2021 Southwest Circle Tour-June 2

Alamosa, CO June 2, 2021

How about starting today’s blog with the story of the Golden Toothache? Our day started at the Heritage Center in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Cripple Creek is best known for its gold mining rush that began in 1890 after Bob Womack, a local prospector, found a major source of gold. Finally, 12 years of prospecting in the Pike’s Peak area ignored by others panned out. One big reason— Bob was staked to his efforts by a local dentist. Bob had a toothache, the dentist fixed it but also listened to Bob’s tale of prospecting. The dentist believed Bob’s one good lead would be successful and it did. Bob’s claim led to other prospectors prospecting in the area and Cripple Creek’s boom time had begun.

The video in the Heritage Center portrayed a series of vignettes highlighting aspects of the boom times in Cripple Creek. Fortunes were made and lost. Mining conditions led to successful union strikes followed later by successful union busting efforts. Railroads came and went. Gold production peaked, bottomed out, and has recovered again. Cripple Creek, like many other boom towns, had culture and education to put a big city to shame. Each of these vignettes, and others, could be a blog post in itself.

Today Cripple Creek still has an open pit mining operation. Dwarfed by gold mining in Nevada, the open pit mine is still productive. Regulations now require reclamation of the pits, which seems successful to our eyes. More of the Cripple Creek economy seems driven now by tourism and gambling. Gambling has led to renovation of the old brick buildings from Cripple Creek’s boom times.

We spent the morning in Cripple Creek, walking the downtown, viewing the mine, exploring the Heritage Center’s numerous exhibits, finishing off with a picnic lunch outdoors. Clear skies with a breeze made for a refreshing trip.

Then it was time to head out. On the outskirts of Cripple Creek was a display outlying the various road and “scenic byways” of the area. Our next destination was the Royal Gorge Bridge west of Canon City. Google Maps, remember our experience at Sand Creek?, outlined three options. The middle one seemed the most direct and quickest. All three would be scenic. The display described one route as “unpaved, rough, winding.” A second route was described as “unpaved, 4-wheel drive recommended, part of route one lane.” The third route was described as “well maintained, no vehicle restrictions.” We chose the third option.

The drive was scenic with mountains and valleys, rock formations, cattle ranches, and dotted with large and small homes in abundance. Blue skies alternated frequently with cloudy skies, brief showers, and black rain clouds which popped up in every direction but missed us.

The Royal Gorge Bridge is ranked as the highest bridge in the U.S. and in the top 20 highest bridges in the world. It is 950 feet from the bridge planks to the Arkansas River below. It was built solely as a tourist attraction in 1929 and has remained so today. It is only for walking, no cars allowed. The bridge area has added amusements ranging from play areas for kids to a theater to zip lines over the gorge.

Chris and I chose the more sedate options of the gondola ride one way and walking back across the gorge. I thought I might get vertigo on the bridge, I have on others. I did not. I attribute that to the fact the Royal Gorge bridge is wide enough with railings ample enough to feel secure. Screams from zip liners and the train whistle of the excursion train along the edge of the river punctuated the air. Down below, rafters were challenging the rocks and rapids.

From the bridge we had another drive to Alamosa Colorado. The road again showcased mountains with the Sawatch in front of us and the Sangre de Cristo on our side. The traffic was much heavier as the new roads were U.S. routes versus state and county roads. Alamosa is the closest town to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. It will be our primary destination tomorrow.

Ed Heimel, Chris Klejbuk

Alamosa CO June 2, 2021