Great Escapes Winter 2024 | Page 5

doorstep of St . Elmo , a fascinating ghost town at 9,961 feet , our launch-

On a clear day , like in the submitted photo on the left , the scenery at Tin Cup Pass is beautiful . We had more snow to play with , but near zero visibility .

ing point for this day . We

parked next to a groomer

marked “ Buena Vista

Snowmobile Club ” – a good

sign . Huge , wet snowflakes

poured down as we

unloaded , limiting visibility

of the surrounding Collegiate

peaks .

Our adventure started

with a brief tour by sled of

St . Elmo , as the trail takes

riders right down Main

Street . Heralded as one of

The beautiful , new-yet-rustic wood

the West ’ s best preserved ghost towns , it features

structure was along the babbling and

Morning arrived with rain spitting out of

dozens of wood frame

warm Chalk Creek . Quick before the luxu-

a heavy bank of clouds that enveloped the

buildings dating back to

rious facilities closed , we changed into

resort . Scott had his F-150 parked in front

the 1880s . The local popu-

swimsuits and checked out the various

of the lodge , attached to a trailer full of

lation reached about 2,000

hot-spring-fed aquatic features . They were

sleds borrowed from a local rental opera-

in 1881 , after both silver

of varying temperatures and ranged from

tor . The ground was brown at the resort

and gold were found in

full-sized swimming pools to rock-sur-

– which sits at 8,250 feet – but Scott prom-

the area , but the town was

rounded outcroppings , along with saunas ,

ised us the rain would be snow when we

mostly abandoned in the

steam rooms and other amenities . Already we were loving the adventure , and we had yet to see snow !

got “ up on top .” Sure enough , a 12-mile drive west on bumpy County Road 162 put us on the

mid 1900s . For a so-called ghost town , there are signs of life ( and summer tour-

There are plenty of snowmobile trails in the area , but it helps to ride with locals who knows the way .