shane h.
Well-Known Member
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We just got back from our annual retreat from the Texas heat. We decided to try the San Juans in late June this year as we'd never been up this early before. Pray for Colorado. The whole state may burn this year. It's really, really bad up there right now. Maybe the monsoon season will turn things around.
It was just the wife, the dogs, and I on this trip as our normal Silverton crowd were all doing other things this year, so we really took our time and enjoyed every stop along the way. No early mornings. No real schedule. We had all of our stuff up on the roof so I kept speeds low the whole 2,524 miles. I don't think I ever went over 68mph on any highway between Arlington and Silverton, and stayed at posted speeds when 65 or below.
We used 172 gallons of gas at an average of $3.82 per gallon (2025 average was $2.83 per gallon... hmmm....). Total fuel cost was $656.84. Averaged 15.5 mpg on the highways to and from Colorado, and averaged 13.8 mpg on the trails and side trips in the area with a lot of highway driving this year (trip up to Crystal Mill).
Here are a few pictures and highlights from the trip this year...
Mine ruins at Browns Gulch
Pups below Corkscrew Pass
Pups sleeping somewhere along the Alpine Loop
Night run up to Velocity Basin
Tomboy Tram Station
May be the best pizza I've ever eaten. Olde Schoolhouse Cafe just south of the Purgatory Ski Area. The pizza is the Vinny Pizzarino. Try it. Absolutely cool old pizza tavern.
Little Giant Basin
Bolam Pass
This year we decided to make the 4 hour drive up from Silverton to see the Crystal Mill. My dad had a poster sized professional photo of the mill hanging in his den for years and when he passed I brought that photo home and it hangs in my den. Now I can say I've actually been there and seen it in person. It was so cool to get up there and see it. And don't bypass Slow Groovin' BBQ in Marble if you head up that way. Amazing BBQ. The reviews aren't lying.
Porphyry Gulch
Barli, just because.
It was just the wife, the dogs, and I on this trip as our normal Silverton crowd were all doing other things this year, so we really took our time and enjoyed every stop along the way. No early mornings. No real schedule. We had all of our stuff up on the roof so I kept speeds low the whole 2,524 miles. I don't think I ever went over 68mph on any highway between Arlington and Silverton, and stayed at posted speeds when 65 or below.
We used 172 gallons of gas at an average of $3.82 per gallon (2025 average was $2.83 per gallon... hmmm....). Total fuel cost was $656.84. Averaged 15.5 mpg on the highways to and from Colorado, and averaged 13.8 mpg on the trails and side trips in the area with a lot of highway driving this year (trip up to Crystal Mill).
Here are a few pictures and highlights from the trip this year...
Mine ruins at Browns Gulch
Pups below Corkscrew Pass
Pups sleeping somewhere along the Alpine Loop
Night run up to Velocity Basin
Tomboy Tram Station
May be the best pizza I've ever eaten. Olde Schoolhouse Cafe just south of the Purgatory Ski Area. The pizza is the Vinny Pizzarino. Try it. Absolutely cool old pizza tavern.
Little Giant Basin
Bolam Pass
This year we decided to make the 4 hour drive up from Silverton to see the Crystal Mill. My dad had a poster sized professional photo of the mill hanging in his den for years and when he passed I brought that photo home and it hangs in my den. Now I can say I've actually been there and seen it in person. It was so cool to get up there and see it. And don't bypass Slow Groovin' BBQ in Marble if you head up that way. Amazing BBQ. The reviews aren't lying.
Porphyry Gulch
Barli, just because.
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