Exploring Alma

High elevation had its effect on several of us.  From lack of sleep due to difficulty breathing to headaches to nosebleeds to huffing and puffing after climbing a single flight of stairs, we were feeling it in some ways.  So we decided to take it a little easier today to help acclimate and let the Jeep do most of the climbing.

First destination was near the end of a forest service road right near our cabin. The guidebook here at the cabin called this “Witch’s Tree”, something known only to the locals.  And less than a mile down a forest service road and a short hike brought us to the place, a dead tree on which was hung a dozen or more animal skulls.  It’s known only to the locals, probably because only the locals really care to go there.

From nearby Alma, we drove up Buckskin street to take the Buckskin Gulch Auto Tour.  According to their information, of this 5-mile route, the first 4 miles are suitable for most passenger cars; the last mile is steep, rocky, and rough. 

First point of interest was the cemetery, the likes of which I have never seen.  Instead of a platted, grassy area with neatly arranged tombstones, this one was two-track roads carved through the forest and graves placed wherever there was room. The forest and graves exist in the same space.

This cemetery is still in use today and we found headstones with dates as late as 2023.

At another stop along the road we could see one of many mines where ore was dug out of the ground in the search for gold.  The Hungry Five Mine clings high on the canyon wall above, and the Paris Mill, which received the ore via cables suspended between the two, sits right along the roadway.  The Mine can barely be seen from the road and even with a telephoto lens it was rather far away so I launched my eye-in-the-sky to take a few close-up photos of it.

A side road leaves Buckskin street and hugs the brow of Windy Ridge.  Low clearance vehicles are eventually forced to stop, making the remainder of the path a hike, but we soldiered on, bumping our way up to the top of the ridge, where a bunch of 1000-year-old bristlecone pines cling to the slopes.  Here we found an area of amazing views among the pines and other alpine vegetation and spent some time here just admiring the scenery.

The road continued past this point and climbed steeply up the side of one of the fourteeners, Mount Bross and we drove it for a little ways, eventually reaching an elevation of 12116 feet.  Such magnificent views from here.

We ate lunch in another stand of bristlecone pine trees, overlooking the town of Alma far below and the entire surrounding valley.  What a great place for a lunch.

Back down the road, we continued on Buckskin Road to its end at Kite Lake.  The lake is surrounded by three other fourteeners and a popular activity is to camp here and hike all three of them.  We didn’t do that.  Everyone coming off of those mountains was under 30, and the few of us 60-something low-landers were definitely out of place here.  We were just amazed to see passenger cars including a Honda Fit in the parking lot.  I would think roads as terrible as the one leading up here would have done them in.

Back down the mountain and into the town of Fairplay to get a few more groceries and gas.  Unfortunately two accidents on both sides of town diverted traffic through downtown, resulting in massive gridlock which delayed us for a while.

Just after dinner, it began to rain and poured buckets.  The entire day was mostly sunny and pleasant, with high-elevation temperatures reaching the upper 60’s.  A rather abrupt change from 92 yesterday.  Very enjoyable day.