Black Canyon of the Gunnison

On one day's excursion we drove north to Montrose, then west and north into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

my first view of the canyon  - NOT from the edge

Its scale is overwhelming, its sheer walls terrifying to me.    It is very deep and very narrow.   From one of the overlooks, the Painted Wall, the wild Gunnison River is 2250 feet below.    One can only see a ribbon of it from the very edge, a place I did not go.

I could only see the tinest snipet
of the Gunnison River below

the river below the man in orange is
2250 feet straight down....

the Painted Wall

Dave is out there....

he's out there too....

green Gunnison roaring below

Pictures do not do justice.   As I said, the scale is unbelievable. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a much more intimate experience than the Grand Canyon.    Each time we pulled into an overlook, the view took my breath away.
H oly S hit was all that came out of my mouth - very eloquent I know, but I could find no words.

In 1909 a nearly 6 mile long tunnel was blasted through the Canyon's sheer walls to carry water from the substantial Gunnison River to the semi-arid Uncompahgre Valley providing irrigation to over 75,000 acres of previously unusuable land.

arid hills above the
irrigated valley

lush hay field being irrigated

On our way back home we drove through rich green fields of alfalfa, wheat, corn, and potatoes.

Next, Telluride.