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Headed Back to Silverton

IntrepidXpedition 2007 | Day 9
Friday, July 27, 2007

After a few days up in Grand Junction, I was headed back down to Silverton for the dinner and raffle the Colorado Chapter of NAXJA was putting on for ColoradoFest. Before I left the area, I had a few places I wanted to explore on my way south. I started off by heading to the Colorado National Monument.

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I did a little sight-seeing along the paved road through the monument, including Independence Monument.
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After checking out the sites in the monument I headed up Black Ridge Road, which leads to Rattlesnake Canyon.

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Looking down into Rattlesnake Canyon
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Once at the end of the road, you come across the hiking trailhead for Rattlesnake Canyon. Hiking is the only way into the canyon. I am hoping to head back another time to hike the trail.

I did manage to spot West Rim Arch from above on the opposite rim.
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After heading back out through the monument, I was on my way south again towards Silverton.

Taking the backroads to Owl Creek Pass….storm clouds were moving in again.
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Made it to the pass
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Passed by Chimney Rock
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After passing Chimney Rock it started raining on and off pretty good the rest of the evening. After making it back to Ouray I started to make my way towards Silverton and the rain was still coming down pretty good. When I made it to Bear Creek Falls, the creek was moving pretty quickly and was dark with mud. When I walked over the bridge it was shaking from the moving water below.

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A little further down the highway, I ran across a rock slide caused by the rain. My lane was impassable, so we had to take turns getting by in the opposite lane. Eventually I did make it back to Silverton, and had a great dinner out of the rain.

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