Hooray for Ouray

Our campsite
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We had no intention of visiting Ouray, in fact we had never even heard of it until last week.  However while visiting Gunnison, we were purchasing ice at a small resort, and the checkout guy told us Ouray is the most beautiful place in Colorado and we must see it.  Since it was on our way Mesa Verde we stopped to check it out, and decided that indeed it is the most beautiful place in Colorado.  It's known as the Switzerland of the United States.

Our campsite was high in the mountains, and aptly named Ampitheatre.  Brian had some problems when we first arrived, as the lock on the pit toilet got stuck and he was trapped inside for about 5 minutes.  I just sat at camp wondering what the heck was taking him so long.  They had a nice hike to a large waterfall, and afterwards we walked around town for a bit.

I laid in my tent wishing REI made a tent with soundproof panels, Brian laid there wishing he had a bear suit so he ...

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The only problem at Ampitheatre, was that our next door neighbors decided to have a one-hour campfire songfest at 9pm (my bedtime). We heard it all - Amazing Grace, Jimmy Cracked Corn, Kum by Yah (no clue how to spell that), Swing Low Sweet Chariot, etc. I laid in my tent wishing REI made a tent with soundproof panels, Brian laid there wishing he had a bear suit so he could scare the crap out of them.

The second day in Ouray, we headed 2.2 miles up a mountain on a hike that ended at an old abandoned mine.  It was tough but was well worth the fantastic views of town.