After leaving Moab, we crossed back into Colorado for a quick two-night stay in Durango. Our plans were ambitious: restock Jackson, experience the Million Dollar Highway, and ride the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
Before we could do any of that, however, we had to solve one small problem—I had booked the wrong campground.
Right Name, Wrong Campground
Apparently, Colorado has two campgrounds with the same name in two different towns. Unfortunately, I had made our reservation at the one that was not in Durango.
Thankfully, the managers at both campgrounds were gracious and competent. The incorrectly booked campground refunded our reservation, while the Durango location found a place for us to stay. Crisis averted!
Once we were settled, we headed out to stock up on groceries for several meals we were responsible for preparing during the upcoming DRV rally in Angel Fire. By early evening, we were ready for a little R&R at the campground pool.
The campground was also home to plenty of does and bucks, which made for beautiful wildlife scenery—and a constant challenge to keep Timber from trying to chase them.
The Million Dollar Highway—Without Mark Driving
Our only full day in Durango had been planned before we ever left home. We knew taking the train both ways between Durango and Silverton would make for too long a day to leave Timber unattended. Fortunately, the railroad offers combination packages: ride the train one direction and take a motorcoach the other.
After comparing the options, we decided the train ride from Silverton back to Durango would take less time than riding the train uphill from Durango. So, we boarded the motorcoach in front of the Durango depot and let someone else do the driving along the Million Dollar Highway.
That turned out to be a great choice.
Our driver narrated the route as we climbed into the San Juan Mountains, sharing stories and pointing out landmarks along the way. We made such good time that he even allowed us a quick photo stop at the Molas Pass summit.
Considering the narrow lanes, steep drop-offs and lack of guardrails along portions of the Million Dollar Highway, Mark was probably not too happy to sit back and enjoy the scenery—but I was definitely happy not to watch him drive it!
A Step Back in Time in Silverton
Sitting at 9,318 feet in the San Juan Mountains, Silverton is a small, touristy—and wonderfully historic—former mining town.
It seems to have wisely decided that changing too much would defeat the purpose. Its downtown remains a National Historic Landmark District filled with colorful storefronts, shops, galleries, restaurants and lodging. Today, it is perhaps best known for its connection to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
We had enough time before our return trip to eat lunch at The Shady Lady Saloon, wander around town and browse through several of the shops. Then it was time to board our refurbished 1880s passenger car, the Yankee Girl, for the journey back to Durango.
All Aboard the Yankee Girl
The Yankee Girl was named after the largest mine in the Red Mountain Mining District north of Silverton. Our upgraded car came with its own attendant, along with a souvenir mug and special railroad tote bag.
Porscha, our onboard attendant, was vivacious, friendly and full of information about the railroad and the scenery passing outside our windows. She also kept everyone supplied with plenty of snacks and adult beverages—at an additional cost, of course—during the ride back down the mountain.
For nearly two hours, the train wound through the canyon alongside rushing water, crossed bridges and passed old mining structures tucked beneath towering mountain peaks. It was exactly the kind of scenery we had hoped to experience.
All in all, it was a wonderful outing, although we definitely stretched the limit on how long we could leave Timber alone. He was perfectly fine when we returned—but extra hungry and exceptionally clingy for the rest of the evening!
Three Reasons for Angel Fire
From Durango, we continued south to Angel Fire, New Mexico, where our week had three very different purposes.
First, I was representing AdventureGenie at the DRV National Rally. My week included an hour-long presentation, several one-on-one sessions with subscribers who wanted a little “advanced training,” and the opportunity to award several free AdventureGenie memberships during raffle night.
Second, Mark and I were attending as former DRV owners. It gave us a chance to catch up with friends we have made over the years, meet new ones and enjoy all the rally activities.
Third, we had enlisted a local real estate agent to help us take a serious look at Angel Fire as a possible ski destination—and perhaps a part-time home—for the next several years.
First Things First—I Killed My Presentation!
I’m not normally one to brag, but I killed my presentation!
So many people told me it was the best presentation of the week, and several attendees became new AdventureGenie Pro subscribers afterward. I also spent time helping current subscribers better understand some of the platform’s more advanced features.
