by Grania
We’ve had an update from Jerry!
He’s reached Aspen, having traveled from Holdrege, Nebraska to Colorado Springs until finally reaching Aspen today. He’ll update us in more detail later on himself.
In the mean time, here are some photos from the road (click on the photos to enlarge, do the procedure twice to get the photos by themselves):
Here’s a shot of the great Continental Divide, Independence Pass:
A view of Sawsatch Range:
And someone you might recognise about to tackle the Continental Divide.
Careful Jerry. You can quickly get a sunburn way up there at the top of the world. You don’t seem to have any more protection on top than I do.
I often get a burn in the part of my hair if I forget to wear a hat so now I use spray sunblock that I can spray into there.
I think I see a nightjar.
+1!
Lot less snow on Independance Pass than the last time I was there in the late 20th century. And that was mid-July.
Drought can do that… 🙁
It is really serious for west of the US – maybe the conservation should have started sooner –
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/01/california-swater-conservation-drought
That’s some awe-inspiring country right there. Continue to stay safe, Dr. C! (Keep on keepin’ on…. )
Nice panoramas!
I wonder, are there any poor people in Aspen?
Maybe not everyone knows the significancs of the Continental Divide – Water flows west on the west side and east on the east side of the divide. Divide running north and south and not in a straight line.
My dad grew up on a farm in eastern Colorado, and he told me that the poor people who clean up after the rich people in Aspen, cook their food, run their ski lifts, etc. typically live in places like Leadville. There are also cabins, trailer parks, etc. closer to Aspen, out of sight of the main roads and tourist/ski routes, but much more affordable than Aspen proper, of course. Oftentimes the service workers in Aspen hotels, restaurants, and ski areas have dangerous commutes, especially in rough weather.
I used to drive up to a research conference in Aspen each year, and felt pretty guilty about this. I still went, though, because it was the most relevant and best meeting in my field, Aspen is a beautiful place in the late spring, and like almost everyone, I can be a hypocrite at times. I remember one of the hotel workers telling me that he lived in Leadville, and others lived in trailer parks closer to Aspen.
Interesting. I think Leadville was kind of a tourist center as well, if I remember. Some of the Gold Mines and other things.
I wonder if Jerry would like a selfie stick. 🙂
Ha ha!
What selfie stick? The publisher should have sent a trip photographer.
m’eh I’d rather see Carhenge
I went on a skiing odyssey in Colorado when I was 17 or so. Hit all the big mountains, one of the four Aspen mountains was one of them. (I forget the name and maybe they have more than 4 now.) But I also remember the moniker for tourists; a T-shirt or bumper sticker that reads “How’s your Aspen”. Always well wiped and groomed I’d say. 🙂
Groomed? That just came out whilst quick typing. A well groomed ass made me laugh out loud though once I reread. What would that even entail? “Don’t go there” I know…especially if you have a tail!
Our cats seem to devote quite a bit of time to grooming under their tails… Perhaps it is just your inner feline.
Love the views!