Imogene

Switzerland of America

September 2015

From old mining town of Ouray, we take a day trip to Tellurite but did not want the paved 50 miles of CO-62 W and CO-145 S. Granted, it would take us a less than 1.1 hour, but what’s the fun in that! The journey should be chock full of natural beauty, rich history, and colorful wildflowers trip, and yes… the best is to spend 6 hours just to cover the 18.4 miles. We are talking about the Yankee Boy Basin to Imogene Pass.

The natural springs near “Drinking Cup” above where the miners stopped to water their mules
A remnant of Camp Bird tailing can be seen after crossing this huge rock overhang
Thomas Walsh ingenuity created the Camp Bird Mine along with his legacy in the process

An Irishman named Thomas F. Walsh came to Black Hills, South Dakota following the gold rush of 1870. Walsh more interested in the opportunity that follows the gold rush, like his indispensable carpentry skills along selling mining equipment that is financially more reliable and lucrative. Working during the day, he carefully studied mining technologies at night. He moved to Leadville, Colorado in 1877, married and open Grand Central Hotel to cater to the gold mining industry.

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Camp Bird is named after mountain jays stole miner’s lunch

Applying his mining knowledge and systematic method of gold prospecting, he bought a series of non-productive mines in Ouray. His intuition and knowledge finally paid off in 1896, where he extracted a fortune estimated to be in excess of $3 million (or equivalent to $90 million in 2018) in just 6 years.

7.7 miles into the toughest decision making on the trail, we went right to Yankee Boy
Twin Falls just few hundred feet from the trail with few wildflowers in bloom

After shortstop at Yankee Boy Basin, we backtrack and take the high road to Imogene Pass. Imogene Pass highest point peak-out at 13,114 ft, is the second-highest drivable road in Colorado.

Looking back toward Ouray and the dirt road we took to get here
A lonely mailbox at 13,114 ft and laboring breath from thinner air at this altitude
Windy and changeable weather; the temperature difference could be 60°F colder compare to Ouray
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A glimpse into the window of the past at Tomboy Townsite
At 11,509 ft, Tomboy is one of the highest ghost towns in the United States
In 1894, some 900 people have lived and worked in this high mountain valley
Tomboy had a store, school, stable, cabins for the miners, as well as a YMCA and tennis court

But in 1928, Tomboy Mine closed as the gold ran dry and the camp was abandoned. Coming down Imogene Pass through the scenic Imogene Basin, we were treated with an outstanding view of Black Bear Pass on the Rocky Mountains.

The infamous Black Bear Pass with Bridal Veil Falls on the Rocky Mountains
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Close up of the Bridal Veil Powerhouse and its beautiful 360 ft free-falling waterfall

The Silver Lake nearby provides 830 PSI of hydropower to run a large AC generator houses inside. 25% of Telluride electricity come from this power station. It also served as residence for Buckley Wells, a Smuggler-Union Mine manager until 1920s. Unoccupied, the living quarter and powerhouse fell into disrepair. A local man, Eric Jacobson acquired a 99-year lease in 1988 but gave up the lease after 22 years.

Reaching Telluride about 3 hours later, the first town in the world operate by AC power in 1890. The town situates at 9,000 ft which also boasting many world-class ski resorts.

Stores do change their locations from time-to-time in this small town
A fascinating street vendor offers fusion menu items
The quiet town of Telluride interrupted by an infamous bank robber in the morning of June 24, 1889

On the morning of June 24, 1889, Robert LeRoy Parker and his accomplice Matt Warner walked into San Miguel Valley Bank (building on the right of the picture above) threaten a lone teller at gunpoint, fill the bag with cash, and escaped on horseback before a posse could be formed. The outlaw was known simply as Butch Cassidy.

Like most parts of Colorado, the scenic value and its colorful history are outstanding. There are 100 of Colorado incredible trails waiting to be explored, and we will definitely be back for them.

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GPS Coordinates

  1. Yankee Boy Trail Entrance – 38°01’03.7″N 107°40’28.4″W
  2. Drinking Cup – 37°59’02.6″N 107°42’37.7″W
  3. Rock Overhang – 37°58’21.0″N 107°44’00.9″W
  4. Twin Falls – 37°59’14.4″N 107°45’47.9″W
  5. Imogene Pass Entrance – 37°58’29.9″N 107°43’25.8″W
  6. Top of Imogene Pass – 37°55’53.5″N 107°44’06.5″W
  7. Tomboy Townsite – 37°56’17.2″N 107°45’26.4″W
  8. Telluride – 37°56’23.7″N 107°48’42.7″W

References

  • Destination details from local knowledge, some were extracted from hand-out literature/brochure, or website, and Wikipedia

  • Coordinates are from Google map in Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds (DMS)