Fri, Aug 16th - DENVER GULCH, SCHAFER GULCH via ENGINEER

 

This morning started off with breakfast at the Brown Bear with the "Friday Morning Breakfast Club," followed by some new trails for us.  Sig, Denny, Linda & Don headed off for Schafer Gulch.  Jim had some stock transactions he had to take care of first.  So, we left later, thinking we knew where we were going.  We headed up Engineer & turned off on CR 18 to find nobody, but some interesting old mining equipment on two different side trails.  We pulled out the map and determined that we were in Denver Gulch. 

 

I found this link online that describes some of the equipment if you have any interest. 

http://dcasler.com/2011/08/04/sideroads-san-juan-cr-18-to-well-preserved-mining-site/

So, another look at the map and we journey further up in search of our friends at Schafer Gulch.  We finally caught up with them as they were coming down.  We went on to the end of the trail since we had come that far and had never been there.

On the way:

Something going on near Engineer Pass; a reservoir maybe?

Glad I didn't have to get that equipment up the trail:

On the side-trail to Schafer Gulch:

  A water crossing taken from the Jeep windows:

 

End of the trail:

 

 Headed back to Engineer:

 Three waterfalls if you look closely:

 The ever present Marmot:

 Intriguing house for sale.  There is a pedestrian-size suspension bridge to the house - only access unless you are into climbing.  No vehicle access!  Thankfully it comes furnished.  Would have been fun to watch them getting building materials to the site!!  "Thoreau's Cabin," 2bed, 1 bath, 936 sq ft can be yours for a mere "$700,000!

 

 Road "home":