Leadville or Bust
While our stay in Durango was wonderful, it was time to move on to the next item on our list. We had a long drive ahead of us today, travelling all the way up through Aspen and then over to Leadville via the scenic byway that is Route 82. We did stop over in Silverton for some light exploring then again in Ouray for lunch, but beyond that, we didn’t have much reasons to stop.
Let me tell you, Route 82 from Aspen headed East is not for the faint of heart or the impatient. The roads are washboarded to hell with tight clearances, and even tighter turns. Multiple sections are too narrow for more than one vehicle. The grades are a bit crazy. While I was comfortable doing the drive, I did find myself continously frustrated and occassionally worried when an oncoming vehicle would stray way too close to ours. Anna was terrified the whole way, but we made it to Independence Pass. Halfway there, the easy part was to come with the downgrade. It was only a short while and we made it safely to our rental cabin for the night. The interior is quaint and cozy with just enough modern ammenities to keep me busy. In the morning, we’ll enter Leadville proper, ride their Fall Colors Train, and have a good time before continuing to Georgetown.
-Tom
At Independence Pass
Arrival at Winmar Cabins