Ryan running to get into the picture. I had 10 seconds to get into the photo. What you don't see is the 2000 foot drop off right behind me that would have been the end of me. In this scenario I had to be quick, not fast.

The first leg of my trip was from Keystone to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. All went well except that I could not take my planned itenerary because of a rock slide on McClure Pass. Things like that are fairly common out West but it is hard for a Midwesterner to relate to. What do you mean I can't get through?

The Black Canyon that was created by the Gunnison River is very impressive and I feel like I can say that because I've seen a canyon or three in my immediate past. This canyon is very narrow when compared to the canyons in Chihuahua where I was at. The rims of this canyon are separated by mere 100's of feet yet it takes 3+ hours to drive around from the North Rim to the South Rim. My personal Southwest tour advisor, Mr. Scott Loder who is a fellow Keystone bus driver, highly recommended the North Rim due to its lack of people and its slightly more spectacular scenery. Scott says that the North side is more weathered due to it facing the south. Therefore you want to be on the North side to see the steeper faced south rim. Confused yet?? In short, go to the North side, less people, more prettier.

Taking pictures of canyons is a fruitless endeavor. Nothing can compare to the splendor of standing on the rim and looking down 1000's of feet. You just can't get the magnitude or the depth in any picture.

From the Black Canyon I continued south...to where?

Check back soon.

For the record, Mr. Scott Loder is the human gazetteer of the American west. Dude knows the roads and good places to see.