Day 17 - Gunnison, CO (Day 1)

We're heading into Labor Day Weekend.  Since our normal practice of travelling without advance reservations gets tested during major holidays, we did call ahead for the next few days.  We'll be in Gunnison today and tomorrow ... no advance reservations were needed. We'll be in Ouray from Saturday through Monday ... they required a 3-day minimum for the holiday weekend.  There should be plenty of availability for the rest of the trip.

The 122 mile drive from Leadville to Gunnison presented many beautiful scenes.  It included a hard pull (long grades of up to 7%) over 11,312 foot Monarch Pass.

The route:
US-24E from Leadville to US-285 at Buena Vista, south on US-285 to Poncha Springs, then US-50W to Gunnison.

Along the way:

Goodbye to Sugar Loafin' RV Campground
(It was a nice, rustic place to stay)

View of Mt. Elbert and the Arkansas River Valley
as we pull out of the campground

There are lots of farms and ranches
as we drive south on US-24

Continuing south on US-24

Heading east on US-50

Entrance to Monarch Mountain Ski Resort
(On US-50, near the summit)

Monarch Mountain ski lift

We followed this Airstream from Wisconsin
down the west slope of the pass

It's a long, steep grade down

US-50 approaching Gunnison

We see many abandoned ranches and cabins
(It's exciting to imagine their history)

Gunnison:
Our route to the campground took us through downtown Gunnison on US-50 (Tomichi Avenue).  It provided an impressive view of a small, clean, modern city.  The streets are really wide ... even the side streets.  We were able to do a u-turn with plenty of room to spare on a side street, with the trailer attached.

We stopped for a late lunch at El Paraiso Family Mexican Restaurant.  The facility, the service and the meal were excellent.

Campground:
Mesa RV Resort is 4 miles west of Gunnison.  The campground and is very nice, affordable and even has green grass.  It's operated by pleasant, young couple.  

Site #19

We got here early enough for today to become "laundry day".  Carol was pleased with the cost and operation of the washers ($1.25 per load) and dryers ($0.50 per load).  That's quite a value when compared to other campgrounds.

FYI:
Gunnison has consecutive winter days that get down to -40°F.  Today reached 81°F.  It's obvious we came at the right time.

We've been using a smartphone weather application (WCMH WX) that we like a lot.  Thanks Amy!

Tomorrow:
We're going to see Black Canyon of the Gunnison with Brooke Ash.  Brooke lives in Gunnison and is Barbara's (Carol's daughter) best friend.