@ 38.8522, –106.3876
Near CW mi 33.0
Approaching Lake Ann Pass
The high point today was Lake Ann Pass. Despite the warm weather and a dry winter, the pass is snowpacked with a substantial cornice stretching across it. We’d been warned by northbound CDTers not to cross the snow too early but to wait until it softened near noon. Although we got there by 9, the snow had softened enough to require care but not alarm.
Dan crosses the snow
Mt Elbert was just barely visible over the shoulder of Mt Hope, allowing us to see the landmarks of the past two days.
The view north from Lake Ann Pass
The flowers on the way down were remarkable and we stopped often to admire and photograph the gentians and columbines and pincushions.
As on our other tundra traverses it seemed to me that some lower level flowers – such as columbines – are invading the tundra, creeping ever higher. The trees can’t be far behind.
Ground squirrels are getting more common above 12k feet, and pikas are correspondingly rarer and more restricted. We saw both at one rest break, a pairing I’d never witnessed before.
I was planning to spend some time fishing Texas Creek, but the creek has been entirely taken over by beaver, and not a trout was to be seen in their shallow pools.
We hiked on and made camp early, about 2 miles before Cottonwood Pass, near a forest pond that is home to salamanders. Maybe alpine salamanders are actually very common and I have only now thought to look for them.
In another mile we’ll break out into the tundra and stay high for the next 15 miles. This hike should be the highlight of the trip and I am hoping our clear weather continues. Seeing it in stormy conditions before had its charms, but a walk without weather worries would be nice also.