Silverton, CO February 2023

A second great winter trip for Don, Donna and Brad.  This time we headed to Silverton, CO.  I’ve been through Silverton a number of times but never have spent any time in winter there.  And wow was it spectacular.  We went to SLC for a week before Silverton…I’ll share photos later….then had to delay our arrival by a day, as SW Colorado got hit be a major winter storm the day we were supposed to arrive.  Silverton Mountain, the experts only ski area there, reported 29 inches of snow.  Another storm rolled in a week later forcing us to leave a day earlier than planned, but the four days, five nights we were there were amazing.  Silverton is at 9300 feet and is surrounded by 12000 and 13000 for peaks.  The views in every direction are spectacular.  It’s a very isolated town with Molas Pass to the south, and Red Mountain Pass to the north.  Four great outings…Andrew Lake near Molas Pass, snowshoeing up the Animas River right from town, South Mineral Creek 2 miles north of town, and Ironton Park, about halfway between Silverton and Ouray on Red Mountain Pass.  Gobsmackingly beautiful.  Saw moose on our last two outings as well.  We loved the renovated historic home we stayed in, the Russian Princess.  And as a bonus, Silverton was holding its big winter festival…Skijoring…Skiers pulled by horses with jumps, etc.  We took a bit of that in as well.  All in all a fabulous trip.