Chapter 672

Sep 1-9, 2024

Bridal Veil Falls

Ouray Vacation

link to Colorado 2024 Photo Album

Colorado again- this time with free companion airline pass, wahoo.

Bridal Veil Falls above was perhaps the highlight of our 9 day trip to Colorado. It was certainly one of our hardest climbs, it kicked our ass. The 2 mile round trip hiking trail (yellow line) is rated moderate but starting at 9,000 ft climbing to 10,000 ft elevation was a killer with low oxygen concentration, incomplete altitude acclimation and general overall lack of conditioning.

Took my drone this time to capture this "globe" shot launched from our seating position at the falls pool. You might be able to make out Colleen's pink jacket.

You access the trail from Telluride which is only 7 miles from Ouray as the crow flys but an hour's drive around the mountains by paved road. Black Bear Pass is one of the most dangerous off road short cuts from Ouray thorough the 12,000 ft mountains.

Bridal is the highest falls in Colorado at 365 feet and the most popular hike.  We're in pink & blue overlooking the pool. The crazy Coloradoan's climb the waterfall ice in the winter.

I had gone ahead to the falls pool while Colleen composed herself below.  Here she is (pink hat) scrambling up through the crevasse after being recharged. A couple of hikers below watch from the off roading parking lot.

The climb up was vigorous but beautiful.

You had to concentrate on  every step as it twisted through the woods, roots and rocks. 

Before the hike we attempted to drive up the off road trail (yellow dots in first photo) in our rented Kia Sportage 4WD suv through the switchbacks. Made it up half way to the base of the falls through Lower Bridal Veil Road via the switchbacks but turned around after splashing thru the Ingram Creek portion. The rocks were sharp fearing a puncture, ground clearance was not great and Colleen was getting nervous with the drop off roll over potential. We could have made it, however.

This two way Lower Bridal Veil Road turns into one way Black Bear Pass road up higher. In the Black Bear Pass (Narrow Escape) video it shows how rock slides form quickly when the quickly changing weather conditions turn to hail causing impromptu water falls and dangerous conditions that trapped them for hours. The loose rock pebbles here are a result of those landslide conditions.

We walked back down from the falls on the off road because it was easier even though Col had chosen a poor set of tennis style shoes and felt every stone. A few off roaders passed us though the Black Bear Pass above was closed due to landslides. 

Black Bear Pass (Narrow Escape) short cut from Ouray to Telluride shows the off road trail we took at a point much lower in the valley and much smoother. Ingram Creek on left is the one we drove through before turning around at the lower elevation. Telluride is the resort city shown in the far distance beyond the  brown settling pond near our hiking parking lot. It is the site of the Pandora Mill (gold, lead, zinc) tailings reclamation project now operated by the Idarado Company.

While we were on this same road below, by no means were we on this steep one way dangerous above section.  You gotta wonder why so many people attempt such off roading extremes.

Black Bear Pass is one of Colorado's most dangeous off road trails. An off road guide video has a nice summary. Sheriff warns ass clowns to stay home.

Colleen wanted to reward ourselves for accomplishing the hike so we took the free Gondola from Telluride up a mile to Mountain Village then walked to Mountain Lodge Resort to the View Restaurant. Chose to eat on the patio and couldn't help but ask the guy in front of us if he was working remotely. He was a Civil Engineer studying for part 2 of the Professional Engineer's license. And he worked for the Colorado Dept of Transportation. What a coincidence. Like me except 50 years and 2000 miles separation. His office lodged him at this resort while working on Rte 145. Wow. Nice benefit. We stayed at Motel 6.

Oh, and there's more. By the end of our dinner he had switched from the espresso martini to wine, while still studying. Hot tub, anyone. There seems to be an attitute of savoring life in Colorado. He told me to advise friends Colorado sucks, don't want it ruined by tourists.

Colleen schmoozed the resort Manager who was from New York and we got a free shuttle over to the free secondary gondola to the main gondola back to Telluride at sunset. Such is life.