Re: vegetation question (e.g. Windy Point)

Good example of an overgrown right of way is Vance Junction. My first visit to the area was in the sixties. All the car bodies were in place as well as the coal pocket. The area was wide open and the right of way was clearly visible towards Bilk and past Ames. Visited the area many times up to 1985 when the car bodies were moved to the CRRM. There was a lot of growth but area was still fairly clear. Neglected to visit Vance Junction until last year, to check out the stabilized coal pocket. Driving down the dirt road from Ophir, I could not see the coal pocket. I drove past the Illium church camp and spotted the pocket through the trees, backtracking to the road that went past Ames I found the overgrown roadbed that led into Vance. The whole area was surrounded by Aspens, some 30' tall and a lot of evergreens. There still was a clear area in front of the coal pocket, but the right of way was obscured by all the trees. In the past, you had a clear view from the county dirt road over to Vance. Now it's totally blocked by trees.You are hard pressed to find traces where the Telluride branch turned off from Vance. Even though the roadbed has been turned into a hiking trail, it's still hemmed in by all the trees. Great example of what happens when an area returns to nature. I had a hard time realizing it had been 24 years since I last visited Vance Junction. in spite of spending a lot of time in the area over the past years. I guess you can't go home again.

High Commander