09/06: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
The Durango Fire continues to grow.... it's still a long way from us, but depending how the winds are blowing we do get smoke and today a bit of ash.
All the brochures and a lot of people tell you how beautiful the "Million Dollar Highway" is, so today we drove it and a little more. From what I've read the "Million Dollar Highway" is the portion of Highway 550 from Ouray to Silverton. In 1882-3, Otto Mears and Fred Walsen built the 12 miles of toll road between Red Mountain Pass and Ouray. At that time it cost $10,000 per mile to build. A toll of $5 per wagon team or $1 for each livestock was charged. It was years later that this road was called the "Million Dollar Highway".
A view of the Red Mountains.
I'm not sure what this wooden structure was used for but it definitely had something to do with mining because it is in front of what was a huge mining operation.
We were closer to the fire here .... you can really see the smoke in the air.
Ed was intrigued by the Purgatory, turned out it was a ski hill.
We saw a number of lakes on the drive.
Silverton is a small town with a definite western feel.
The Silverton City Hall built in 1908.
Another view of the Red Mountains.
A waterfall by the side of the highway.
All the brochures and a lot of people tell you how beautiful the "Million Dollar Highway" is, so today we drove it and a little more. From what I've read the "Million Dollar Highway" is the portion of Highway 550 from Ouray to Silverton. In 1882-3, Otto Mears and Fred Walsen built the 12 miles of toll road between Red Mountain Pass and Ouray. At that time it cost $10,000 per mile to build. A toll of $5 per wagon team or $1 for each livestock was charged. It was years later that this road was called the "Million Dollar Highway".
A view of the Red Mountains.
I'm not sure what this wooden structure was used for but it definitely had something to do with mining because it is in front of what was a huge mining operation.
We were closer to the fire here .... you can really see the smoke in the air.
Ed was intrigued by the Purgatory, turned out it was a ski hill.
We saw a number of lakes on the drive.
Silverton is a small town with a definite western feel.
The Silverton City Hall built in 1908.
Another view of the Red Mountains.
A waterfall by the side of the highway.