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The human experience is something undeniably shared, at some level, by all of us...humans. And yet, somehow, we can be so very different. Take for example, my friend Jennifer. She loves trains, but prefers going to a train museum, rather than riding a train. I, on the other hand, merely love to enact imaginary hobo sequences where I am leaping from the trains, or ride them through the countryside, commemorating my trip with a souvenir belt buckle.
Which is exactly what happened. This past summer, when Jennifer came to visit, we went up to the Leadville Boom Days festival (but that's another article...). While exploring the highest incorporated city in the United States, we stopped off at the Leadville Colorado and Southern Railroad station and gift shop in the historic downtown area. There wasn't a lot in the way of gifts at the time, just some wild huckleberry jam and some fleeces, but they were doing a wildflower tour through the mountains on the train at 2 p.m.
I started getting all antsy and excited at the thought of it. I think I was already a little buzzed from the strong sun and thin air up there. I am like a two-year-old when I get excited about something. I make fists with my hands and shake my elbows. Jennifer, however, opted that we head back to Golden to the railroad museum. Although I did enjoy getting the hobo out of my system, and a good time was had by all, I vowed in my heart that I would go back and ride that Leadville train (one of the cheapest trains in Colorado at $32).
So that is what I did this fall. September 19th is their fall colors photo special; and it did not disappoint. The date was spot-on, and the day was gorgeous. Our guide, a fifth generation Leadvillian, predicted snow by the next week, and she was right. The train went out to the molybdenum mine at Climax, and the golden aspens were glowing in the sun all along the way.
Our guide pointed out that aspens themselves aren't individual trees. They exist in groves, or clonal colonies, sharing a root system derived from a single seedling. The trees themselves may live between 40 – 150 years, but the root system may be thousands of years old. This explains some of the unique ways that the trees change color. A whole block will change at the same rate and to a similar shade, making things like an orange grove really stand out in a sea of yellow.
The train itself was entirely pleasant, with two open air cars, some windowed cars, and a snack car. Unfortunately, the snack car was also on the port-o-let car, which was too smelly, and made the thought of getting a snack unappetizing. However, you may bring your own snack. The ride was roughly three hours long, including a stop at the train's old water tower. A relic from the days of the steam engine, it is now a photogenic site for a leg-stretch.
While you may have missed the train season (It ended in October), it's worth marking your calendars for next year. I certainly am. If you go though, please remember this little piece of touristing etiquette: you don't own the train. So please don't stand up the whole time at the front of a row of seated people and block everyone's view of the beautiful nature. It's obnoxious.
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