Sept. 1999
President's
Message
Rocky Mountain High
Portrait of ...
Rocky Mountain High
- Bill Talarowski
I have had several members ask me for suggestions
regarding a trip to Colorado. Since it is a wonderful place to visit,
I have decided to make this information available to all who might be
interested. I have visited five times and always came back with lots of
material.
Copyright
© William Talarowski
The color change usually happens about the 10th of October. Housing can be a problem in the boonies or even in the main cities if you wait till the end of the day to start looking for a place to stay for the night. I usually get a room and keep it for two or three days until I exhaust the picture possibilities of the area. Most good rooms will run about $60-$70 except the bigger towns will go higher. Aspen will be the highest but is centrally located to great areas as well as an airport, and there is a car rental agency. You might consider renting a four wheel drive vehicle since this will allow you to get into some wilder areas. I believe the second and third weekends in October allow people to go onto back sections of ranches and mine diggings as long as you close the gate after you have passed through. Be sure to reserve the car early.
If you’re planning to fly into Denver, I would suggest you stay in Denver for a couple days to help acclimate your lungs. Depending on your condition, it could take three or four days to get to the point where you start feeling like you’re not going to die. The capital area downtown is very interesting. Be sure to climb the capital dome for a great shot of this section. Besides your camera gear, don't forget to bring your fishing pole.
South of the city is Colorado Springs and the Air Force Academy with it's famed chapel. Try to get there about noon during the week and get the cadets marching in formation before lunch. In the same area is the Garden of the Gods. Best time for shots is very early in the morning or late in the day. North is Estes National Park with Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous road in the lower states. It's above timberline with the possibility of getting some wild goat shots. Also, there is Grand Lake where you can kick back and rest for awhile, fish or if you feel up to it, ride horses or canoe.
To the West of Denver on I-70 is Georgetown, an old mining town that has many old homes as well as a steam engine RR that will take you to a gold mine. In the commercial district right along the highway is a very large water wheel. A few blocks further west on the left side of the street is a road that will serpentine back and fourth until you get into an area with bristle cone pine trees that are well over two thousand years old. A must stop. Also in the area is Central City, an old mining town that still looks as it did, but with new paint and higher prices.
Further west is Glenwood Springs. Just before you enter the town there will be a roaring stream on your left where many kayakers do their thing. Shoot them dodging the rocks and paddling like hell. These are best taken in the middle to late afternoon. If budget is a consideration, get a room here instead of Aspen, about fifty miles southeast, which is pricey but a lot more convenient. Good restaurants abound. Be sure to try the mountain trout.
As you enter Aspen, on your right will be the airport and Prince Of Peace Chapel. Make a right onto Maroon Creek Road. Go up a short way and shoot back at the chapel. This is an afternoon shot. Use the fence as a leading line. Continuing up this road for 7 or 8 miles you will pass a ghost town on the left with interesting wagons and buildings. Further along this road will be meadows and colored aspen framing the Maroon Belles. Further along you will come to a parking and camping area. There is a beautiful lake at the foot of the mountain. Be sure to back up into the colored aspen for framing and use your widest lens. We're trying to show grandeur. You might even find a large maroon colored bolder I rolled to help my composition. I won a PSA gold medal with this shot. In the lake and its run off are trout just waiting to be caught. You'll need a license that you can get at any of the parks. Very early morning light is best and be sure to use your polarizer. Back down the same road till you hit the junction of Rt. 133 & 82 –then left onto 133 to Marble. If you have already rented a four wheel drive car you won't have to pay for a ride to Crystal City and the Lost Horse Mill. A must. Back out to Rt. 133, hang a left and go south and pick up Rt. 92 to Delta. You now have a decision to make.
Arches National Park is not too far away in Utah and has some of the most gorgeous arches to shoot in the world. Some of my best shots have been taken here with morning and evening light. To cover it right, you should allow at least two or three days, more if you can. Some arches can be reached easily but most require some walking. Moab is the nearest town to get a motel. Pick early and carefully, there are a lot of holes in the wall.
If you decided not to go to Arches, continue south to Montrose and get a room in the Motel 8 for two days at least, if you plan to stay in the area. This is a new building and has good rooms which can be hard to find here. Take Rt. 550 south towards Ridgeway. When you drive near the top of the hill overlooking Montrose, the early morning light will rake across the mountain and the colors will be spectacular. This shot was the cover picture on a book covering the 50 most beautiful spots in America. At Ridgeway you pick up Rt. 62 and then Rt. 145 towards Cortez. This is some of the most beautiful, unspoiled country anywhere. Be sure to stop at Telluride, Ophir and Rico. Telluride still has dirt streets and old saloons and Ophir, when back lit with afternoon light, is dazzling with all the colors. There is also a lake that borders the town and will be edged with the fall colors. All this can be seen from the top of the ridge south of the town.
Another decision has to be made. Do you want to see Mesa Verde? It is a nice stop to be sure but will be crowded and will require walking and carrying your equipment. Allow a day for the visit. Durango is 43 miles east along Rt. 160 and has better accommodations then Cortez.
From here you go back north on Rt. 110 towards Montrose. Turn east on Rt. 50 to Gunnison. This town gets the most snow in the USA. Nice accommodations here. Explore the back dirt roads in the area. There are plenty of picture possibilities available. From here go north along Rt. 135 to Crested Butte. Many ranches, streams and colored aspen along the way. Early and late light is best. The town of Crested Butte is an old mining town that has been "discovered" but still has lots to offer.
Back to Gunnison and on Rt. 50 you go through the mountains to Salida. Good accommodations here but if you have the time, go south via Rt. 285 and Rt. 17 to Alamosa. This will put you much closer to The Great Sand Dunes National Monument. This is a very early morning shot to get all the great patterns. Lots of hard walking through the dunes. Bring water!
Back on Rt. 17 North. Be sure to wander onto dead end dirt roads all the way through to Salida and onto Leadville. Several old mining towns and ranches can be found. I even found a rodeo and enough cowboys to satisfy anyone's taste. About 15 miles south of Leadville is Weston Pass. On the right side is a log cabin development like no other. Each log cabin has at least 5 acres with a lake and is built down the side of a mountain. If you’re lucky as I was and have no wind blowing, you will have the mountains reflecting perfectly in all of these lakes that are full of fish. I thought I died and went to heaven.
The town of Leadville stands at 10,000 feet so even after two weeks of running around it left me gasping for air. Several old homes and interesting things to shoot here.
From here it is only a short ride north to pick up I-70 east to Denver. To do this trip requires at least two weeks of hard pushing. It would be much better if you took three weeks. This would have the added benefit of allowing time for bad weather. Being in shape certainly wouldn't hurt but most shots can be gotten with little effort and a very short walk from your car. You will need a full compliment of shooting gear and if you’re like me.... about thirty to forty rolls of film. On average, allow about $150 a day for expenses. By all means be an adventurist. Tally Ho!