March 17, 1932 by President Herbert Hoover. 

Congress authorized a boundary change and redesignation as a national park in 2004. 

The dunes were formed by the right combinations of wind, water, and sediment. Creeks and streams brought in large amounts of sediment and sand into the valley. 

Wind then blew the sand toward the bend in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where opposing storm winds helped squeeze the sand into the tall dunes you see today. 

We hiked to the base of the dunes and saw the end of a Viking themed wedding. Talk about a memorable and cheap wedding. Great costumes. I caught these two guests in the visitors center but they had taken off half of their costumes.