We started by meeting at the Silverton visitor center again. Black Bear road was closed the day before, due to a rock slide on the Telluride side. They were working to get it open, but we waited until Friday morning to make sure it was open. (Saturday was a "Run Black Bear backwards" sponsored by a Jeep club -- Black Bear is one way down into Telluride.)
We start up Black Bear Road, beautiful flowers, smaller as we approach the alpine tundra. I have a very large page of just the flowers as well. Not just on Black Bear, but the whole trip.
More rocky near the top, the flowers are little pink elephants.
Don't forget the sunscreen! It doesn't take long to burn when we are over 12,000 ft above sea level.
While at the top Kiyanna takes a couple photos of Rich and I (Kirsten).
Here is a panorama view at the top of the pass of Black Bear Road. Beautiful.
The way down has a bit of a shelf road among the rocks. With beautiful flowers hiding in among the rocks on the slopes.
Once on the other side we can see down into Telluride - a long ways down! There is still some of the cables for the ore buckets that were transported for ore crushing and separation closer to Telluride, on the lower slopes.
The last rocky hill, before all the switchbacks, is the most difficult section of road. Becca is out taking pictures, the town of Telluride way down below.
Before the switchbacks there is a waterfall, but there was a large group behind us, so we decided to head on down without stopping.
Bridal veil falls, with the power station at the top is beautiful and often photographed. I was snapping shots while driving down to the first switchback, so these are blurry.
Looking down at the town of Telluride, and down at the road, almost directly below!
Looking down as others go through the switchback and on down to the next switchback.
Now facing the falls again...
and I see the town from the passenger side.