Sentinel Mountain

Twenty people hiked 3 miles each at the northern end of Sentinel Mountain.  The "local" logging road is in the Rio Grande National Forest, right near home.  The day started with energetic snowfall, but the sun came out as soon as we put our snowshoes on.  We were as stealthy as 20 folks with snowshoes and poles can be, but we saw no elk, deer, turkeys, pumas, or coyotes--all known denizens of this area. 

 

Next Monday, we'll leave the parking lot of the S.F. Visitor Center for another venture into the forest at 10 a.m. (we were punctual on this Monday!).  Bring your snowshoes (or call me for an extra pair 873-5239).  No charge and you're on your own responsibility.

--Doug Knudson

 

[I'm sending you a separate set of a few pictures from our Costa Rica visit in late January.]

 

Down by the Railroad track

 

Up a little hill

 

Out across the clearing

 

By a rock in the shade for a rest

 

Then loop back East 

 

with a happy smile

 

and a slip-off shoe.

 

Back at the starting point.

 

Grooming Pictures

 

 

Working conditions aren’t always the best.

 

 

 

Then you get pictures like this

 

 

Or find something like this.

 

 

 

George Powell, president

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

Silverthreaders Club

 

Snowmobile Rides Update

 

 We appreciate your snow dance…We finally got snow…We will be riding soon!

Margie Patterson will be submitting monthly snowmobile updates to Snow Scoop/CSA for the Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club.  Be sure to send her pictures and highlights of your ride with dates and areas you rode to jimmrg@q.com.  The next print edition will be mailed on March 14 and the deadline for that is March 3.

 

Jim Patterson

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

 

FSR 360

Ten stalwarts showed up on this beautiful day to walk on the new snow.  As on every Monday at 10 a.m., we left the visitor center in South Fork and spent about 3 hours in the Rio Grande National Forest.  As Foto ! shows, you can even enjoy it while wearing shorts. 

 

One lady rolled in the snow and made such a beautiful snow angel that my camera refused to function--it must have been something ethereal!  It may still be up there, beside a little road where new snow will touch it tonight and tomorrow.

 

You are welcome to walk here any time--it's our national forest.  You'll have free company and comradeship on Monday mornings.  Come and participate.  More information?  Call 719-873-5239.

 

--Doug Knudson    (just back from Costa Rica with Judy--we'll

have some pictures for you soon.)

 

 

 

 

"UP a short hill"

 

What goes up will eventually go down!

 

The scenery is beautiful and sylvan--with no fumes.

 

Memorial Sled Race

The sled race has been cancelled because of worker problems and participation problems, maybe next year.

 

George Powell, president

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

Silverthreaders Club

Snowmobile Rides

We haven't gotten snow since early December.  Do the snow dance, so we can ride again! 

 

Jim Patterson

Silverthreaders

 

Snowshoeing to Big Meadows

 

Trout Creek

Nine pairs of eyes saw below 0º  on their thermometers this morning.  Yet, they showed up for a beautiful brief hike near town.  We saw those delicate things called aspen buds sitting out in the -15º of the early morning; yet, somehow, in five months, they will start opening up as flowers and delicate leaves. 

 

It's wonderful how our bodies perform: from shivering as we put on the snowshoes, to  perspiring and warm after a half-mile of shuffling through ankle-deep snow. A great way to celebrate the beauty of January, 2014.

 

Come prepared to warm yourself as we snowshoe next Monday--we depart from the S.F. Visitor Center at 10 a.m.  If conditions allow, we could go to the Pass and wander the Trail loops near Alberta Lake. 

We'll see you then.     --Doug Knudson

 

See the guy in the middle?  just back from Texas and already adjusted.

 

See the guy on the right?  Just back from rainy Oslo, Norway, where the skiing was different from Wolf Creek.

 

See the lady from Greeley?  at home in the woods, but...

 

she wouldn't agree to climb up there

 

There's life in these aspen buds. It's tough to tell if they're male or female flowers or leaves inside.

 

But there are plenty of buds.

 

Gateway cliff invites you to the Trout Creek Trail--one of our beautiful highway "decorations."

 

6 Mile Flats

9 snowshoers enjoyed the scenery and easy walking at 6 Mile Flats.  We stayed out of the Cross Country tracks carefully groomed by Creede folks (some of us will be there tomorrow with skis to celebrate the start of 2014).

 

We welcomed Tammy (Linda's engineer sister) who ignored any fears of snowy terrain and successfully adapted John's big-foot snowshoes to somewhere near her size.

