Silverthread Outdoor Recreational Club: Photos from Middle San Francisco Creek

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Photos from Middle San Francisco Creek

Half-way between Del Norte (our county seat) and Bennet Peak, we ascended the gentle but muddy trail to the part way point to the peak's timberline lakes. Several people indicated that their mathematical skills were useful in counting 22 hikers on this sunny Monday.

We'll have another pedestrian gathering on Wednesday. We'll be going for a long ride and a choice of walks in the Great Sand Dunes National Park, just across the valley. This will take most of the day and several choices of options.

There are dunes galore

— Some of us will want to ascend and descend a few of the biggest, f finest dunes in the nation.

— Some will want to hike along the flat base, parallel to the very interesting creek.

—There's a steep hike (3.5 miles up and the same down); done last year in one hour up, a half-hour look-around, and about 55 minutes down. A lovely collection of canyon rock walls and an historic trail in the mid- 1800s. (It was used to supply goods for a trading post near Delta, CO. The nearest supply store was on the prairie out beyond Rocky Ford. It was called Bent's Old Fort) The trading post is still called Fort Uncompahgre and is right on the edge of the city of Delta, by the river.

We will depart from the South Fork Visitor Center promptly at 9 a.m. If you live east of South Fork, either meet us at the Dunes visitor center or let me know ahead of time (at least a day) where we can pick you up by calling D. Knudson 719-873-5239 by Tuesday afternoon.

We will probably not be home until sometime near supper.

If you have questions call by real-phone or send an e-mail to

douglasfir636@gmail.com. If the computer tells you that these methods are out of time and sight, just come along anyhow.

Weather Prediction is no snow, no rain, maybe a little breeze. If you have a park pass, we will need at least one for each car, unless you wish to pay the entry fee.