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[DesertHOG]

Took a trip to southwest Colorado to view the fall colors. Visited Durango, Silverton, Alpine Loop, Cinnamon Pass, Lake City, Montrose, and Ouray, Co over the weekend.

First few shots are around Durango and the Trimble Crossing community, then up Highway 550 past Purgatory Ski Area (Durango Mountain Resort), Lime Creek Burn, and on to Silverton, CO.

After Silverton, we took the FJ Cruiser up on the Alpine Loop and crossed over Cinnamon Pass towards Lake City. We stop to visit some friends who live in the San Juan National Forest. They live on a river that also feeds a holding pond. They have had a family of moose living on their property since this past spring.

After spending the night in Montrose, CO, we headed to Ouray, CO and up to Red Mountain and stopped at Molas Pass before heading down to Durango and home to Albuquerque, NM.

Here's an easy to use link: https://www.flickr.com/gp/135646538@N05/1424ii

[RGlideKid]

Aww, Simon.  Man.  I would love to see SW Colorado and share it with my wife.  The problem is that a couple of weeks would only scratch the surface. 
I've bought many books on the subject and done so much research on the Jeep trails in that region, as well as all the other things to do and see, and for years now I've wanted to go so bad but it's never happened for me. 
Maybe one day soon now, we'll just head out.  I'd love to take the bike, but I'd love to take my '04 Jeep Rubicon more for the offroading and photo opportunities those trails give you.
Very nice photos, man.  Thanks for sharing.

[DesertHOG]

Aww, Simon.  Man.  I would love to see SW Colorado and share it with my wife.  The problem is that a couple of weeks would only scratch the surface. 
I've bought many books on the subject and done so much research on the Jeep trails in that region, as well as all the other things to do and see, and for years now I've wanted to go so bad but it's never happened for me. 
Maybe one day soon now, we'll just head out.  I'd love to take the bike, but I'd love to take my '04 Jeep Rubicon more for the offroading and photo opportunities those trails give you.
Very nice photos, man.  Thanks for sharing.

.
You are more than welcome on the sharing. I was very happy as this was the first time that I caught the fall colors in Purgatory, Silverton, Ouray and the San Juan Mts at their peak.

My suggestion to you is you'll never experience it until you do visit. If you can only visit for a couple weeks, well get out here and start getting exposed to Colorado. And you know what, maybe in a year or two later, you can visit for another two weeks. Please of the folks on here do just that. Ask guys like Jock, JCZ, 2K, and so on.

Also, if you want to do both 4x4 and Motorcycle, just borrow a trailer and drag your bike. No shame in that .. you'll get the best of both worlds. Or you can rent a Jeep, Quad or Razor for a day. I think our Jeep rental in the spring was around $200 for the day.

Start the plan for next year .. best times are mid-June to end-September. In June you will see alot of runoff and there will still be snow in the mountains. In the fall, September, you can see the color change. During the any of this time you'll get great views and have the experience of a lifetime.

Simon

[JCZ]

Great pics Simon! 

Of course I recognize the cabin.....even recognize one of those moose.     Memories.

Simon is right Harry.....just go!  Doesn't matter if you go in your jeep on on a bike..... once you've gone, you'll be back!    And....you can rent a jeep at any hotel in Ouray or in several places in Silverton.  Or.....you can rent a Harley at the dealership in Grand Junction.

Simon's picture thread shows the contrast to what the area looked like when we were there in Jun.  Here's a link to what it looked like when I drove my Super Duty FX-4 in mid Nov. a couple years ago....  http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=90300.0

[RGlideKid]

Of course, both of you are right.  Like I've said before, life is short.  We're definitely going to go.  There's simply no other place other than southern Utah or Northern Arizona that even comes close.
That was a good post, JC.  Thanks for sharing that also. 
My wife's in the other room listening to me groan and ooh and ahhh.  She wanted to know what it was now (knowing full well I was on the forum  )  When I told her I was looking at your guys' threads and what they were about, she said "you guys are worse than a bunch of kids!" and then she laughed.
If that's true, I don't ever want to grow old...   

[Jock]

Very nice my friend.  Question:  Are these enhanced colors?  Mighty prudy either way.

[DesertHOG]

Very nice my friend.  Question:  Are these enhanced colors?  Mighty prudy either way.

No sir, auto mode on Sony Alpha used which might tune saturation a bit but this is just natures brilliance at work. I tried some color adjustments in Picasa and the result did not impress. Some have contrast tuned a bit but the effect was minimal.

Choose one and I will share without crop or contrast adjustment. I think the only one I really worked on was the FJ with the road in front and reflection on the front hood.

I'm thinking about going back this coming weekend to watch the change in colors at the varying elevations.

Simon

[DesertHOG]

Jock,

I realized that you had already "picked one". So here is the attachment of a resized, untouched version of the same photo. I did have auto contrast applied but as you will likely tell there isn't anything other than perhaps a smidgen of difference.

Simon

[smkymtnboy]

 Thanks for sharing!! having been fortunate enough to have visited the area in the fall a few times. the photos remind me of the natures awesome views and colors. we need a thread with the fall colors displayed from different regions of the country. thanks again for sharing!!

[Jock]

Sweet!

Enjoy the view!

[WestCoastRuss]

Great stuff Simon.....sure brings great memories of our GTG this past summer......thanks!! 

[jpb]

Hello Simon,

Hope you are doing well!  The photos are awesome!!  Hope to see you out this way nest year!

John

[DesertHOG]

Hello Simon,

Hope you are doing well!  The photos are awesome!!  Hope to see you out this way nest year!

John

Hey John, sure hope I make it to Smokies next year. You gonna try to make Sturgis this coming year?

[OhioDave]

 Nice! 

[Dude987]

Heading out there next week. Going to Taos NM, Durango CO, Silverton CO, Ouray CO, then Delta CO via back loop hwy 141 and hwy 65. Then it’s off to Golden CO through hwy’s 92, 50, 285, & 90 through Breckenridge. Last stop will be Mt. Evans before setting off for home. My initiation for the new 2016 CVO RGU.