Cross Creek Hike

 

We announced this as a tough hike, started with 10 hikers; ended with 8 (2 found a shortcut). Four miles up (despite promises of flatness in places, we only found 4 short somewhat level stretches) and four quick miles down meant it was good for conditioning. 

 

Eight more of these "tough" hikes and we'll be ready for those 14ers. So--if you intend to ascend two big ones with us, please join the Tuesday group and do your conditioning exercises all week.  We'll get you in shape, but that can't be done by just a few samplings of hikes--whatever your condition and intelligence level.

 

We were glad to see four folks who have rejoined us: Bill and Dawn Klein, George Ameel, and Bob Seago, three of them after some serious medical attention over the past year or two.

 

Next week: We think we'll be able to make the two miles up Sentinel Peak and then find our way back (no trails except those made by deer and elk). That's on Tuesday.

 

This week,yet:  Dennis is due back in town today and will lead a hike on Thursday--not so tough and interesting.

 

Cross Creek Trail:  How long is it? The trail book says 4 miles; Connie is sure it's more (and she has been repairing it); Wayne Moulds guesses anywhere from 5 to 7 miles).  We can all attest that it certainly is a beautiful place to hike

Marilyn, Pat, Bob,Bill,Dawn,Linda,Wayne,George,Bob

 

DSC09998

 

Mountain Candytuft (relative of the cresses and mustards)

 

Vernal Pond on Cross Cr. Trail

 

Nature's art in decayed tree trunk

 

Scenic walking on a level stretch of Cross Creek Trail

 

View from Cross Creek to Continental Divide

 

View N from Cross Cr. Parking lot

 

Good work, Silverthreaders.

 

Trout Creek Trail Photos

13 lucky folks walked toward Trout Creek but none reached it before hunger set in.  Spring has sprung and the young flowers have arisen--orchids and columbines and a few others. The pine cones have dropped their seeds and new leaves are emerging on the aspen.

Thanks to engineer Richard Groninger from Amarillo for joining us.

Thanks also to RGNational Forest's Steve Brigham for updates on the trail and cabin improvements coming up this summer, as we visited at Blimpie's.

 

Next on the agenda--

Tuesday hike will, by popular demand, tackle Cross Creek Trail for as many miles as you can take, then float back down through your gravitational field. Great for conditioning.  Please wear boots on this rocky route, recently smoothed out by the ATV folks of the Silverthread group. Start 9 a.m. at S.F. Visitor Center

This will prepare you for the next week's summiting of Sentinel Peak.

Thursday hike--Dennis has a good one up his sleeve. " " "

 

--Doug Knudson

 

Harolena,Tommie,Judy,Bonnie,Bob,Pat,Connie,Wayne,Linda, Richard, Marilyn, and Mayebelle

 

Landscape along the trail--Linda wants that rock

 

Ponderosa pine bark texture

 

Taking in the view

 

Calypso orchid or Fairy Slipper (Calypso bulbosa)

 

Red columbine (Aquilegia elegantula)

 

Limber Pine cones and needles and limber twigs

 

Blue Creek hike (2)

Plants

Blue Creek conifers

 

Old Ponderosa pines

 

Split rock

 

Wild Strawberry 

 

Cinquefoil

 

Rock or Blue Clematis

 

Blue Creek hike

Nine hikers followed Blue Creek and its steep canyon for a mile or so, then munched and came down in various ways.  This hidden gem is worth the effort of a few huffs and puffs!  We found some ice cream and a bicycling pastry chef (Carla Norton) on the way home.

 

Hikes next week:

Monday--"easy" but good for you.  Wayne and Linda.

Tuesday--"tough" possibly up Sentinel Mtn.   Doug

Thursday--"leader's choice" another gem. Dennis

      Each departs from the South Fork Visitor Center at 9 a.m.  Bring a lunch or snack, boots, rain gear, hat, friend.

--Doug Knudson  873-5239

 

At Dennis' request, I'll send you more pictures so he can show flowers to his grandkids.

 

Blue Creek

 

Dennis,Wayne,Pat,Linda,Bonnie,Mayebelle,Bob,Connie

 

two snoozers

 

DSC09977

 

probably Blueleaf Cinquefoil (early this year)

 

Rock Clematis

 

Cliffs of Blue Creek

 

May Silverthread Club Meeting

The Silverthread Club will meet Tuesday, May 15, 6:30 pot luck meal, 7 PM meeting at the South Fork Community Center. I hope to see you there.

