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paddle | Western Colorado Outdoors https://westerncooutdoors.com Your Guide to Outdoor Adventure on the Western Slope Wed, 25 Dec 2019 20:01:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://westerncooutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-WCO-Favacon-32x32.png paddle | Western Colorado Outdoors https://westerncooutdoors.com 32 32 Basecamp Gunnison https://westerncooutdoors.com/?p=8276 https://westerncooutdoors.com/?p=8276#respond Fri, 08 Jun 2018 18:31:32 +0000 https://westerncooutdoors.com/?p=8276 Read More]]> Located in Central Colorado the county of Gunnison was named for the military explorer John W. Gunnison. Looking for a transcontinental railroad route, Gunnison’s expedition passed through the area in 1853. Exploration took place between the 38th and 39th parallels, with the party leaving St. Louis in June of 1853. By September the survey party had crested the continental divide over Chchetopa Pass and traveled down the watershed into the valley which would later be named after Gunnison. The survey didn’t yield a transcontinental rail route, instead it added to the information base about the area. Within 30 years the Ute Indians would be removed from Central Colorado, followed by waves of hard rock miners looking for metals, the railroad and cattlemen. Historically, Gunnison is one of the coldest areas in the continental United States. January lows can register -6.2 F (-21.2 C) with highs in the middle 20’s (-3 C). Summer temperatures can range from the low 40’s (5.9-5 C) with highs in the 70’s (middle 20’s C). Gunnison makes the perfect basecamp for four season outdoor recreation.

[wpgmza id=”106″] ]]> https://westerncooutdoors.com/?feed=rss2&p=8276 0 Basecamp Fruita https://westerncooutdoors.com/?p=3175 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 15:00:34 +0000 https://westerncooutdoors.com/?p=3175/ Read More]]> Located on the western edge of the Grand Valley, Furita is the perfect basecamp for riding the Kokopelli Trail and surfing the Colorado into Utah. Settlement began in the 1880’s with town founder William Pabor, with incorporation in 1844. In the beginning Fruita was an agricultural area, a fruit producing area, today Fruita has become a hub of outdoor activity through three seasons. While visiting, don’t forget to look up the Dinosaur Journey Museum, and dig into Fruita’s far distant past.

 
[wpgmza id=”52″] ]]> Basecamp: Grand Junction https://westerncooutdoors.com/?p=1448 Wed, 22 Mar 2017 19:58:22 +0000 https://westerncooutdoors.com/?p=1448 Read More]]> Grand Junction is located at the confluence of the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers. The name Grand refers to the original name of the Colorado River, with Junction for the Grands meeting of the Gunnison River. The Upper Colorado River from the confluence to the headwaters was renamed in 1921. Settled in the 1880’s, the Grand Valley became the home to a large fruit growing operation by the beginning of the 20th Century.
 

Book Cliff Range and Mount Garfield.

Today Grand Junction is the largest city on Colorado’s Western Slope. Most of the surrounding areas are federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The Uncompahgre Plateau is very visable on the south side of the valley, showcasing the Colorado National Monument. The Book Cliff Range, on the north side begins at the Colorado Rivers entrance into the Grand Valley and stretching to the west for 200 miles.
 
National Park Service: Colorado National Monument Link
 
Ski Powderhorn Link
 
 
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]]> Basecamp: Montrose https://westerncooutdoors.com/?p=1444 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 19:10:32 +0000 https://westerncooutdoors.com/?p=1444 Read More]]>

Named after Sir Walter Scott's novel A Legend of Montrose, the Denver & Rio Grande rail line reached the area in 1882. Montrose at that time served as the supply center for mining activity in the San Juan Mountains. In 1909, with the completion of the Gunnison Tunnel, (the first Bureau of Reclamation project), Montrose was transformed into an agricultural hub. Today, agriculture provides the economic foundation, however tourist and recreational opportunities have expanded and are a leading driver in the region.

Montrose makes your perfect basecamp before venturing into the San Juans or West Elk Mountains. From resupply and refresh to emergency medical services, Montrose makes the excellent destination or stop over on your adventure.


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