OK, what was so different about Colorado "back when?" (Denver: hotel, trip)

[Idunn]

Years ago I drove the dirt road between Lake City and Ouray. An interesting excursion.

The first clue was when shortly out of Lake City I encountered two new, well equipped Toyota Land Cruisers stopped at the side of the road. Driven by foreign tourists, they were considering the state of their tires. One of the vehicles was okay, although having already switched out a flat. The other vehicle not only had a flat on one of its four, but also a gaping hole in the sidewall of the spare tire mounted under the rear of the vehicle. They were relieved when I told them Lake City not that far distant.

I did wonder. The road was smooth and well graded at this point. And it more or less remained that way to the top of the pass, although becoming a bit more challenging as the summit approached. A beautiful panoramic view once there, and with every indication the descent would be as easy. This a big miscalculation.

Although I had four wheel drive, the vehicle definitely not a Jeep nor intended for such service. There was little traffic. As I slowly descended one fellow in a Jeep going uphill stopped to ask if I was okay, looking rather worried. I said I was fine but was beginning to wonder as much myself.

There came a point when the road had become mostly a collection of large rocks, with myself gingerly inching over and down each in turn, praying that the occasional sound and clash between rock and metal underneath would be brief and infrequent. It also soon became apparent that without the proper low range gearing that I could not venture back uphill and this would be a one way trip for better or worse.

There came a point when I vowed to this poor car, that should it ever survive to bring us to the paved road somewhere far below, that I would NEVER ever even think of taking it on any such road again. Something I was more than happy to abide by.

We did at last, the car and I, reach the paved highway a short distance south of Ouray. I also happened to notice the large sign there warning this road only for serious four wheel drive vehicles. I believed it. I don't recall kissing the ground there, but might as well have; I was that pleased. Miraculously the car and I had both arrived more or less intact, if myself a bit wiser.

Chances are this road remains much as it was then. Probably a bit more traffic at times than decades ago. I wouldn't know for sure. But the experience either then or now surely much the same, if the vehicles used now superior.

My grandfather did, and could remember times when people drove a Jeep into the mountains and pretty much went where they pleased. It was all much more lenient then. But it was during his lifetime that people began to notice the increasing effects of this off road travel and environmental restrictions came into effect. Thus less liberty in this today, although also helping to preserve a good deal appreciated then, and an often pristine landscape now for future generations.

In looking, much that was enticing then remains as much today.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Idunn

Years ago I drove the dirt road between Lake City and Ouray. An interesting excursion.

The first clue was when shortly out of Lake City I encountered two new, well equipped Toyota Land Cruisers stopped at the side of the road. Driven by foreign tourists, they were considering the state of their tires. One of the vehicles was okay, although having already switched out a flat. The other vehicle not only had a flat on one of its four, but also a gaping hole in the sidewall of the spare tire mounted under the rear of the vehicle. They were relieved when I told them Lake City not that far distant.

I did wonder. The road was smooth and well graded at this point. And it more or less remained that way to the top of the pass, although becoming a bit more challenging as the summit approached. A beautiful panoramic view once there, and with every indication the descent would be as easy. This a big miscalculation.

Although I had four wheel drive, the vehicle definitely not a Jeep nor intended for such service. There was little traffic. As I slowly descended one fellow in a Jeep going uphill stopped to ask if I was okay, looking rather worried. I said I was fine but was beginning to wonder as much myself.

There came a point when the road had become mostly a collection of large rocks, with myself gingerly inching over and down each in turn, praying that the occasional sound and clash between rock and metal underneath would be brief and infrequent. It also soon became apparent that without the proper low range gearing that I could not venture back uphill and this would be a one way trip for better or worse.

There came a point when I vowed to this poor car, that should it ever survive to bring us to the paved road somewhere far below, that I would NEVER ever even think of taking it on any such road again. Something I was more than happy to abide by.

We did at last, the car and I, reach the paved highway a short distance south of Ouray. I also happened to notice the large sign there warning this road only for serious four wheel drive vehicles. I believed it. I don't recall kissing the ground there, but might as well have; I was that pleased. Miraculously the car and I had both arrived more or less intact, if myself a bit wiser.

Chances are this road remains much as it was then. Probably a bit more traffic at times than decades ago. I wouldn't know for sure. But the experience either then or now surely much the same, if the vehicles used now superior.

My grandfather did, and could remember times when people drove a Jeep into the mountains and pretty much went where they pleased. It was all much more lenient then. But it was during his lifetime that people began to notice the increasing effects of this off road travel and environmental restrictions came into effect. Thus less liberty in this today, although also helping to preserve a good deal appreciated then, and an often pristine landscape now for future generations.

In looking, much that was enticing then remains as much today.

