Words about science and hiking
In Salida at the Simple Hostel The prospect of beer and burgers in town prompted an early rise. Dan rejected my bid for a 4:30 wake up, but agreed to 5, and we were on the trail by 6, a first. He also rejected my suggestions for a trail name. Answering the call of nature, Read More …
Wind from the east and smoky this morning portending a change in the weather. A climb through the forest brought us on to a tundra saddle and ridge that we followed to the old train tunnel and tracks, which took us down to the old mining camp of Hancock. A nice hike, but no comparison Read More …
When I did this hike in 2015 in raw stormy weather I thought it was spectacular. Turns out it is even better when the sun is shining and the wildflowers are at their peak. This is the stretch between Cottonwood Pass and Chalk Creek/Tincup road. It’s nearly all between 12 and 13 thousand feet, all Read More …
@ 38.8522, –106.3876 Near CW mi 33.0 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. Read More …
@ 38.9404, –106.4576 Near CW mile 16.9 Up for breakfast at the Twin Lakes Inn at 7, out on the road by 8:30, walking the 2 miles to the trailhead that bridges Lake Creek and thus makes our entry into the Collegiates. The price of entry is high: a 4-mile 3200-ft climb up to Hope Read More …
Up at 5 this morning without too much grumbling from Dan. Although Dan is conscientious and reliable, he is not so much a morning person and wondered at my ability to rise (and start the coffee) so early with no alarm. But my rule is simple: rise when the birds start singing. Properly coffeed, we Read More …
On the east flank of Mt Elbert Our saddle camp above Rock Creek was almost too warm, and the temperature dropped nearly 20F as we descended to Kearny Park. A few ups and downs brought us to Halfmoon Creek and the trailheads for Elbert and Massive. It being Saturday the parking lots were overflowing with Read More …
A frosty morning but the sun blazing Homestake Peak made a good backdrop for our breakfast and we started out under clear skies with temperatures a bit more normal and a bit more suited for hiking. A steep climb up from Long Gulch brought us to Porcupine Lake where we stopped to fish for a Read More …
Three fairly steep miles down the Cataract Creek gulch brought us to Eagle Park. And to the vanguard of some 400 hikers participating in something called the Fjallraven Classic. We’d seen signs for it up on Elk Ridge. Apparently Fjallraven is guiding the hikers from Tennessee Pass to Copper Mountain and teaching them LNT principles Read More …
@ 39.4318, –106.2573 Near mi 132.4 Up early this morning, down to Arvada to pick up Dan and then off to Copper Mountain. The day promised heat, and the air became noticeably warmer as we ascended up from the resort. Unlike my last trip through here, there was no Crazy Grandma at Guller Creek to Read More …