Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Tuesday ATV Ride

It was a good day for a good ride for 9 folks.

 

 

A good place for lunch

 

 

Lunch is over

 

 

Getting ready to cross the creek

 

 

Trash from a day’s ride

 

 

Poles picked up to the top of Blow Out Pass 

George Powell, president

Email President@Silverthreaders.org 

"tough hike"

Is 6.5 miles really tough?  Vote--3 no, 2 yes.  The developing trail network south of Lookout Mountain in Del Norte finally got closed by our large loop. Flags are scarce and the tread requires imagination in places. But the scenery is expansive and diverse.
Flowers are making known their presence known.  Butterflies, tent caterpillars, and colorful migratory birds are active.  A poor little snake shook its tail when two stalwart hikers damaged its ear drums  (this story may get more dramatic with the telling, over time).
 
Coming hikes: 
Thursday with Dennis at 9 a.m. at Visitor Center.
Monday with Wayne Moulds at 9 a.m.    "
Tuesday with Wayne Moulds at 9 a.m. at V.C.   Be prepared for  5-9  miles.
 
--Doug Knudson
 
Barbara, Ashley, Wayne, Marilyn on the ridge

 



Cactus flowers

 



Wyoming paintbrush

 



Looking North

 



View from the high ridge

 



Antler-like

 



Downhill with antler

 



Bone gulch

 



No snakes here

Monday, May 27, 2013

Willow creek & Beaver Mtn. hike

Wayne led us up to the oil pad behind the Willow Park development and then over the hill for lunch.  Willow Creek is running nicely and is a pretty stream with lots of small water cascades........the wildflowers are starting to show up, hope we can get some rain to bring them on.  Marty found a puffball mushroom that was still fresh enough to eat. There were a few trout in a pool along the trail, pretty small ones though.
 
Doug will lead a hike tomorrow (Tuesday), meet at the VCPL at 9 AM, bring lunch, water and a couple of friends.....
 
I will lead the hike Thursday, ditto on the above......
 
Dennis

 

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Tuesday ATV Ride

There will be an ATV ride on Tuesday, May 28 led by George, meet at the visitor center at 9 AM. We will unload at Elk Park and ride Castle Rock and Bear Creek.

George Powell, president

Email President@Silverthreaders.org

Friday, May 24, 2013

ATV Work Day 5/24/13

We had a fun day doing trail work today. We found trees down, gates broken,
trash, and even some snow, maybe a lot of snow. It was a good day.

George Powell, president

Email President@Silverthreaders.org

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Hike to Model T Park

Six of us walked 7.3 miles round trip up to Model T park and back down.  The sharp-eyed ladies spotted 6 elk and at least one more among the dead trees. 
 
Tangled landscape--nature's log landing

 



Newcomer but long time South Fork guy  Ron Bassett, Marilyn, Wayne, Linda, and second-timer Ashley

 



Still standing.  No regeneration of spruce or pine yet.

 



Two of six elk spotted in Model T Park

 



Virtual driving in an old Ford Touring Car.

 



Over and under--about 60 times on the last 2 miles

 



The ridge separating Church Creek and the partly burned out exclusive neighborhood

 


Sentinel Peak from Model-T park trail

Monday, May 20, 2013

Farmer's Creek Trail

 
In Mineral County, the lower tree line starts higher on S. facing slopes.  At 9,400' we were just getting into a stand of limber pine.    Hike was in 9,000'-9,500' altitude range.
 
The rugged country, eased by a somewhat gentle trail (FARMER'S CREEK), gave a dozen hikers a long morning's workout and considerable exchange of information. Undoubtedly, both enhanced our lives.  Welcome to Ashley, a new resident of Del Norte and a strong, perky hiker.  Clouds kept it cool but rain did not reign.
 
More hiking Tuesday.  We'll go a few miles farther and up tougher terrain, in another area called Dry Gulch.  If weather threatens, we'll try something closer to South Fork.
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Big Country 

 



Welcome, Ashley

 



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Wooden elk shed

 



Turn at the notch

 



Shallow soil; deep rock here on the side of the La Garita Mtns.

 



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