Mineral Creek, Poughkeepsie Gulch, Animas Forks

Kenneth put a small spacer lift on the jeep so we would have a little more clearance.  He would like a 4 or 6 inch lift with new tires and rims but that isn't in the budget right now.  So we did a little "fix" until we can afford what he wants.  I was surprised how much a different 2 inches makes (now I can barely get in the jeep...poor Christina and Zachary). We decided to test out the new lift on Mineral Creek (the trail we came back on late at night in the dark with my parents), and hit Poughkeepsie Gulch.  It has been one of the more scenic trails we have done and there were sections that were not so much fun for Kenneth. The kids and I bailed out of the jeep when it started leaning to the side to much for our comfort.  He did great and I took some pictures, the lean in the pictures didn't look anything like what it felt like sitting inside the jeep.  Good news is we didn't bottom out or scratch the bottom like we have been.  So the new lift did it's job.

Half way up Mineral Creek

The view over the side of the trail......don't fall

At the start of Poughkeepsie Gulch this deer was just standing there eating. 

First water crossing of the day - Christina was in love!

The rock was very loose and you could feel it shifting as we drove,
I was on the side by the steep drop off, lucky me!

I have no idea what these are but they were everywhere and very pretty!

Same with these, and Zachary must have asked 100 times if they were blue bonnets. 

Old Mine Entrance that has been walled off

This looks bumpy! 

Notice the stream to the side, I am pretty sure this whole "road" is the stream earlier in the season. 

Pretty Pink Flower, I need to get a local flower book so I know what everything is. 

Zachary's blue bonnets AGAIN :-)

Opening to a mine, this one isn't walled off but we weren't going any farther.
 Zachary was certain a bear lived there, he might be right!

Family Shot - This is where we stopped for lunch!
We try and take a family shot every trip we take!

The stream was so pretty and relaxing to listen to. 

This deer came within feet of us while we were eating our lunch

She was so skinny, you could see her ribs!

Headed up!
We ran into a jeep of guys from Houston who turned around because it was too "hairy" for them. 

We made it just fine and the view was amazing!

Just driving on the trail

This is where the kids and I bailed!
It doesn't look like it's leaning that much but we were all uncomfortable!

More leaning....the problem is if you lean it too far there is nothing to stop you from tumbling back down!

Lake Como

Lake Como looking down from California Pass

Top of California Pass

Just Because he can!

Old Mine

This building was built in 1908, it is HUGE and impressive to look at how it was built

This was a big mining town in the late 1800's early 1900's.
There were a few buildings still standing but it started raining so we didn't stop!
We did run into our "friends" from Houston again, they ended up taking the looong way around!