ROAD TRIP JOURNAL: Telluride, Durango, and Silverton

We were already at Mesa Verde and why not go deeper into Colorado?! Lucky Dragon saw that in our hotel in Cortez there is an old gold mine near Telluride that you can go into the mine. He really wanted to go. Lady Hiva was not sure she wanted to go because it was further East and we wanted/needed to start to go West again. BUT...Lady Hiva went to sleep as we drive down the Mesa to the valley floor again and while she was sleeping the two Muggles and I had a family vote--majority rules! We started off to Durango before she woke up and could veto our decision. 

It was so crazy how fast the scenery changed from desert mesas to large snow capped granite mountains. The weather went from 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 46!! We saw waterfalls from the recent rains and snow!  

We ended up driving through the small town of Silverton, CO.  It was so fun. It had the small mining town feel to it, but with some fun quirky tourism shops too. 

 We arrived at the mine, set up between two steep mountains on a bumpy dirty road. Outside the mine they allowed people to pan for metal and gems. Koala Bear was so happy she found some "cool rocks" and a small part of silver. 

It was rainy and cold. I had to go dig out the entire suitcase pile to find our jumpers! It was so hot everywhere we had been so the cold was a bit of a shock. 

The mine was an abandoned gold mine that has 15 levels from the valley floor to about 2000 feet higher up the mountain. Apparently, it was mined for years by several different people before it was abandoned. They now take tours for people that want to experience what miners' lives are like. 

We rode into the mine on mine cars. We were happy to be out of the rain. Even with hard-hats and rain coats, it was still cold. 

Once in the mine our guide, who had been a miner for years, walked us through the history of mining and mining equipment. He showed us how each of them worked and what happened with all of them. They were all loud and hard on the body. No wonder mining is such a hard profession. 

Lucky Dragon was happy to be the one to pretend to light the dynamite! 

Trying to lift the ore from the mine. This piece of ore had iron in it, so it is HEAVY. 

Lucky Dragon was chosen to use the old fashioned hammer and chisel style mining. 

It was such a fun experience. I am glad that we went. It was fun and educational. The drive into the mountains was also really special to see. The small towns we drove through beckoned us to stop and explore. One even had hot springs to enjoy. (we would have it it was not so late and we still needed to get to Moab). Durango was especially really nice. 

The guide would hold up a rock and tell us what minerals were in it. I laughed because I would look at it and just think "it is a pretty rock" haha. What a difference experience brings.