Half a Twin

Twin Falls, high up in the mining area above the historic town of Ouray (extra). We got there riding in the back of a four-wheel drive pickup. The road up, although unpaved, was surprisingly well maintained — there are still a few active mines, and some environmental cleansing is underway.

It was very cold when we set out, but we were well prepared, and had to shed a couple of clothing layers when the sun rose over the high surrounding mountains.

Our driver/guide was very knowledgable about the history of the area. There were many small towns during the gold rush, but hardly any trace remains.