Hi All,
Today we returned to Black Canyon National Park to visit East Portal. Remember how far down the river was in yesterday's pictures? Well that's where we went. Five miles descending over 2,000 feet with grades as steep as 16%. This is the route on our GPS .
At times it was hard to tell where the road was going to go!
We were in first gear most of the way and the wheels didn't even get warm. This pretty view of the small dam begs the question, "Why build a road like that not connected to anything, the only way out is back up the hill."
The answer is water. Down the mountain it is high desert. With 9" of rain annually. If only they could get water from the Gunnison River. "All" that stood in the way was six miles of rock!
Starting in 1905, crews of immigrant laborers built the road, built a small town where 250 people lived and began digging and blasting a diversion tunnel. It took four years!
The canyon walks have lots of interesting formations.
Meanwhile back in the coach, Ginger played a game of "Which paw is this?"
Love,
Sandy & Carl
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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