Doug has hiked the entire length of the Purgatory river.
He's done it from the point of confluence with the Arkansas River outside of Las Animas, upstream,
through the canyon country east of Trinidad, and up along highway 12 to
"The Potato Patch" near Monument Lake, (the starting point for this last leg), in 10-20 miles stints.
It has taken him almost 4 years, and it is quite an accomplishment.
He's become an expert on the history of the Purgatory River Valley
while doing research for his hike segments. The hike has inspired a series of paintings and essays,
and Doug has a book in progress..

I joined him at the wedding site near our studio just east of town, 
and I hiked from that point on, uphill, to the headwaters.
We finally reached them on the weekend of July 2nd, 2005!

Here are the pictures we took on the very last leg of the hike!
(I haven't Photo-shopped them for beauty enhancement, so beware! har har!)

Ceremonial Photo at the end of the epic
"Purgatory Pilgrimage!"

Here is me and Doug in one of those delayed timer photos.
Gracie would not remove her arse from the shot!