20 August, Thursday

This is the long trip day. We left Silverton at 0900 and headed to Animas Forks where we joind up with the trail that leads to Engineers Pass (12,640). We were ahead of most traffic so the trail was not crowded. As we neared the Oh Point scenic view area a startling surprise. We had pulled to the right to let a jeep pass downhill and evidently caught a rock on the sidewall of the right front tire. PSSSSSS went the air and a flat tire resulted. Kept climbing to a flat spot about 30 feet ahead and then proceeded to change the tire. Rest of trip went very well to Lake City. There a stop for ice cream was in order.

On the return trip we toon Cinnamon Pass, (12,440). This is a much easier pass to cross the mountains on. We did see a deer and several marmots on this leg. We arrived back at Animas Forks and then proceeded back to Silverton.

Upon arrival at Silverton I checked all the tires. Several had chunks of rubber missing and to top it off, the spare was a different size that the running wheels. Ford will have some explaining to do.