Slumgullion Pass & Powderhorn Wilderness, CO (9/25/2018)

Slumgullion is a term the miners used to describe a stew made by throwing anything and everything they had into the stew pot.  It also was used to characterize  a particular mountain south of Lake City, where the unstable earth resembled the texture and color of the watery stew.  The Slumgullion Earthflow National Natural Landmark is a rare example of an earthflow, called mass wasting.  About 700 years ago, an area of Mesa Seco, composed of partially decomposed volcanic rock, slid down the mountain and blocked the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.  This natural dam formed what is now known as Lake San Cristobal.  The earthflow is about 4 miles long and covers over 1000 acres.
A second earthflow began about 300 years ago and is still active today.  The United States Geologic Survey (USGS) tracks the movement of the slide, which in some places moves as much as 20 feet per year.  It covers some of the original slide, and can be detected by observing the trees growing on it that are tipped at odd angles.

At 10,530 feet, Slumgullion Pass is one of the highest and steepest paved roads in Colorado.  I've driven over it several times before, but wanted to do so again, partly to enjoy the great views it affords.  The mountain itself has beautiful fall color, but there are also pull-outs that let you see much of the San Juan mountains, colorful valleys and picturesque Lake San Cristobal.

Another reason for my trip to the pass is a Forest Service road that branches off the main highway and travels about fifty miles through some diverse landscapes, known as Powderhorn Wilderness.  I had only recently come across information about this road, having never noticed it in passing.  For the first 12 to 15 miles, the road descends the mountain through aspen and evergreen forest, with lakes and beaver ponds along the way.  Much of the valley has willow trees mixed in, making it prime habitat for moose.  The article I had read mentioned that moose are often seen in that area, but I didn't see any.  Opposite the forest areas, rocky cliffs formed one side of the valley.

At the bottom of the valley, large parcels of ranch land become dominant.  Many ponds store water for the cattle grazing nearby.  Based on appearances, I would think the cattle business in this valley is quite prosperous.

The road ends near the start of the Sapinero Mesa Cutoff, another short cut with a good gravel road.  That road comes to highway US 50 overlooking the Blue Mesa Reservoir, which is at an all-time low due to prolonged drought.  From there, it's smooth sailing back to Montrose.