From a work standpoint, the rally was a big win!
Timing Our Adventures Between the Downpours
The weather tried its best to dampen everyone’s spirits during the rally, but we prevailed. More importantly, we managed to squeeze both our off-roading adventure and our Red River chairlift outing between the downpours.
We teamed up with another couple, Scott and Carolyn, to rent a Polaris General XP 1000 from Weezie’s Wild Rides. Our four-hour adventure took us in search of trails leading toward Greenie Peak, Mountain Meadows, Cabresto Canyon and, finally, Goose Lake.
We followed Cabresto Canyon Forest Service Road 134, which is seasonally open to off-road vehicles, and stopped along the way to enjoy the packed picnic lunch we had brought with us.
With fewer than two hours remaining on our rental, we decided to make the climb to Goose Lake. Beginning around 8,500 feet, the rugged forest road climbed through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to more than 11,500 feet.
The first two miles are known locally as “the Narrows”—a series of very tight switchbacks with a canyon on one side and a sheer rock wall on the other. From there, the narrow and steep trail passed the old Bunker Hill Mine before finally reaching the shores of Goose Lake, about eight miles later.
By the time we returned the Polaris, both we and the machine were slightly wet and muddy—but it had been one heck of an adventure!
Red River: Built by Miners, Not Developers
Another rally outing took us to the Red River Ski & Summer Area for a scenic ride on the Platinum Chairlift.
Red River describes itself as “a real ski town built by miners, not developers,” and Mark and I completely agree. It is not a flashy or fru-fru ski destination. It feels casual, authentic and refreshingly low-key.
The mountain appears to offer something for everyone: greens and blues for me, along with chutes, steep black runs and plenty of challenging terrain for Mark and the kids. And, of course, the views are spectacular.
There is a restaurant at the top of the Platinum Chairlift serving burgers and brews, with both indoor and outdoor seating. However, we decided to save our appetites for a popular local hangout, Red River Brewing Company & Distillery.
The brewery was packed with tourists, but we managed to get a table. Mark ordered a local Angry Blonde beer and a Hatch chile burger, while I chose a cider and the green chile stew—which had just enough of a spicy bite to remind me that we were in New Mexico.
Could Angel Fire Become Our Ski Home?
The third part of our Angel Fire visit required a different kind of exploration.
We have been looking for a laid-back, low-key ski community with properties that still fall within our price range. Angel Fire appeared to check many of those boxes. Nearby ski areas—including Red River, Taos and even Wolf Creek—would also give our family enough variety to keep everyone happy.
Our real estate agent, Drew, has lived in the area for more than 25 years and showed us an assortment of possibilities, ranging from condos to homes on more than two acres.
Eventually, we narrowed our search to a newly built townhome within walking distance of the slopes.
On Sunday morning, we met Drew for one final walkthrough. We wanted to double-check a few things before heading to his office to draw up the paperwork.
While we were standing inside the townhome, the listing agent sent Drew a text.
She had received another offer.
Soooooo…that brought our plan to an abrupt halt.
We are now back to figuring out exactly what we want to do. Maybe that townhome simply was not meant to be ours—or perhaps Angel Fire has one more unexpected adventure waiting for us.
Time will tell
What’s Next?
From Angel Fire, we’ll make an overnight stop in Cubero, New Mexico—chosen mainly because it keeps our drive day to a manageable four and a half hours. Then we’ll continue to Holbrook, Arizona, for four nights to explore the Painted Desert, make another pass through Petrified Forest National Park and visit Hubbell Trading Post on the Navajo Nation. While in Holbrook, we also hope to photograph the wonderfully kitschy Wigwam Motel and possibly visit the Historic Route 66 Museum and the Hashknife Outfit.
From there, we’ll spend four nights in Williams, Arizona, giving us time to revisit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon with far more depth and detail than we managed more than ten years ago. I also want to devote a day to Seligman, the quirky Route 66 town said to have helped inspire Disney-Pixar’s Cars.
After that, it will be time to turn Jackson back toward New Mexico for the grand finale of this leg of our journey—the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta at the end of the month!
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