Grayback to Blowout and beyond

Wonderful ride with a little dust and no rain.  Our thanks to George and Harolena for bringing us hamburgers and fixin’s

Here are a few photos of the ride.

Over easy Dwayne.

Snow Mesa

Tuesday the 27th was a beautiful day to hike.  Seventeen hikers made it to the top of Snow Mesa.  Eleven of those seventeen went on to summit Baldy Cinco.  A great hike enjoyed by all!

 

Next Tuesday we will hike the Archuleta Lake Trail. Bring water, snacks and rain gear.

 

Meet at 8:00 am at the Rickles Park.

 

Poage Lake hike

An easy and beautiful walk. A vivid blue lake and stately spruce.

Broad, flat trails with just enough up to allow us to go down after lunch.

Welcome to Debbie Phillips and Marta K.

By popular demand, we will hike next Monday, in honor of Dawn Klein, on the newly cleaned Lake Fork Trail, Nearly all down-hill.

Meet before 9 a.m. at SF Visitor Center. Please wear sturdy boots for your own safety.
Bring a walking stick, a light lunch (it's only 5 miles), and an alert mind.
--Doug Knudson 873-5239

Friday night hike

We lucked out!  The clouds stayed around long enough to give us a gorgeous sunset but cleared out so we had the great full moon.  We feasted on hot dogs, cole slaw, potato salad, all the trimmings and then HOMEMADE ICE CREAM!!!    After supper we hiked out to the overlook in the dusk and then back in full darkness (the moon was bright enough we didn't need flashlights) to the fire.  We had the fixings for s'mores but almost all of us were still stuffed from our meal so very few s'mores were consumed.............

 

Thanks to all of you that helped by setting up, bringing food, cleaning up and just making it a pleasant, memorable night.

 

Dennis 

Fremont’s Christmas camp

We hiked into Fremont's Christmas camp today (or very near it, the sign isn't where it used to be), bushwhacking down a canyon and hitting a trail to take us up another canyon and closer to our destination.  We saw a young bull moose, but he wasn't posing for pictures today so I missed him...

I swear the hills are getting longer and steeper up there; we were at about 12,000 ft. elevation and breathing was an effort with the exertion we used.  We had lunch in the vicinity of the camp and scouted all around for the sign but it wasn't to be found.  We came out a different way and some of us got separated in the underbrush but everybody eventually made it back to the vehicles safe, sound and pooped out?

We drove out the long way, going by Cottonwood Cove for ice cream and whatnot.

Thanks to Barbara Thiesfeld for loaning her camera to me, mine decided to stay back in the front seat of my truck..............

 

We are having a Moonlight Hike Friday the 23rd at Shaw Mesa; the Full Moon is on the 25th so it should be very bright.  I will bring hot dogs with the fixings, chili, water for hot and cold drinks.  Bring something to share with the rest of the group............and a chair to sit in.

If you haven't been to Shaw Mesa, go 1 mile East of South Fork and take a right up the Forest Service road for about 4 miles(don't take a right onto 350 road).  Take a left onto Shaw Mesa and go about 1/4 mile to a road and take another left.  We will be just to the West (left) of the closed gate. 

 

We will start about 630PM, fix some dogs and then let the fire die down while we take a short hike to the overlook.  When we get back the fire should be ready for us to fix marshmallows, s'mores and whathaveyou..........

 

Next Tuesday we will hike up to Snow Mesa, meet at 8AM at Rickles Park, bring your lunch, water, raingear and a friend.  We will meet the Creede folks on Deep Creek road at about 830ish.

 

Dennis

 

American Basin

 

Wolf Creek basin

Today (Monday), a group of 11 checked out part of the upper watershed of Wolf Creek, just over the "border" on the San Juan National Forest. What a joy! What beauty! How could I have passed it so often without getting off the highway?

We enjoyed the return of Joyce Weis and Kathy Smith, as well as Claudia Weiler's cheerful presence. We saw acres and acres of many kinds of flowers, interspersed with spruce forest. The creek runs clear and steep. The falls and cliffs impressed all. The botanical study revealed need for further study.

Remember--Dick Dove needs to know by Monday night or early Tuesday as to your plans for attending the Wednesday lunch at 12:30 at his Cow Camp.

Next week, join us at 8:50 a.m. for another short hike (this one was on a rustic road). We hope to discover more great scenery and learn more science of this Creation. We meet at the South Fork Visitor Center. Boots, eats, and water are advised.

--Doug Knudson 719-873-5239

Wolf Creek

Falls 1 of Wolf Cr.

Falls 2 of Wolf Creek

Castilleja at 10,000’+

lunch on a log among flower. Does it get any finer?

Cow-parsnip

Pat, Marty, Dick, Marilyn, Kathy, Christy, Claudia, Joyce, Linda, Penny

Yellow galore Wolf Cr. heights

Stair Steps

We started up the Hunter Lake trail then switched to the Decker Cr. trail and finally to the Highline trail to reach the Stair Steps.  We had lunch at the Stair Steps (12,100 ft.) and watched 7 or 8 elk cows & calves on the South side of the Steps.  We hiked on up to the top and saw 6 bull elk on the North side of the Stairs, quite a thrill for all of us!  Lots of beautiful flowers on the way up and also on top...............

 

After lunch we came down the Hunter Lake trail and got rained on a little bit, not much but enough to bring out the colorful raingear.

 

WE ARE POSTPONING THE WHEELER OVERNIGHT HIKE UNTIL THE FIRE BAN IS LIFTED..............

 

We will hike into Fremont's Christmas camp next week, starting from the top (Rincon Ridge) and making our way down to the camp.  We will meet the Creedites at FSR 615-630 junction.

 

We will meet at Rickles Park AT 8 AM bring your lunch, water, raingear and a friend...........

 

Dennis