The Motherlode: Echo Park, Castle and Hardy Overlooks

Saturday was such a perfect day! We loaded up in Wanda and CR's Funmobile and headed for Blue Mountain with a picnic. We saw three blow snakes, some elk, one jack rabbit, one bunny rabbit, a vulture circling overhead, lots of cactus, and...best of all...some of the most amazing country around! I think if you click on the pictures, they will get bigger for you to view.

Steamboat Rock and my little mom

This is a side view of Steamboat Rock where the Green River
and Yampa River's meet...and become Green River.
If you go to the right and look at the right edge
of the rock, it looks like a great big bow of a
ship coming at you; hence, Steamboat Rock.

My cute sister Wanda

Wendy-bear taking a little rest out on a limb.

Wendy and Shea out on the limb

Duane pretending to take a cowboy nap and CR
sticking his tongue out at me for taking their picture.

Mom, Wanda, and Wendy on the Yampa River
near Steamboat Rock. Right back from where we
were is where the Green River and the Yampa converge.
Harper's Corner is up above us to the south where
it overlooks these two rivers joining from above.

Wendy getting very close to the sheer drop off
overlooking Harding Hole.

Wanda being awed (as well as awesome!)
by the beauty of the overlook.

Wendy and Wanda checking out their cell phone
pics while hiding in a bit of shade under a cliff.

There seemed to be a vulture following us;
just waiting for us to plunge off the cliff I assume!

Yup! She's a dare devil!
That's Wendy checking to see if there is anything
underneath the ledge she is standing on!

Wendy, Wanda, and Mom

There are going to be hundreds of
cactus flowers this year. We got there a
bit early for catching them all open though.

Mom with her little Shea at the Castle Mountain Overlook.
This canyon that we drove along is like our very own
Grand Canyon. The rock formations and sheer cliffs were amazing.

CR and Duane checking out
Castle Mountain overlook.

This is a pano of Hardy's Overlook.
As usual, photos never do justice for places like this.
The drop to the river below us is straight down about 200 ft.
The river winds back and forth, cutting through
the rock mountains, and makes seven hairpin
turns as it winds it's way to the west.

Castle Park Overlook

Another beautiful day with perfect clouds
and sunshine for a great photo!
This is also Castle Park overlook.
The "Crow's Nest" is that little peak
right in the center to the left of the river.
Mantle's Ranch is the little bit of green to the right.

Mantle Ranch Cave
Mom knew the Mantle's. The government forced them
off of their property a few years ago...simply because
the government wanted it. The Mantle's had been there for years.