 

George Powell, president

Silverthreaders Club

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

PO Box 343

South Fork, CO. 81154-0343

H 719-873-5902

C 719-850-0080

Email ghp0181@gmail.com

 

Sentinel Mountain Hike–2 more photo

Here are two of Bob Seago's pictures from our two-person-Tuesday-walk.

Doug,

It was a lovely hike through the trees.  For some reason, I did enjoy the snow melting in the trees and dropping unto us.

I took a photo of you changing your batteries.

Bob.

 

Hwy. Clean Up Correction

 

 

We will clean our section of Hwy. 160 on Saturday, May 12; meet at 10 AM at the visitor center. We need lots of help so we can get through rather fast. I have sent the notice from Ashlee about the goings on that day. 

 

George Powell, president

Silverthreaders Club

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

PO Box 343

South Fork, CO. 81154-0343

H 719-873-5902

C 719-850-0080

Email ghp0181@gmail.com

Hello South Fork!

South Fork needs you. South Fork’s Beautification Day & Town Clean Up is this Saturday, May 12^th. Bust out your work gloves and yard tools to help get South Fork ready for the summer tourist season. We will be meeting at the Visitor Center at 9:00am to focus on trash clean up, the outside of the Visitor Center, the 4^th July parade route,  and overall town beautification. There is a dumpster available to deposit trash bags (no appliances, carpet, tires, etc.).  This year there will be a wood chipper for tree branches, compliments of Pat Fluck.

 

Celebrate Town Beautification Day in conjunction with South Fork’s 20^th Anniversary at the Visitor Center, where there will be a BBQ celebration at 11:30am with pulled pork sandwiches, compliments of Virgil Blevins. Swing by to celebrate the effort and hard work put forth these last 20 years-- looking forward to seeing you on the 12^th!

 

Saturday, May 12^th – Town Clean Up & BBQ!

9:00am – Meet at the South Fork Visitor Center

9:00-11:30 – Town Clean Up

11:30-12:30 – Celebration BBQ

 

P.S. Please help distribute the attached flyer and get the word out, thanks!

 

Cheers,

Ashlee Bratton

 

South Fork Marketing Director

marketingdirector@southfork.org

719-873-5512 – Visitor Center

www.southfork.org

 

Sentinel Mountain Hike 4 More Photos

DSC09940

 

DSC09948

 

Bob Seago 

 

from the trail to the North

 

Sentinel Mountain Hike

We weren't numerous on a snowy Tuesday morning, but we both had cameras. Beautiful scenery made a little 3-mile hike along the northern base of Sentinel Mountain into a 2-hour relaxing hike. The May 8 snow relented as we began walking. Skies became bluer and shadows appeared. The tree-caught snow dripped in an irregular rhythm. It doesn't get much better than this!

--Doug Knudson, with Bob Seago of Creede

 

Next Tuesday, I'll arrange a highly qualified leader for a challenging hike. Hope you'll make it--9 a.m. at Visitor Center.

 

Good Morning weather--South from the SF Post Office

 

mature Ponderosa pine

 

Branch full of flowers and snow--springtime in the Rockies

 

Conifers & Cliffs

 

Living wood figures

 

Aspen in Springtime

 

Hike cancelled

The hike for today was cancelled due to inclement weather, we will try it again on Thursday at the same time and place....

 

Dennis

Friday Work Day

This was another hard day at work. Trees to clear, water holes to drain,
snow to play in, and Harolena even got in the picture. Cross Creek Trail is
open all the way. The one big tree was down on FR 350. ATV Ride on Tuesday,
9 AM at the visitor center.


George Powell, president
Silverthreaders Club
Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club
PO Box 343
South Fork, CO. 81154-0343
H 719-873-5902
C 719-850-0080
Email ghp0181@gmail.com

LaGarita Creek ATV Ride

What a day we had. Cut trees, repaired holes in trail, removed lots of
rocks, even some big ones, and used the generator and a saws all to cut tree
roots in the rocks. Thanks to Harolena for the pictures. Every thing went
great. I thought this was just going to be a ride day. The trails need lots
of maintenance. Work day on Friday. Meet at the visitor center at 9 AM.


George Powell, president
Silverthreaders Club
Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club
PO Box 343
South Fork, CO. 81154-0343
H 719-873-5902
C 719-850-0080
Email ghp0181@gmail.com

Thursday hikes

We will resume our Thursday hikes this week, meet at the Visitor Center at 9AM, bring a lunch, water and a friend. 

 

The Full Moon is Friday, we will discuss the possibility of a moonlight hike (Shaw Mesa is still inaccessible) and I will send out info Thursday...............

 

Dennis