Crossing the Rockies to Rabbit Valley

April 28, 2014

Monday we packed up and left Flagler Reservoir early to take advantage of the lull in the weather. Greg was ready for a hot, diner breakfast after being cooped up inside throughout the storm. We drove to the I-70 Diner and noticed a “Help Wanted” sign as we entered. When she saw us read the sign, the owner offered to hire us on the spot and we could start working immediately! It was an offer we could refuse, so we sat down to enjoy breakfast.

Green Chili Omelet. If not the perfect breakfast, pretty close!

We wound up having an interesting conversation with the owner and a customer about the continuing drought. The customer was a farmer from northwestern Kansas. She told us to fill our freezer with beef, because the farmers were not going to be able to feed their herds and would be selling them off. She said the fields should be lush and green by now, but the cattle were already being fed from hay bales, and the farmers, even if they can afford to buy more hay, can't find it.

The owner was lamenting the low water level of the reservoir where we camped, and recounted that other area reservoirs were extremely low and contaminated, and affecting nearby town's water supplies. We've seen the same all over the Southwest.

Back on I-70, the snow we saw on the ground a few miles west reaffirmed our decision to stay off I-70 across the Rocky Mountains. We went south to Colorado Springs and Pueblo and found a spot at Haggards RV Park. The rest of the afternoon we fought the winds as we showered, did laundry, and then celebrated our rental condo sale finally closing.

Our first view of the Rockies!

Snow on the way to Colorado Springs

Pike's Peak

This time, we actually completed settlement of selling the Condo!

Tuesday dawned sunny and cold, but, we could see that the snow storms over the more southern route seemed to be gone. We drove west from Canon City on Route 50, and followed the Arkansas River up into the mountains. The beautiful drive eventually led us to Monarch Pass and the Continental Divide. As we climbed we found yesterday's snow plowed along the side of the road. The land was snow covered and at the higher elevations, we lost the sun, and the snow squalls started. At the top we stopped briefly to take photos of a winter's worth of snow piled against the gift shop. Starting back down the other side, the temperature was in the 20's and the road winding, steep, and wet.
The long drive brought us down to the town of Gunnison and we stopped for lunch at the Blue Mesa Reservoir west of town. It is the largest lake in Colorado. It also looked to be low from drought, although it has the advantage of seasonal snow melt. We had another high pass on the other side before finally descending to the town of Montrose in the valley. We traversed the Rockies, enjoyed the snow and the beautiful scenery, avoided the storms on I-70, and then we were hit with a rain squall as we drove into Grand Junction. We thought we were finally west of the storms.

Heading up the Arkansas River gorge along US 50

Heading up to Monarch Pass

At 11,312 Feet, spring has not quite arrived

If you survive long enough to use the runaway truck ramp, you don't need it!

Coming down into Gunnison

Blue Mesa Reservoir

Squall Line

The storm blew through quickly, and the blue skies returned as we rejoined I-70 to head towards Utah. Two miles from the border we exited at the McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area. We found a spot high up on a bluff in the Rabitt Valley campground. It was another free BLM campground, and we shared it with a lot of mountain biking tenters. It was very quiet. They were all exhausted! We slept very soundly in the quiet, and got up Wednesday morning ready to head into Utah!

Driving Critic

Campsite amenities consisted of a great view and fresh air

Looking toward the Colorado River near the Utah line