Tuesday, July 31, 2012

8 Mt. Elbert Photos

Tuesday's hike took six hardy folks up Mt. Elbert, Colorado's highest peak.  After a Monday night with rain, we awoke to clouds covering the Lake View campground and the lower slopes.  Our 6:20 a.m. start took us through aspen, old lodgepole pine, and then healthy spruce.  Just above timberline, with 2/3 of the trail ahead of us, we walked into the sunlight and the steep upper slopes of Mt. Elbert.  Our little group joined about 50 people at the top. They came from many states. They circulated enough that their total number  probably more than 100 climbers by midday.
We think that my brother Rob and I, septuagenarians, were the eldest. (We apparently inspired several youth to continue to the top.) The youngest little girl spent the day just above timberline collecting crickets and releasing them, while her mother relaxed in a beautiful setting. All the people we talked to were inspired by the beauty, vastness, and wildness of the mountains all around us.
 
Invitation:  Robert Knudson (a Taos resident) suggested that a group of us come to the Taos area for an overnight (free campgrounds). Then we can climb New Mexico's highest point, Wheeler Peak 13,161'.  He will be off on a Santa Fe Trail bike ride to Missouri in September, so think August or early October (maybe).  Taos is full of opportunities for shoppers, historical/cultural tourists, and art lovers. If you haven't yet toured the Taos Pueblo (an International Heritage Site designated by the United Nations), I recommend it as one of America's great places. Let me know if you have an interest in a trip like this.
 
Linda in Elbert fog

 



Target--Mt. Elbert 14,433'

 



Wayne above morning fog

 



Bob loved the mists

 



Linda on a ridge

 



Bob discretely dominating the 14,000' heights

 



Rob,George, Bob, Linda

 



Twin Lakes at the base of the mountain

Monday, July 30, 2012

Trl 849 hike

Marilyn & Gail led us DOWN Trail #849 for about a mile and a half and then we took off to the North to see the adobe ruins, about another mile. We had lunch under a very large juniper tree and then went UP the trail to the vehicles. It was steep in only a couple of places, but it was definitely uphill all the way back............about 5 miles roundtrip.
The rains have really gotten the wildflowers blooming again and the green landscape looks so much better. There aren't very many trees that are infested with the beetles yet and a green forest is great to look at.
WE WILL HAVE A MOONLIGHT HIKE ON WEDNESDAY AUG 1 AT 7 PM. MARY & I WILL BRING THE HOTDOGS, CONDIMENTS AND DRINKS. BOB IS BRINGING CHILI, EVERYONE ELSE BRING A FAVORITE DISH YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP AND A CHAIR TO SET ON. WE WILL HAVE A CAMPFIRE AND PLAN ON EATING ABOUT 8PM. THE ALMANAC SHOWS SUNSET AT 814PM AND MOONRISE AT 742PM.
WE WILL MEET AT SHAW MESA ABOUT 1/4 MILE ON FSR340 TO THE LEFT AT THE GATE. IF THIS SPOT IS TAKEN OR IT IS REAL WINDY, WE WILL BE BACK IN THE TREES ABOUT 200 YARDS TO THE NORTHWEST.
COME ON OUT AND JOIN THE FUN!! WE WILL HIKE TO THE OVERLOOK AFTER WE EAT......
DENNIS

Saturday, July 28, 2012

ATV Poker Run

I finally have some pictures from the poker run. It was very successful as you will notice from the number of machines in the picture.

 

 

What a nice place to meet.

 

 

 

 

The parking lot was almost full

 

 

We had a lot of door prizes, that made several folks happy.

 

George Powell, president

Silverthreaders Club

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Lobo Hike

Nine hikers saw a spectacularly attractive Continental Divide Trail segment from Lobo Point to a little lake right on the Cont. Divide. We enjoyed abundant flowers, green grass, sunshine (the predicted noon-time rain neither precipitated nor thundered except far off to the East).  No one even complained about the Spruce bark beetle kill by Dendroctonus engelmannii.  Lunch at the lake and a rather sprightly return led some people down to the highway at Wolf Creek Pass, while others rode the cars down from Lobo Point. 

We've enjoyed the positive participation of Berdelle Johnson, Rob Barlow, and Wendy Pickering during their stays in South Fork. They head for home or other places over the next few days.  Bon voyage!  We look forward to your return to our simple practice of regular walking through God's gardens.


Next Tuesday those of you who feel that you've properly prepared for a steep mountain climb (no ropes needed), will start out early in the morning at the base of Mt. Elbert..
I'll send you a separate message about the Mt. Elbert hike later tonight.


  Noon at "Joyce" or Rock Lake
 
CDT Wooten Senecio?

 



Elephantella

 



•Columbine

 



Big country


Bob,George,Rob,Mike,Berdelle, Wendy,Linda (Wayne M and Doug elsewhere)

 



Wayne's catch of the day

 



Joyce Lake, CDT

 



Fireweed in spruce

 



DSC01376

 

Monday, July 23, 2012

Lost Lake hike

Lost Lake was found by 21 people, a couple of whom pronounced it imprecisely named. 
So we went to a higher point and most everyone enjoyed the expansive view to the North and Northwest.
As clouds approached we headed down the trail, enjoying a light shower as we went.
 
Cliffs of Shaw Mesa--view from the Lost Lake trail

 



21 found the way to Lost Lake--folks from Amarillo, Turkey and a few other towns in TX;Tustin, California; and a score of South Fork year-round residents.

 



Pat leads to charge upward

 



Leader Wayne looks ahead

 



Nice view at lunch

 



A fine lady who has learned to enjoy hiking in the rain (at least when it's inevitable).
Tomorrow's tough hike may be softened and shortened by rain.  Meet at 8 a.m. (early) at the Visitor Center.  If the clouds permit, we'll start at Lobo Overlook, go a ways as fast as possible, then turn around if lightning  seems to be approaching us.  This may  require agility and speed. However, the route being out and back allows for slower hikers to join us and go part-way before going back. 
Bring a snack or lunch, poncho or rain coat, and a sweater or extra shirt (rain on the continental divide can chill you quickly).
Thursday's hike is slated to be an exploration of Fox Mountain, some on trail, somewithout a trail, with your fine guide, Dennis Shepherd.
--Doug Knudson

Lost Lake hike

Wayne led us into Lost Lake today, it is a fairly easy hike and Charlie (Rob's Dad) came with us. At age 83 Charlie is very active and made it in and back without any trouble. The trail is becoming easier to find, more folks are making the trip into the lake and marking the trail better than it was........
Thursdays hike will leave the VCPL at 9AM, we will be looking for shed antlers and mushrooms on our way into the top of Fox mtn. Bring a lunch, water, raingear and a friend.......l
Dennis