DESTINATION Alpine Tunnel Trail 1 Photoset
2021-09-18 | |
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| Hiking | 5.80 Miles |
1,100 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.80 Miles | | | |
| 1,100 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This was my trip to the western portal of Alpine Tunnel, whereas the trail in the hike description is to the east portal.
I arrived at the road barricade a couple of miles below the west portal late in the afternoon, following a 13 hour day on the road from Show Low. The last few miles from Pitkin to the barricade/temporary trailhead at 11,000 feet were pretty bumpy. I threw on my pack and started walking up the closed road, which was the route of the Denver South Park and Pacific Railroad/Colorado and Southern Railroad from 1882-1910. The scenery was as rugged and beautiful as I thought it would be, despite the massive amount of beetle-killed spruce trees in the area.
I hiked past the historically famous “Palisades” cliff wall and quickly reached the sprawling open-air museum that is Alpine Tunnel Station, where the ruins of the enormous 50’x150’ stone engine house (locomotive servicing building), and boarding house greeted me. I hiked past the reconstructed section of railroad track, continuing another quarter mile to the reconstructed turntable, and then on to the collapsed west portal of Alpine Tunnel. No visible way to climb into the reportedly intact 1800 foot tunnel interior that I could see, which contains arched redwood timbers and intact railroad track.
I continued on the trail to the summit ridge above, on the Continental Divide, topping out at just under 12,000 feet, as the sun set. Cool views down both sides of the ridge to distant valleys. I
I then returned to Alpine Tunnel Station, and went inside the old depot building to check out the photos and interpretive signage. I was the only one around for miles at this remote historic site. I roamed around what is essentially a ghost town in the dark for a while, exploring and taking photos. With the temperature dropping and the moon rising, I started the hike back.
Returning to the barricade/trailhead, I cooked dinner, read for a bit, and then crawled into my sleeping bag inside my truck for much needed sleep. I drifted off planning my hike for the next day and listening to raindrops on the roof.
The evening was a great adventure that made a strong impression on me and proved quite valuable for my Alpine Tunnel model. A great hike and destination if you’re ever in the area. |
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| "…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan |
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