GTV First Loop: Durango to Ouray

Braving the snow, we decided to ditch Durango for Tiny Ouray. All we had to do was get over three 10,000+ foot mountain passes. In a rear wheel drive van. With no chains. No problem.

Really though, it wasn’t too bad, the roads were never more than slushy. Up Coal Bank and Molas Passes to Silverton, then over Red Mountain Pass to our destination—“the Switzerland of America!”—Ouray, Colorado.

Now, I had mocked that slogan mercilessly right up until the moment we arrived in Ouray, at which point I believe I said something to the effect of, “Holy crap—it IS the Switzerland of America!!!”

Upon our arrival, we struck what I thought was a pretty fair deal. If we could spend the late afternoon soaking in the GIANT Ouray public hot spring pool, then I would stipulate to Mexican for dinner. An accord reached, we found a site at the oddly-named “4J+1+1” RV Park (don’t ask, we don’t know) and got down to it. No pics of the pool to share, but let me assure you that if you’re ever in Ouray, it is definitely worth a visit to their double Olympic sized, non-sulfurous hot-spring fed slice of heaven.

Day's Lesson: Heavy things handle well in the snow. And snow makes things pretty.