Day 4 - Black Canyon of the Gunnison River

I got off to an early start and was airborne soon after sunrise, around 8AM.  The weather was fabulous.  Here I am taking off at Blake Field airport.  The terrain at the end of the runway reminds me of the Badlands.
   
A golf course was just to the west of the airport.
   
A better look at the airport with the town of Delta behind it.
   
I headed southwest to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument.
   
Actually, I went east at first, following the wrong river, and ended up over North Fork Valley (7V2) airport.  It was interesting how the airport sits up on top of a hill.
   
To get back on track, I headed south and crossed over Crawford Airport (99V) which appears to be an airport community.
   
Heading toward the Gunnison River and Black Canyon.
   
Getting closer.  I had no idea what to expect.
   
Wow.  Looking southeast.  It's not hard to tell why they call it the Black Canyon.
   
Because I was flying into the sun, I flew the length of the canyon until I reached the Blue Mesa Reservoir and then made a U-turn.  I took most of the pictures coming back with the sun behind me.   The reservoir was covered by a low cloud layer.
   
I turned right into a valley and then came back in.
   
A better look at the Reservoir area.  Well, the chart says there is a reservoir under there.  I wasn't going to go under it to find out.
   
Preparing to fly over the canyon heading northwest.
   
What a difference the sun makes.
   
 
   
Where there is a reservoir, there is a dam.
   
 
   
The shadows really look black.
   
 
   
Doesn't look like the river is navigable to me.
   
Looking southwest over the rim at the valley beyond.
   
The canyon is so steep and narrow the light can't get to it.
   
I guess that's why the call it the Black Canyon.
   
Impressive!
   
The canyon starts to open up, and the walls get lower, as I head back to Delta.
   
 
   
Starting to see some color on the canyon sides.
   
 
   
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