Today was spent in the heart of old (1875) gold and silver mining areas in the San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado. We climbed over three mountain passes which were over 11,000 feet enroute from Durango to Silverton to Ouray. In many ways this region is the best that Colorado has to offer for splendid mountain scenery, rushing streams, and vast pine and aspen forests.

Silverton is well known as the terminus for the narrow gauge railroad that follows the Animas River from Durango to the historic mining district. Ouray is situated further north in a natural old U-Shaped glacial basin and is often called the "Switzerland of America."

Part of the road just South of Ouray is known as the "million dollar" highway, because so much gold and silver ore was hauled on it. Now 130 years later the mining industry has died, and the two towns are mostly tourist resorts. I prefer Ouray, but both are quite fascinating. The drive, as I said, is spectacular, and there are some narrow places that are not for faint of heart.