July 26, 2017 Wednesday Day Trip to Leadville Colorado

Edited to show we were in Leadville, Colorado.  I am blaming the elevation!

Deadwood,LEADVILLE, Colorado is about 30 miles north of Buena Vista.  The highway follows the Arkansas River with rock-covered mountains along the river.

Deadwood Leadville is known as a mining town.  At the height of the mining success there was a population of over 80,000; today the population is 13,000.

At one time silver was mined, but now the ore being mined is "moly"--I don't know if I can spell the proper name  "molybendium".  This isn't correct, but close.

"Moly" is used as a "steel strengthener", lubricant.

We rode on the "Scenic Train Trip", "Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad, a two-and half hour trip, going nine miles north of Leadville through the Mosquito Range.

The best scenic train trip that we have been on, rates a 10 out of 10, was at Talkeetna Alaska.  Today's ride rated a 3.5.  We were glad we did the ride, but wouldn't go again.  The scenery was pine and aspen trees with some mountain tops.

1880's hospital building, now houses apartments

Close to the rocks on the inside of the curve

Talus or slurry: loose rock on the side of the mountain

Top of Mt. Arkansas, the beginning of the Arkansas River

The forming Arkansas River

The elevation at Leadville is near 10,000'.  We reached 11,000' on the train trip.

On the return trip to Buena Vista we visited a Fish Hatchery.

Rainbow Trout

We see lots of fly fishermen trying to catch trout in the streams.

More adventure tomorrow?  Maybe.