Gold

July 26, 2017, Day 3 of a backpacking trip on the Colorado Trail. I woke up early and was on the trail by 5:30 A.M. There were lots of clouds hanging around again this morning. That is unusual for Colorado in the morning. It made for some interesting views. I had about 16.5 miles to do that day. I was on my way to Monarch Pass where I would meet my parents. For a while, it looked like the clouds might lift, but that did not happen until I was almost to Monarch Pass.

Low Clouds

Sun trying to shine through the clouds

Trail marker - Looking towards the San Luis Valley

Trail near Silver Creek

Still Cloudy

Approaching Marshall Pass & Mt Ouray (In the Clouds)

Trail close to Treeline

Snow near a ridge top

Trail along the Continental Divide

Cloudy View

Trail in the clouds on top of a ridge

The clouds lift and I can see Monarch Pass

View of Tabeguache Peak and Mt. Shavano

After reaching Monarch Pass, my parents took me down to Salida where we stayed the night. I dried out my tent and gear in a park that afternoon. I also got to see U.S win the Gold Cup that night. Stay Tuned for more Colorado Trail adventures/pictures...

Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

This is the first post of several about my latest adventures on the Colorado Trail. On July 23rd, I travelled to Gunnison, Colorado with my parents. On the way, we stopped so I could do a short slack pack hike along the Colorado Trail. I did a 5.5 mile from US 50 to the Angel of Shavano Trailhead. The hike was mostly wooded, but it did have nice moments.

Looking South

Trail through the aspen trees

Hungry Tree

The southern side of Shavano. (Top not visible)

After staying the night in Gunnison, I got Pops to drop me off on the Colorado Trail at its intersection with Cochetopa Pass Road. This was the start of a backpacking trip. I would hike from here north to Monarch Pass over three days. I saw lots of people going the opposite direction. Most of the hikers were going to Durango. There was not a whole lot views this day. The trail stayed in the woods for the most part. Part of the trail that I followed was called the Summit Trail. It followed a ridge, and the trail seemed like it went over every single bump on that ridge. Good drinking water was a bit scarce, but I was prepared. I stayed the night at Razor Creek with several other hikers. I hiked 16.3 miles of trail that day.

Lujan Creek near Highway 114

View from the top of a ridge on the Summit Trail

It rained during the night. So I got to pack up a wet tent on the morning of Day 2 of the backpacking trip. The morning was cloudy and bit misty at times. It eventually burned off by mid-morning. I had a light lunch on Sargents Mesa and dried out my tent. The hike down Sargents Mesa was through cattle country. I got water at Tank Seven Creek. I went ahead and cooked an early dinner at the water source since I would not see another reliable water source the rest of the day. After eating, I hiked around 5.5 miles. This part of the hike was not much fun as I got to see the rain late into the hike. I had to take cover in a thick set of trees during a huge downpour. The trail had turned into a creek. There was also lightning and hail. After the storm calmed down, I hiked probably another half mile. I found a good campsite for the night. Due to early dinner and weather delays, I had hiked a little later than I normally would. I estimate I hiked 20 miles that day. So it was a good day mileage wise.

Looking back on the trail from Middle Baldy

Middle Baldy

Cloudy morning

Misty

Sargents Mesa

Starting to descend Sargents Mesa.  Mt. Ouray in the clouds.

Norman and his mom

A field without cows

Rain is coming

Looking towards Mt. Ouray and Marshall Pass

More posts coming when I have time…

Do What You Want, Be What You Are

This post goes back to July 15th. I got up early and drove to the Tarryall Mountains in the Lost Creek Wilderness. I climbed Mt. Bison which has an elevation of 12,431 ft. It is a 12-mile out and back hike from the Ute Creek Trailhead on County Road 77. The hike is a steady up, but it is nothing too difficult. The rock formations near the top were quite interesting. The morning weather was cloudy which is usually rare in Colorado. The good thing was that the clouds kept it cool and reduced the chances of thunderstorms. Here are the pictures from a fun hike.

Just crested the ridge that leads to Mt. Bison

On the ridge that leads to Mt. Bison

Mt. Bison Summit Sign

View from the top of Mt. Bison

Looking towards South Park

Another view from the top

Looking back on the way I came up

View of McCurdy Mountain on the left

Me

Me again

Rocks on the way down

More rock formations

Big Rock

Looking back on the summit of Mt. Bison.

The Trail Down

St. Charles

Here are a few photos from a hike up St. Charles Peak (11,784 ft.) on July 8th. This was the third time I have climbed this particular peak.

The top of St. Charles Peak

Small Wildflowers

Wildflowers and the hazy Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Looking north at the Wet Mountains.  Pikes Peak is barely visible in the smokey haze.

Lakeside Park

On July 1st, I went for a hike in the Tarryall Mountains located in the Lost Creek Wilderness. I did a lollipop loop that I estimate was about 14 or 15 miles. I started at Twin Eagles Trailhead off of County Road 77. I used the following trails to make the loop: Brookside Trail, McCurdy Park Trail, Lake Park Trail, and Hankins Pass Trail. Brookside Trail is the only trail I had to do in both directions. It was good hike with lots of amazing rocks. I got up to an elevation of around 11,500 feet. Here are the pictures.

Looking back at the valley where I started.  Lizard Rock on the left.

Cliffs on the hike up

The high point of my hike. Looking south towards Pikes Peak

McCurdy Peak on the right

Looking north towards Mt. Evans

Me on top.  It is not cold, it is just cool when the wind gusts hit the sweat on my back.

Lake Park. (There is no lake.)

Looking toward McCurdy Peak and route I took in the morning.

June Comes Around Every Year

On June 10th, I did a hike at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. I've done the hike several times before. Here are a couple of photos form this hike.

Blooming Cactus

Looking north at Pikes Peak

On June 24th, I did a hike at Catamount Ranch Open Space. This was a new hike for me. It was an easy hike that stayed in the upper 9,000 foot elevation range. Catamount Ranch Open Space is near Woodland Park east of Colorado Springs and north of Pikes Peak.

Trail in Catamount Ranch Open Space

Looking south towards Pikes Peak