Yep, that was Engineer Pass for you. The east side used to be pretty smooth. Many years ago, my best friend and I drove to the top of it in his Rambler the weekend before Thanksgiving (that was one of those warm dry falls like this year--followed by the most hellacious bearcat of a winter than I ever experienced before or since). We didn't drive down the west side, which--even then--was pretty rough. If anything, the west side is rougher now, I think, than it was then. All of that said, Engineer only rates about a 6 on the 1-10 "Oh S***!" scale for Jeep trails in Colorado. There are some that are much worse. Most of the "fancy" new 4WD's they sell now wouldn't even make it over them--not even the "tricked out" 4-wheelers that are still more show than go. Just a lot of much more expensive iron and mechanicals to get bent and broken. Give me an old Jeep or Land Cruiser any day.

[marie_co]

Fun stories thanks for sharing!

Of course Colorado has changed and grown, show me a place in the USA that hasn't seen any growth or change in the past 30 years. I grew up in Colorado but I do get tired of the attitude (not saying that any of you posses this attitude of course) of natives who think that if you aren't a native then you don't belong in Colorado and can't possibly appreciate Colorado.

[Mike from back east]

Here's one place that goes WAY back. It's a clothing store in Denver, in the LoDo area, barely 2 blocks from Union Station. I've been in there and talked to the 106-year old man that runs the company. I was talking with him once and I believe he said he came here in the 1920's. Rockmount makes them plain or fancy, from plain old western wear to the stuff that country music artists wear. This place is WORTH a visit when you're in LoDo.

Article in AOL on 15 Nov 2007:
Older Entrepreneurs - AOL Small Business

Full BIO of Jack Weil:
The Centenarian Cowboy- Oldest U.S. Entrepreneur - Jack Weil and Rockmount Ranch Wear - Centenarian Entrepreneur

Website for the firm:
Rockmount Ranch Wear



My photo of the store in Denver, in 2003, the lease sign is for space upstairs.

[lovethewest]

Jazz -- you write very well. Are you a writer? If not, you might consider writing down some stories from "the good ol' days." I like your story very much.

[hello-world]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

You bet I've changed since then (age does that), but the place has changed a lot, too. I'll leave it at that.

i'm a relative newbie and i could tell in getting to know the area a bit what jazzlover has a hard time with about some of the changes in CO. some areas age with more grace and care than others...

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by marie_co

Fun stories thanks for sharing!

Of course Colorado has changed and grown, show me a place in the USA that hasn't seen any growth or change in the past 30 years. I grew up in Colorado but I do get tired of the attitude (not saying that any of you posses this attitude of course) of natives who think that if you aren't a native then you don't belong in Colorado and can't possibly appreciate Colorado.

Yep, Pardner, I really agree with ya. I am not a "native" and I get real tired hearing it. As a westerner would say "if you can ride the horse, I don't care how you got in the saddle."

I grew up in New York, been here almost 30 years, so I have long ago stories. I have never ran acrossed a state that makes such a fuzz about being a "native"--whatever it means. A New Yorker "native" does not say that all the time--they rather not admit to it.

It is just a false ego of empty pretensions.

Just like tumble weeds, dried out natives will go tumbling along--just ignore it.

From the saddle,

Livecontent

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by livecontent

Yep, Pardner, I really agree with ya. I am not a "native" and I get real tired hearing it. As a westerner would say "if you can ride the horse, I don't care how you got in the saddle."

I grew up in New York, been here almost 30 years, so I have long ago stories. I have never ran acrossed a state that makes such a fuzz about being a "native"--whatever it means. A New Yorker "native" does not say that all the time--they rather not admit to it.
It is just a false ego of empty pretensions.

Just like tumble weeds, dried out natives will go tumbling along--just ignore it.

From the saddle,

Livecontent

The same is true in Pennsylvania. When we first came here in 1980, I could not get over people running for public office saying that they were a fourth (or whatever) generation Coloradan. As if that were a qualification for the office! When I was growing up in PA, most people were only second or third generation American! There was not all this focus on "nativity".

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

The same is true in Pennsylvania. When we first came here in 1980, I could not get over people running for public office saying that they were a fourth (or whatever) generation Coloradan. As if that were a qualification for the office! When I was growing up in PA, most people were only second or third generation American! There was not all this focus on "nativity".

Gee, I guess you all won't be applying for a set of these then ( http://www.revenue.state.co.us/mv_dir/formspdf/2836.pdf ), which the State of Colorado was convinced to "sanctify" a number of years ago . . .

And, no, I don't qualify for them--I'm only a first-generation Colorado native.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Gee, I guess you all won't be applying for a set of these then ( http://www.revenue.state.co.us/mv_dir/formspdf/2836.pdf ), which the State of Colorado was convinced to "sanctify" a number of years ago . . .

And, no, I don't qualify for them--I'm only a first-generation Colorado native.

Well, no, I don't qualify. If first generation doesn't qualify, then my kids can't have them either. Apparently one's parents have to be from CO for you to be a "real" native?