San Isabel and Wet Mountains of Colorado -- PHOTO TOUR (Pueblo: rent, house)

[McGowdog]

From Pueblo, you can head to Wetmore from Northern or go southwest from the Reservoir, then instead of heading north to Florence, you go south towards Westcliffe. But at Hwy 165, you can turn towards the town of San Isabel, then Rye, then Colorado City.

These are my old stompin' grounds. You'll see that many of Colorado's Rocky Mountains are indeed rocky. But there are also meadows with tall grass, Ponderosas and other evergreens, Aspen... Enjoy;












My new little secret camping spot







Yup! San Isabel Ski Lodge. I skiied this the day Reagan got shot!











A lift ticket (rope tow) must have been about 6 bucks! Friends who worked there skiied for free. There were areas in the back terrain that were a little more challenging, but not much.

San Isabel Lake... you can fish for trout (little stockers mostly) or rent paddle boats or eat at the Lodge. The Lodge and cabins will close up about a month from now (now being 9-2-08)

[corduroyboy]

Is it still that green in those parts? It's gorgeous!

[McGowdog]

This was yesterday. It's been a green summer around here...all of Colorado and along the Front Range from what I've seen.

Correction: my directions are from Thatcher (or 96), not Northern. Northern would of course take you to Beulah. From there, you can make your way to 165 via 78, but I like sweeping from 96 (I think it is) so as to not miss Bigalow Divide.

[corduroyboy]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

This was yesterday. It's been a green summer around here...all of Colorado and along the Front Range from what I've seen.

One more year in California then I want to pack my wife and house up and leave for Colorado! Those pictures sure help the ease of moving! Thanks for posting.

[David Aguilar]

Thanks McGowdog! Looks like paradise!

[ryanek9freak]

the forth picture, I know exactly where that is! I've been camping there before!

[McGowdog]

Just stay away from the 3rd and the 7th photo please.

This little spot is a diamond in the rough.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by corduroyboy

Is it still that green in those parts? It's gorgeous!

In a lot of that area, it has been a wetter than normal summer. Also, the Wet Mountains tend to be greener than many other areas of the state. Don't, by any means, think that all Colorado looks like that--it doesn't. Also, fortunately (so far), the mountain pine beetle is not raising hell with the forests in the Wet Mountains to the extent that it is in much of the rest of the mountainous portions of the state. That is not say that it won't--there is a lot of both Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir in the Wet Mountains, both of which can be susceptible to the pine beetle.

Finally, remember those mountain areas like that are usually only green like the pictures for about a maximum of 4-5 months per year, even in a good year. The other 7-8 they are some variation of brown or white (except for the conifers)--mostly brown at that elevation.

[McGowdog]

As Vegas pointed out in another thread, the Pinion trees around here (I see them mostly from lower sections of Rye down through Colorado City and north along I-25 to Cedarwood and up to about the St Charles crossing by Burnt Mill Road) stay green year around.

But from Colorado City through to Pueblo, the desert prairie has been unusually green this year. We seemed to have a little more moisture than would be expected and a few degrees cooler. Not many 100+ days at all and that's alright by me.

Let it snow! I'm ready for winter and football season!

[winglady]

What!?! No photos of Bishop Castle along the way?

That is a beautiful area -- we enjoyed that drive many, many times while we lived in the Beulah area a few years back.