Glorious Mountain Adventure

Since the monsoon rains started in July, it has been an almost non stop rain event both night and day. Yesterday dawned bright and clear and we headed up toward Creede, Colorado with visiting family members. Arriving at Creede, the morning clouds hung low and imposing over the valley floor but specks of sunshine were showing through on the higher peaks and on the pillars of Hercules which tower over Creede..

Driving up Bachelor Loop past the cemetery, the sun broke out upon us and we began to see glimpses of wildlife scurrying along, happy for a day without rain. Arriving at the old town site of Bachelor City, we all got out and began a tour of that old site.

Many pieces of old glass and other relics of days long past were evident on the ground as the recent high rainfall had exposed them to view. My step brother and his family enjoyed seeing the old cabins still hanging on in the harsh mountain environment and those are a certain photo op for anyone visiting the area. The town was platted in January of 1892 and by March over 100 houses had been erected. There were dozens of saloons, four hotels a school and newspaper and a church inside the town proper at one time.

Today, not much is left of the town and care must be taken if you decide to leave the parking lot above the old town site that you don't step in a hole and get hurt.   There are various holes left over from the town both exploration holes for mining and claim verification and old outhouse holes that were the standard of the day. I have not found any that are open to any depth but sometimes they were bridged over below the surface with wood beams and those can rot and give way unexpectedly. DO NOT venture into any depression or hole that you are unsure of. Just be smart when afield and enjoy the views as you can see from the pictures, the views at Bachelor are outstanding.

This is one of my son's favorite places to visit and I think the ghosts of days long past still walk the old streets and meadows and there is something in the air that makes you feel their presence. I often sit across the meadow in the white aspens letting the sun filter down upon me, and wonder how the men and women of that day were able to live in such an inhospitable place. Families were raised and business went on even though the climate is brutal in nature.  

The town suffered with the Silver Panic of 1893 just like most silver mining camps did. Slowly the population dwindled and finally disappeared probably sometime in the 1940's. Water and sewer issues and the extreme cold and heavy snows finally pushed the last survivors of the town to Creede and beyond.  

If you like to peruse the old mining camps as I do, make sure Bachelor is on your list. The road up from town past the cemetery is in great condition and an easy drive for a car or truck. Get a map from the local merchants and find a new adventure around every corner in that area. This is a good day trip for about anyone and whether you can walk a long distance or not at all, its still very enjoyable. Start out early as the intermountain rainstorms usually bring about some lightning in Bachelor by early to late afternoon.  

(CLICK ON PICTURES BELOW FOR MORE PHOTOS)