Hagerman Tunnel Trail

Me and Sarah
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This was a really fun hike.  It was located SW of Leadville clear up past beautiful Turquoise Lake where I had been the weekend before.  Jen and Seth and Kavi came with Parker and me. And Sarah drove from Aspen and went hiking with us.  It was an easy hike and soooo scenic.  It lead up to Hagerman Tunnel which was a railroad tunnel that crossed the continental divide.  It was the highest railroad tunnel in the world at the time of its completion.

Along the way there were large boulder fields from where they had to dig out the tunnel for the railroad.  There was a really scenic little lake toward the top that made a great resting point.  The final destination was the tunnel.  Get this, the tunnel is filled with several feet of ice all along the bottom of the tunnel.  Wind was blowing thru the tunnel, over the ice, and it was so cool and refreshing.  It was tempting to climb into the tunnel but we knew it wasn't safe. We relaxed there awhile and took photos.  Seth decided to rock climb above the tunnel. That was a good idea til he started a rock slide.  He's funny.

The ice in the tunnel was crazy!
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We found another trail on the way down that piqued our interest.  So of course we all followed it.  We rounded a bend and out of nowhere there was a fairly sizeable patch of snow!! In July!! The dogs had a blast running around in it. And of course we took more pictures.

The sky started getting dark and there was lightning in the distance so we headed to the car as fast as we could.  On the way down we passed thru the old Douglass City ruins.  Delapidated cabins are still stand but not much remains of the old mining town that once stood there.  It still amazes me to think that there was an actual town; bars, dance hall, post office and all, all the way up there.

Sarah, Jen, and Seth. I'm not silly enough to go up there.
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After hiking we needed nourishment.  We headed in to crazy Leadville. I really love that town.  We ate in a cute little restaurant downtown that only serves filet mingnon.  And its cheap!! It was so much fun.

After an exciting day, the fun had to end.  Sarah drove back to Aspen, and Jen, Seth, and I, headed back home.  The dogs were tired and our bellies were full; what a wonderful day!!!

This is a website that gives the history of Hagerman Tunnel:

http://hike.mountainzone.com/hotw/co/hagerman-tunnel/index.html