2026-07 Colorado — Day 7

July 24, 2026

Fred at the Monarch Pass sign, Continental Divide, 11,312 feet. — img_3770.jpg

Fred at the Old Monarch Pass sign, Continental Divide, 11,375 feet, ten minutes later. — img_3771.jpg

The rental Subaru at Old Monarch Pass, pines and peaks behind. — img_3772.jpg

Lower Badger Creek — a narrow track squeezed between rock and river. — img_3779.jpg

Lower Badger Creek — a rocky footpath along the water, brush and dry mountainside on both sides. — dscf3890.jpg

A log-post ranch gate strung with an orange metal cattle gate, a kayak hung from the crossbeam, and a hand-lettered "Kayak & Cast" sign on a boulder. — dscf3902.jpg

A painted mural map of the Sangre de Cristo Range and Wet Mountain Valley, peaks labeled by name and elevation. — img_3784.jpg

Panorama of a wide mountain valley under a big cloud sky. — img_3786.jpg

A red dirt road descending into a valley, with a small mining town and mine headframe visible on the hillside under a storm-lit sky. — img_3826.jpg

A full corner building in Victor — an upper-wall whiskey ad ghost sign, a live storefront below, and a "Victor, Colorado" plaque at the sidewalk. — dscf3947.jpg

Part of the 2026-07 Colorado — July 18–26.

Did a lot of extraneous driving. Up to Monarch Pass, and Old Monarch Pass, then down to Cañon City, Skyline Drive, started to visit the prison museum but got bad feels from the gas chamber. Headed out to Phantom Canyon which I enjoyed, lots of winding dirt road, two tunnels, several cool bridges. Liked Victor more than Cripple Creek. Should have gone to Leadville instead of Crested Butte. Opted for the paved descent, lots of squalls coming down, and a hammer of rain as I got back to town.

I’ve got the rental Subaru nice and dirty, but not damaged — yet.

Worried enough about the dusty car that I gave it a hose off. Dinner was bbq pork rib and an old fashioned followed by a quick underwhelming dip in the warm populated hotel pool.

Forgot to mention Lower Badger Creek, along the Arkansas just outside of Salida. Took the rental car where it did not belong — dirt, embedded rocks, very narrow rocky weedy track next to the river, minor water crossing that turned out to be easy enough, I think Xmode helped. Didn’t take enough photos, too nervous about making it through.