 

As you can see, the landscape was enhanced with a crystal clear sky and framed by the looming La Garitas to the East.

 

Don't miss next Monday's snowshoe trek, somewhere beautiful.  Meet at the SF Visitor Center before 10 a.m. with snowshoes (maybe hiking boots), a snack, and good will.

Happy New Year to all.       Doug Knudson

 

9 walking easily--is this heaven?

 

Going Up suggestion vetoed here

 

DSC06322

 

Really Rockies

 

From the Rio Grande on up--N edge of a huge crater

 

How's this for a snack bar?

 

Tammy from Texas enjoying the scenery

 

HOLIDAY RIDE THIS FRIDAY AT ELWOOD... FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, AT 9:30AM

See you at the Park Creek Parking Lot this FRIDAY, December 27, 2013, at 9:30AM. 

"IN GOD WE TRUST!" GOD BLESS AMERICA!
"Life without GOD is like an unsharpened pencil---it has no point."

Boulder field

Eight sun-loving snowshoers basked in the warmth of the Boulders area near South Fork.  Even though the temperature was around 25º, we found it pleasant to follow animal tracks of several sorts, sit on a log for a snack, then walk on water at the Million Reservoir--hard water, it was!  As always, the boulders were beautiful, capped with snow, even tempting a try at climbing one (by Pat)--too slippery!

 

We'll try another destination next Monday. Meet at the S.F. Visitor Center at 9:50 a.m.  Bring warm clothes, good boots, and snowshoes.  A little lunch and sunglasses and water will help, too.

 

Merry Christmas to all.  If you're in S.Fork, we invite you to join us in a celebratory carol sing program at the Chapel of the South Fork at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.  You music lovers will enjoy the privilege of hearing the talented Chelsea Oden at the piano--home for Christmas from her music teaching in Colorado Springs.

 

--Doug Knudson   719-873-5239

 

DSC06300

 

the BIG Boulders

 

DSC06302

 

Pat's antics on the big rock don't seem to interest Wayne, our (sometimes) safety officer.

 

Where the 2002 forest fire started, blowing to the East.  Two hikers who lost their home in that fire were with us today.

 

The fire's effects are still visible on the steep hill above Million Pond.

The bend-over snowshoe removal maneuver.

 

A sunny trip to Big Meadows, on big feet

An even dozen took advantage of a cool but sunny Monday for several hours of easy snow-shoeing.  Two neophyte snowshoers (Barbara and Deb) adapted quickly and energetically.  The 3.5-mile hike with a nice stop for lunch under a couple of trees had several people adjusting their wardrobes as they walked from the long shadows of the road along the South Fork of the Rio Grande and then into the sun as we neared the Big Meadows reservoir.

 

Next Monday, we'll probably have some Christmas-time visitors.  We have several shorter alternatives in mind to accommodate their low-land breathing apparati.  Meet on Monday before 10 a.m. at the South Fork Visitor Center. 

 

Questions:  873-5239   Doug Knudson

 

 

The start!

 

Cliffs below the reservoir

 

The South Fork of the Rio Grande, some flowing at 9,500' after many days and nights of freezing temperatures

 

Continental Divide on top of these hills

 

Bridge over the South Fork as it leaves the Big Meadows Reservoir

 

Foot traffic only

 

The South Fork--rocks, water, ice, and snow

Seating in sun or shade, mostly on the snow

 

End of our trail; beginning of another creature's.

 

Beaver Creek

There was some talk in some homes this morning about "too cold" at 9º below 0 with a brisk breeze.  Nevertheless, eight snowshoers came out and enjoyed the clear skies and bright sunshine (some said "too warm" for what I'm wearing").  We chose a route that protected us from the breeze and warmed us up.  After a couple hours of walking through the pines and spruce, enjoying Beaver Creek campground's scenery, our well-protected feet said "that's enough." 

 

We'll try to find another beautiful winter place next Monday.  All are welcome to join us--meet at the South Fork Visitor Center before 10:00 a.m.

Yes, it's likely to be cold, so dress adequately.  You'll go slowly enough to see some beautiful sights, such as these:

 

8 bundled up; the scarves were stowed about an hour later.

 

Cliffs along Beaver Creek

 

The creek was flowing, slightly.  Youth camp is above the other side

 

Blue shadows on white snow

 

fishing site, in the summer

 

Ponderosa pine in the campground

 

Chuck Holton

 

Chuck is at home in South Fork and doing very well.

 

George Powell, president

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

Silverthreaders Club