| Author | Message | ||
     Sfarson |
Had a great exploring ride yesterday on the Uly finding the location of old ghost town structures that had been swept up and away by man and nature. West Creek flared to life in 1896 with claims of gold in the area. Fortune seekers swept in, erected a scattered town along the namesake creek, and within six months 2,000 people were there. By late 1897 it was recognized there wasn't "gold in them thar hills", and the fade began. Here's an excellent eight minute video from Douglas County on the history of what is now known as Westcreek (single word)... http://vimeo.com/10067706 West Creek around 1896-1897...  In two months (June 2002) will be the ten year anniversary of the massive Hayman wildfire, which consumed 138,000 acres and numerous scattered homes in the Westcreek area. Today, it is a quiet place, but what a diff versus 1896-1897...  1896-1897...  Today, with a delightful power pole. There was a home behind me preventing a more elevated and precise "where the photographer stood then"...  So the Uly brings me about a mile south along West Creek where a few structures of West Creek "suburbia" were placed...  Guess it is fitting to have horses of the day stand in tribute to the past. Could have hopped the fence and joined them for a slightly better "now" perspective...  Those horses of the day sure had an interest in this kind of horse riding past their pasture...  So I have some lunchtime chow in Woodland Park and then decide to ascend high to a not well-known vantage point of Pikes Peak. The Uly is in its element, in a number of places, like on roads with bends, but it also thrives on roads like this. Those fences help prevent blowing snow from drifting across the road. This is from the southern end of the Rampart Range Road (covered in the Colorado motorcycle book)...  Well, there had to be a pic with the bike, and the peak named after soldier and explorer Captain Zebulon Pike...  See that zigzag in the snow at the upper right? That's the now-paved-all-the way-to-the-top Pikes Peak Highway. Would have been an adventure to ride it this day! Rode it last November with temps at 15f at the top with 40mph winds! Had the helmet cam recording the ascent while on the H-D... http://youtu.be/9UABooQFCsc  | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
Nicely done Steve!!! I was given a ghost town book as well over the winter, by my mother-in-law. She envisioned jeep trails to some... i envisioned jeep and Uly..... nice to see someone has the same idea. I'm in Golden and would love to meet up sometime and tag along if you can tolerate company. PM me if your ever interested or i'll end up doing the same I suppose. Cheers-pete "Nate" | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I can't even begin to tell you how jealous I am!! Great pics! | ||
| Crusty |
I lived in Colorado Springs from 1973 to 1977. I sure do miss it sometimes. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Neat pics! Thanks for posting. Amazing how fast the earth recovers.... | ||
| Swampy |
I was out that way a few years back, what a great place to be! I keep dreaming of going back... | ||
| Tootal |
So Pike's Peak is paved all the way now. Glad I ran it a few years ago when there was still dirt sections, that was a hoot on the Uly, early in the morning, when nobody was there!!  I love the then and now photo's. Great way to see the country. Well here's one looking back at ya!  | ||
| Nittanyxt |
Great photos,Steve! I'm getting pumped to head out there next year! Wolfie,gonna come along? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Pikes Peak state park in Iowa. This was before Zeb made it to Colorado. http://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/campgroun dDetails.do?contractCode=IA&parkId=610141&topTabIn dex=CampingSpot | ||
| Crusty |
I visited the Pikes Peak in Iowa last July. I was at the Guzzi rally in Elkader, and a local rider took me there on a day trip. It's very impressive, but in a totally different way from the Peak in Colorado. It definitely is worth seeing. It's a few thousand feet above and directly across from the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. There are some really nice roads in the area, as well. | ||
| Tootal |
Thanks for the info EG. Looks like I'll have to add that to my Iowa brewery tour!  | ||
| Okc99 |
Mine was blue too :*( | ||
| Mnrider |
Great pix and history! | ||
| Sfarson |
Kind thoughts all. A special ride on a special bike. Tootal... CDOT recently finished paving Engineer Pass. Hahaha! | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Fantastic pics. Your fastest colored Uly looks so in its element with the mountains as a backdrop. Thanks for posting. B. | ||
| Road_kill |
great pics and report. I love that area. To hear they paved Engineer Pass is a bit disappointing. I have bounced along that road many times in a Jeep and loved it. Tootal has picture of his Uly up there and I always wanted to give it a try as well. I guess now it will be easier ... except for dodging all the cars the paved road will bring. Oh well, simply a beautiful area. Thanks again for sharing. | ||
| Tootal |
Kind thoughts all. A special ride on a special bike. Tootal... CDOT recently finished paving Engineer Pass. Hahaha! Wow, that sucks! Did they pave from Ouray up or from Silverton? From Ouray to the junction from Silverton was the hardest part. I hope that's still a challenge! I thought all these states are broke yet they went and spent money to pave our play ground!!?  $^$%tIN JERKS!! Did they leave Cimarron alone? Haven't done that one yet. Here's one more from the top of Pike's peak. ON A DIRT ROAD!!   | ||
| Sfarson |
I was just kidding about the great Engineer being paved! I know you have brought your Uly to the top of this great dirt/rock pass Tootal and noting your Pikes Peak paving angst, thought I would mess with your mind. <g> I doubt the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway over Engineer, Cinnamon, and Ophir Passes, Colorado's most famed off road journey, will ever be paved in our lifetime. Steve | ||
| Tootal |
Well you got me! As goofy as some politicians are it wouldn't have surprised me!  | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
 From Ophir facing East Ophir Pass paved.... oh no, certainly not     these are from last September | ||
| Sfarson |
4 pete... Beautiful and colorful images. |
