Down By The River

The hike in this post took place on Sunday, November 26, 2017. I went to Browns Canyon National Monument for this stroll. I started my hike at the Ruby Mountain Trailhead. It is near Nathrop which is near Buena Vista. I didn’t get on the trail till 10 A.M. for this hike. The weather was nice. I was in shorts by the end of my hike. I even saw someone out sunbathing on my way home. If I remember right, my hike lasted around four hours. I hiked down to the Arkansas River on the second trail that went down to the river. I followed a fishermen trail that connected back to the first river access trail. It saved me some time otherwise I would have had a long backtrack. A good portion of the trails here follow dry stream beds. Anyway here are the pictures.

Mt. Princeton & Mt. Yale from Ruby Mtn. Trailhead

Mt. Yale & Mt. Columbia

Mt. Antero, Mt. Princeton, & Nathrop

Arkansas River & Mt. Ouray

Mt. Yale and Nathrop

Mt. Princeton while on the River Access Trail (6045B)

River Access Trail (6045B)  It is the dry stream bed.

Mt. Princeton, Mt. Yale, Mt. Columbia, & the Arkansas River

Mt. Antero and the Arkansas River

Mt. Princeton & the Arkansas River

Arkansas River

River Access Trail (6045A)

Turret Trail (6045) Buffalo Peaks

Buffalo Peaks

Castles Made of Sand

The weather was beautiful in Colorado on Thanksgiving. So I decided to make the long drive to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve where I did my Thanksgiving hike on the dunes. There were quite a few other people at the Dunes as well. I was able to avoid most of the people by taking a more challenging route up the sand dunes. I climbed High Dune first. Although there were plenty of footprints on top, I had the top of High Dune to myself.

San Juan Mountains in the distance

Approaching High Dune.  Mt Herard on the left

Me on top High Dune

Me looking at Star Dune from High Dune

From the top of High Dune, I could see a couple of people on top of Star Dune. I had hiked to the top of Star Dune once before, but I had not done High Dune and Star Dune in the same day before. The weather was nice. It was not too windy, cold, or hot. I also felt good, and I had plenty of time. So I decided to head in that direction and see what happens. After an enjoyable hike across the dunes, I made it to the top of Star Dune and had lunch.

Looking back at High Dune from the top of Star Dune

Looking south from the top of Star Dune

Looking west across the San Luis Valley

Me on top of Star Dune

Another shot of me on top of Star Dune

After lunch, I worked my way off the dunes by heading towards Medano Creek. The creek bed was dry when I got to it. I followed the creek bed upstream towards the day use area where I was parked. I came across a herd of elk. I watched the bull shepherd the herd around me. It was beautiful site.

Looking back at Star Dune with some 14ers barely visible

A herd of elk in the creek bed for Medano Creek

The elk being shepherded around me

Elk and Mt. Herard

Elk and the Dunes

The elk working their way back to the creek bed

Elk Tracks

After watching the elk, I found the current place where Medano Creek disappears into the sand. After another mile of hiking, I made it back to my car. I was a bit tired from the walking in the sand for four plus hours, but it was a good hike.

The flow terminus for Medano Creek

Medano Creek, Mt. Herard, and the Dunes

Lakes

On September 9th, I did the Lake of the Clouds hike in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I associate Lake of the Clouds with the namesake in New Hampshire. This Lake of the Clouds is actually three lakes. They are located due west of Westcliffe and accessed via the Gibson Creek Trailhead. The hike is around 10 miles for a round trip. Here are the pictures.

The Lower Lake

Wildflowers along the trail between the 1st and 2nd lake

The Middle Lake

Marsh and stream between 2nd and 3rd lake (From the Upper Lake)

Marmot on a rock

Upper Lake

View below the Upper Lake

Looking across the marsh towards the Upper Lake

Middle Lake

Waterfall along Swift Creek

If You Believe In Cleveland

The hike for this post happened on August 26, 2017. I did a hike that took me above Browns Pass in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. I started at Denny Creek Trailhead on Cottonwood Pass Road. The trailhead was packed with cars because it is also the trailhead for Mt. Yale. Most people were doing that hike. I followed the Browns Pass Trail to Browns Pass on the Continental Divide. Browns Pass is just above treeline. It had some nice views, but I still felt like going. So I took the Kroenke Lake Trail east up a ridge that took me to a higher point on the Divide.

Browns Pass

At Browns Pass

Looking back on the Browns Pass Trail

The trail up to a saddle on the Continental Divide.  View of Mt. Harvard

At a saddle on the Continental Divide

The Three Apostles (up high) and Texas Creek (below)

At a saddle on the Continental Divide, the trail drops down to Kroenke Lake on the Atlantic side of the divide. I did not go to the lake. I took in the views of the mountains that surrounded me. I decided to climb a little higher. There was an unnamed peak to the south. I decided to climb that to get an even better view. I was not disappointed. The view was great. I picked out several 14ers. I stayed on top for a while. I had it to myself. It was a fun little hike.

Unnamed Peak that I decided to climb

Mt. Yale

Approaching the top of the Unnamed Peak

Looking down on Browns Pass

Hartenstein Lake, Turner Peak, and the route I took is below

Mt. Harvard, Mt Columbia, & Kroenke Lake

Mt. Harvard & Mt. Columbia

The Three Apostles and Huron Peak

Mt. Yale and Mt. Princeton

Mt. Princeton, Mt Antero, Mt. Shavano, & Tabeguache Peak

Mt. Columbia, Kroenke Lake, an unnamed pond.

Me. Mt. Harvard and Mt. Columbia

Missouri Mountain, Mt. Belford, Mt. Oxford, Mt. Harvard, & Mt. Columbia