After a rainy and cool Shabbos on High Mesa, Sunday morning was cold with a bit of fog:

I rode the motorcycle out to the Lands End Observatory, which looks out over Grand Junction below:

My old friend, the Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel:

On the way back to the RV, I visited the restored Raber Cattle Camp. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Raber family lived here in the summers, overseeing their cattle herd:

I got rained on as I returned to the RV:

After a pleasant Shabbos in the Bighorns, I decided to motorcycle down Crazy Woman Canyon:

At the bottom, back on the east side of the Bighorns:

Checked out waterfalls on the way back up:

Motorcycling the neighborhood:

I packed up and drove a bit east to run up to a fire tower.  Nice views from the top:

The RV is the white dot to the right along the road:

Heading back:

I drove west out of the Bighorns through Tensleep Canyon:

I drove through the town of Ten Sleep, then headed south to overnight at the Castle Gardens Scenic Area:

There are campsites here, but they are free:

Moonrise:

Some drone footage:

See the trip map for today’s drive.

Today I decided to try to approach Hancock Pass from the other side.  Descending is easier that ascending, and I’ve heard the western ascent is easier.

Clay was busy today, so I headed out solo.  I went through Tincup:

Up and over Cumberland Pass (12,015’):

Down the other side toward Pitkin:

Old mines along the way:

I visited Pitkin (population 76):

I then headed towards Hancock Pass.  This old railroad route includes the base of a water tower used to feed steam engines:

This water tower is still standing:

End of the line?

The Hancock Pass ascent looked too sketchy for being all alone in the middle of nowhere.  I turned back and followed the railroad track to the Alpine Tunnel.  A bit of exposure:

I continued on until I could go no farther:

Didn’t feel like threading this given the consequences for a fall, so I continued on foot:

After a half-mile walk I approached the train station for the west portal of the Alpine Tunnel, the highest railroad tunnel and the longest narrow gauge tunnel in North America.  The tunnel was active from 1882 to 1910, and has since been sealed by collapses and landslides.  Ruins and restored buildings remain:

The restored telegraph office:

Telegraph office interior:

Approach to the tunnel entrance:

The western tunnel entrance, now filled in:

Heading back:

Good Shabbos from Taylor Park! See the trip map for today’s ride.

This morning, Clay and I decided to try motorcycling the “Miner’s Loop” over Hancock Pass.  Our first stop was the town of Tincup:

We climbed up and over Tincup Pass (12,154’):

We descended into the ghost town of St. Elmo:

We passed the abandoned townsite of Hancock, then began the ascent to Hancock Pass:

The climb became progressively more rough and steep, so we turned back before reaching the summit.  Even UTVs had to proceed carefully:

After returning to the RV, I explored the area south of there to see if I could find a campsite with cell signal:

See the trip map for today’s ride.

I motorcycled the neighborhood today: