Waffles and Boots

3000-06-26T22:21:00.000-07:00

Hey there! This is First Post for Waffles and Boots. Astute observers will notice the date is the year 3000- this is so this post is always at the top!
This blog isn't about boots, nor is it about waffles.
This blog is a story. About things left behind.
Not even about things I've left behind. I don't blog to talk about my personal life (although that may come up from time to time). This will be a blog of few words, and many pictures.
I blog to show you, the reader, my adventures- exploring the character in derelict structures that humanity has forgotten, the broad grandeur of the natural world, and- I hope - inspiring others to learn more about things abandoned by the blind march of the modern world. All this is free to you (I get to do the hard work, what with carrying cameras up mountains and whatnot!) But please, if you like what you see here I appreciate anything I can get to support my adventures. Even a few dollars helps! These expeditions get expensive! >>clicky clicky!>>

My name is Hunter, I'm a native of Colorado, USA. I love to explore- the natural world, and more so, the forgotten remnants of the man-made world that are slowly being embraced by nature. From dust to dust, or something like that. My goal is to visit as many forgotten places as possible, from the ghost towns that dot the western United States, to war ruins in the Pacific, to the Lost Cities of the Soviet Union. I start now. My plan does not include visiting "old" buildings that are still in use, nor well-known places such as Mesa Verde or the Pyramids of Egypt or any number of Tourist attractions.
This is about things left behind.
This is about uncovering the places that the World forgot.

Keota Colorado, Part 2

2008-09-01T23:42:00.000-07:00

Keota, Colorado- Part 1

2008-09-01T23:11:00.000-07:00

After quite a hiatus, more adventures! This is Keota, Colorado.
Never a large town, Keota was founded in 1880 and served as a stop on the Burlington-Missouri railway. While the population never grew over a couple hundred, the town was an important hub for the cattle trade in the area in the early 1900's. The post office only served through the 1890's and the school was closed in the 1930's but the town retained it's incorporated status through 1990, long after the railway was torn up in 1975. The last long-time residents left in 1999, although as of my visit the town was home to a couple of friendly locals, a shy cat or two, several friendly dogs and one rowdy one. The historic buildings are still empty and are owned by the folks who left in 1999 so I don't forsee them going anywhere in the near future! The landmark of the town is, of course, the water tower- emblazoned with a plaque marking it's casting at the Chicago Bridge and Iron Works, circa 1919.

Technical details- Canon TX with 28-50mm lens, Colour plates are ASA-100 Fujichrome cross-processed in C-41 chemistry. Black and White plates are ASA-400 Ilford HP5+ processed in D-76. Tripodded and cable released- doin it right this time :)

Martischang Plaza

2008-08-02T16:38:00.001-07:00

Just a small set this time. While driving through south Denver last week I came across an abandoned strip mall. The area isn't particularly depressed so it was odd to see so many abandoned buildings. A few miles up the street is a new shopping centre, likely all the customers are up there now. Someone isn't willing to sell their property I suppose!

Rockmount Part 6, Apartments

2008-07-12T23:50:00.000-07:00

Rockmount Part 5, Going Underground!

2008-07-12T23:47:00.000-07:00

Rockmount Part 4, Radio Station

2008-07-12T23:38:00.000-07:00

Rockmount Part 3, Going Inside

2008-07-12T23:20:00.000-07:00

Rockmount Part 2, Chapel and Student Center

2008-07-12T23:14:00.000-07:00

Rockmount College, Part 1

2008-07-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

UPDATED 1 AUGUST 2008:
In conversation with a co-worker recently, it came out that he lived at this campus for a short period of time about 9 years ago. With some information from him, I was able to correct mistakes I had made in my history of the location. Some info may have changed!

And here begins a new adventure! Some background,

In 1959, Colorado Christian University, then known as Rockmount College acquired 284 acres of land just south of the small foothills town of Morrison, Colorado through donations by supporters of the School. Over the next several years, they set about constructing a 53-acre campus on the property (some inspection notices attached to electrical equipment on the campus indicate an open date of sometime in fall 1961 or spring 1962). Over the next 37 years the College occupied the location, merging in 1985 with Western Bible Institute and becoming Colorado Christian College. Four years later, in 1989, Colorado Christian College merged again, this time with Colorado Baptist University, changing name to Colorado Christian University and moving to the current location in the west Denver suburb of Lakewood. The campus near Morrison remained as a location for Graduate Students to complete upper-level classes.

