Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument

June 29 – July 1, 2010 Departed Gunnison this morning to head back to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument. Based on a tip from Todd Moncrief, at the McLellan’s Flyshop in Fayetteville, our destination was the East Portal campground, where we could also have access to fish the Gunnison River at the bottom of the canyon. To get there, you travel 6.5 miles down a 16% grade in low gear. The total descent is 2,000 ft. in elevation from top of the canyon to the campground. A little intimidating, but well worth the effort. I don’t know if we have ever camped or fished in a more imposing place. I’m sure the pictures won’t adequately represent just how impressive it is, but it is a truly amazing place. There is a trail that runs along the river for a half-mile, which is an easy hike. Beyond that requires some treacherous climbing that is not for the weak-hearted, or the golden-aged. The ranger recounted that a man had slipped on the trail the day before and grabbed a tree to stop his fall, and came out with a totally separated arm. Bear and mountain lions frequent the area also, so it’s not a trail I like to be on alone at dawn or dusk – it’s pucker time for those of us not used to such precautions. However, I was able to hook, fight and lose several brown trout that dislodged the hook when they went airborne. Missed several others, and was satisfied to land the one 17” rainbow that is probably the most brilliantly colored one I’ve ever caught – as you can tell from the photo, I’ve yet to properly display the catch for the camera – I’m so concerned about getting them back in the water, that I tend to rush things. Charlcie accompanied me on this fishing day and was able to take a folding chair and relax in the shade and read her book and observe the natural wonders (also to be the official photographer). A little historical note about the East Portal: From 1905-1909, a visionary settler and some very hearty and brave souls surveyed, engineered, and labored to build a tunnel 11 ft. x 12ft. x 6 miles through the canyon wall. They then built a diversion dam to channel a portion of the Gunnison River to the Uncompaghre Valley. At the same time they fashioned a series of irrigation channels from the West Portal that facilitated the establishment of an agricultural industry that enabled a thriving economic base that is still viable today. I will break the pictures into two sets: tourista and camping at the East Portal. Hope you can make out the road in the East Portal pictures that show the view from the top and then from the bottom.