Kevin - Point of Rocks, El Paso County, Colorado
We started off from Jimmy Creek Camp area (property currently off limits) heading north on Marksheffel Road. When Kevin visited the area about 7 years ago, most of this was undeveloped cattle rangeland and Marksheffel was a brand-new 4-lane road built in anticipation of growth. And, growth they’ve had. It seems miles of wagon trails are gone now – plowed over, then built over. Sad, but that’s progress. And honestly, I suspect if we asked the men and women of 1847, they’d largely be in favor of the progress. They were practical people, they, the builders of the nation. But I also suspect they’d want some kind of recognition for the things that were accomplished.
There is definitely one positive to development, the bike routes. We did 14-1/2 miles on safe bike trail before it petered out and we were left with nothing to safely ride. So, we packed up the bikes and started driving with some goals in mind.
A short distance ahead we crested a hill and got our first close look at the ridgeline separating the Arkansas River watershed to the south from the South Platte River watershed to the north. [yeah, kind of confusing, I know but look at the map]
We probed some away from Meridian Road into side roads where we think the old trail went. In a couple of places we think we saw some wagon swale evidence. We will work on the map some more.
After a few miles, Meridian Road was much less busy and we went back to biking. We will note for those who think this a romantic effort that being in remote locations has … challenges. After the 2008-09 hike we sold the Buddy Ebsen Memorial Port-a-Potty, so for this trip, Denny suggested an alternative.
All joking aside, after taking care of business, we proceeded another mile north and as we approached Evans Road, we hove into sight of Point of Rock. This is the scene from about a half-mile south of the outcrop.
John Steele: "Sunday 30. Came 18 miles over a most beautiful rolling prieri & through some pine timber to point of rocks."
Andrew Shupe: "...met with the command at a place cald rocky point which wos on the 30 may."
Through providential assistance we were put in contact with the former owner who put us in contact with his son, Cody. We made arrangements to meet the next morning to learn about Point of Rocks. Sweet!
Having met our goal for the day, and with rain showers threatening, we decided to high-tail it back to the trailer and move it to Franktown, our next temporary settlement. At Franktown, Ms. Anita had been manager for the Pike’s Peak Grange for many years. I’d been in contact over 10 years ago with one of the Grange’s members (though I can’t recall who it was) and he was adamant that the old trail actually crossed their property. Probably does. Explaining our project to Ms. Anita, she gave us permission to park in the ‘back 40’ of their property for a couple of nights. More about them in tomorrow's post.