In early 2000, the campus failed to meet inspection standards for Fire Code and safety improvements were deemed too expensive. As a result, the housing was immediately vacated as of July 2000, with fall classes continuing through the end of the year. College directories not affiliated with Colorado Christian University still acknowledge a "Foothills Campus" for the school, with an address listed matching the location of the now-vacant campus. A phone call to the listed number reached the voicemail of an individual; it's not clear if this person is affiliated with the University. The official Colorado Christian University website makes no mention of the existence of the location (surprisingly, not even in histories of the school), a Google search resulted in several vague news articles referencing "property near Morrison" owned by the University.

After a period of lying mostly untouched, vandals and taggers have virtually destroyed the interiors of most of the buildings in the past several years. Despite dry Colorado weather, several structures have collapsed roofs and nature has begun to take over the parking lots and sidewalks. The area is fenced off although it is possible to access the campus relatively easily (it remains private property and trespassing laws are enforced; adventurers are advised to visit at their own risk.

Over the years Colorado Christian University has repeatedly considered a move back to the property; every time the plan has been abandoned due to logistics and zoning problems. As of 20 June 2008, Jefferson County board of Commissioners approved a rezoning of the property to residential. University officials celebrated the decision and announced that the land would be sold and the existing buildings razed to build upscale housing.

I may be one of the last visitors to the location as it is; already some structures are marked with spray-paint by surveyors. This is what's been left behind by an extraordinary example of a typical case of red tape and poor decisions.

Details- Pentax K1000, 28mm and 50mm lenses with R2 filter (outdoors only). Ilford HP5+ ASA-400 and Kodak Tri-X ASA-400 film. Developed in Kodak HC110. Not nearly as much contrast as the sunny, high-altitude shots at Montgomery, but I kind of like the flat look for this subject.

Montgomery, Part 2

2008-07-12T01:03:00.000-07:00

While I get the colour Montgomery slides and Second Expedition photos ready, here's more B&W Montgomery frames (see below for the first set :)

Same as previous set, Camera was K1000 with 28mm and 50mm lenses, R2 filter for High Contrast and Ilford HP5+ ASA 400 pushed to 200.

New photos coming soon!

2008-07-11T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hey there! Couple of announcements-
First, I've been having some issues getting my slides from the Montgomery trip digitized but hopefully I'll get some choice colour picks uploaded within a week.

Second, I should have photos from a second expedition up in the next several days. I'll give one hint- abandoned university... oops, too big a hint >_<

Cheers!

20 June 2008- Magnolia Mill, Colorado, Part 1

2008-06-26T22:46:00.000-07:00

First expedition! This is what's left of Montgomery, Colorado. Located in the mouth of a valley approximately 20 miles south of the popular ski town of Breckenridge, Montgomery was created in early 1861 after gold was discovered nearby. As an honour to then-president Abraham Lincoln, miners from the area named a nearby peak Mount Lincoln, and presented a bar of gold to the President. By 1862, a sizeable town had sprung up with a peak population of over a thousand- but when the mines played out sometime around 1866, residents packed up and moved to nearby towns. Many of the buildings were moved to nearby Fairplay (10 miles south). In 1957, Montgomery Reservior was completed and the remains of the town were forever left underwater, leaving the sole survivor the Magnolia Mill. Sitting in a suspicicously photogenic location next to a cascading stream that eventually makes it's way into the resevoir that devoured the town where the miners once lived, the mill contains a well-preserved picture of industry in the mid nineteenth century. Inside are the remains of boilers, ore converyers and bins, some sort of Ball Mill, empty concrete mounts for what may have been a Stamp Mill or some sort of steam engine as well as the mill's old office on the top floor (with desks still there!). An enclosed walkway connects to a large ore chute and an aerial tramway which once transported raw ore to the mill. The tramway towers still stand and stout steel cables still run from the mill up several miles of rocky forest past several smaller digs to a ridge of nearly 13,000 feet- the highest mines were well above treeline.

Details- All pictures taken with Pentax K1000. Lenses used were 28mm with R2 filter and 50mm with Circular Polarizer filter. Film was Ilford HP5+/ASA-400. Light meter on camera set at ASA-200 to over-expose for higher contrast.