Thursday, June 30, 2011

Chimney Rock Hike

Over a dozen hikers spent several hours among the ruins on the narrow ridges near Chimney Rock (2). We walked on precipices that rise 1200' above the Piedra River (about 2.5 miles away).

Our volunteer Forest Service guide, Lynnis Steinert, provided lucid explanations of the archæological wonders and of the puzzles that remain.

The people here moved NE into New Mexico--they are still here. We were surrounded by Ute territory--they are still here. (Don't fail to visit their stunning new museum in Ignacio.)

Thanks to Connie Gillespie for organizing this important visit to one of the outstanding areas in our state. Welcome back to David and Alison Campbell.

Next Monday and Tuesday and Thursday, we have hikes planned. All are welcome.
The tougher Tuesday hike next week will be out and back, so visitors can go part way, rest, and wait for us to return.

Meet at the Visitor Center in South Fork before 9 a.m. departure.

--Doug Knudson

"It's a Chacoan style kiva" says Lynnis

•Connie manipulated a mano on the metate

Chimney Rock top

•Piedra R. valley W of Chimney Rock

•side ridge from Chimney Rock

Elizabeth awed and on the brink, Chimney Rock.

FIREWORKS ARE ON!

 

THE SOUTH FORK FIRE DEPT., HAS BEEN ABLE TO SECURE A SAFE LOCATION FOR THE SOUTH FORK FIREWORKS DISPLAY WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE RIO GRANDE CLUB, SO THE EVENT WILL GO ON AS SCHEDULED  - SATURDAY JULY2ND AROUND 9:30PM.

WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST YOUR HELP IN DIRECTING THE VIEWING PUBLIC TO EITHER THE VISITORS CENTER PARKING LOT FOR THE STREET DANCE OR THE COMMUNITY BUILDING PARKING LOT ON HWY 149, TO NOT ONLY GET A GREAT VIEW OF THE FIREWORKS, BUT TO REMAIN A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE DISPLAY AS WELL.

 

I WOULD LIKE ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE THANK OUR WONDEFUL FIRE DEPARTMENT, ITS VOLUNTEERS AND THE OWNERS AND STAFF OF THE RIO GRANDE CLUB FOR HELPING TO ENSURE THAT OUR FIREWORKS DISPLAY COULD TAKE PLACE.

 

 

Josephine S. Pierce

Marketing/Visitors Center Director

Town of South Fork

(719)873-5512

www.southfork.org

 

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Bennett's Peak Hike

Big, big country up where 13,203' Bennett's Peak raises its bulk. Tiny lakes store water that heads down Middle San Francisco Peak. Steep, severely eroded rocky trails lead to near the top.

All eleven who started at Blowout Pass learned the source of the name. Big winds from New Mexico fires blew us to the top. Little flowers withstood the constant blowing and have survived the drought.

All eleven made it to the wind shelter of the rock pile on the summit. All eleven made it down the rolling-rock trail. If the eleven are reading this, they made it home,to a well-deserved rest.

Remember the Thursday "hike" at Chimney Rock starts at 8 a.m. Next Thursday we'll try the Continental Divide Trail, allowing visitors to join us and to go as far as they can at their own pace. A few of us will seek to reach the pretty lakes on the Great Divide, starting at Lobo Point. We meet at the Visitor Center in South Fork to car-pool. 9 a.m.
--Doug Knudson 873-5239

Top of second Tier – more to come

Top of the hill  Bennett

Source of W. san Francisco Cr.

Cliffs on Bennett Pk area

Sky Pilot Polemonium viscosum

Cut saisy (prob.) E. compositus

Linda, Marty, Pat, Dave, Wayne, Linda, Marilyn, Wayne O. – Jim, Doug

WINDY! Bennett Peak

Bob Seago's photos reveal several things about the Bennett Peak hike:
1. There was smoke in the air, from the Los Alamos fire in New Mexico. (It cleared off pretty well before noon)
2. The alpine scenery is vast, breath-taking (in at least two ways), and humbling.
3. People seem glad to sit down in the lee of a pile of rocks--to get out of that wind that can't be shown in photos. --DMK

There is no way that these photos show how WINDY it was. Even the  small butterfly seems relaxed.
> Bob
!cid_2EDD2843-62D1-42F7-85B4-0020AA795AE7@wildblue!cid_7A1C4D78-D2EA-49DA-924B-EFA3853C9626@wildblue!cid_EC468047-A4E1-4B79-914C-1C2301B03834@wildblue!cid_DFD39BD1-7744-4A86-9B80-41DCD10546BB@wildblue!cid_BC50875F-15BB-4D70-AB02-BDA0127A6029@wildblue!cid_24329DFC-5477-441E-A7B7-827D1D98AC12@wildblue!cid_0BA4B6BB-EFE0-4C04-959C-CCBD88710662@wildblue

Monday, June 27, 2011

Poage Lake

We hiked to Poage Lake and then around the lake, crossed over a "few" deadfalls in the process, and everybody made it around in fine shape. This was the first time for several folks to see the lake, all thought it a beautiful setting. One person even thought it would be a nice place for a cabin.......
We hiked back down to the vehicles and picked up a couple bags of trash in the process, wish everyone would do the same thing, it would keep our forest a lot nicer to see.
We will be going to Chimney Rock on Thursday, meet at the VCPL at 8AM and bring your usual hiking gear........
Dennis

Friday, June 24, 2011

Thursday, June 23, 2011

“Myrna’s Route” RD 432

Ten hikers went walking on "Myrna's Route" (or Forest Road 432 plus some more). Rose and Ponderosa pine fragrances enriched the arid atmosphere. Old cabins provided historic perspective.

Hikers will do some trail work on Friday--call Dennis Shepherd for directions 873-3004.

• Monday hike is planned, depart from Visitor Center at 9 a.m.

• Next Tuesday's hike will take us up high for breathing exercises and summiting on Bennett Peak (13,203). This is a short hike, so we may extend it somewhat. If you're not a distance person, you can come along--it's hard to get lost even if you decide to turn back. Tuesday hikers meet at the South Fork Visitor Center at 9 a.m.

• The Thursday hike (June 30) will leave the Visitor Center promptly  at 8:00 a.m. We will drive to Chimney Rock, 17 miles W of Pagosa Springs. A Forest Service volunteer will lead us up to the ancient ruins near the "chimneys" and explain the connections to other civilizations of this area. Our current Congressman, US Representative Scott Tipton, has proposed this area as a new National Monument, with administration to remain with the Forest Service.
Each person is requested to pay $10 for the tour. Contact: Wayne or Linda Moulds (620-433-1390) or Connie Gillespie (873-5910).

--Doug Knudson

T

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Adler Creek Canyon hike

Wayne & Linda led us up the Alder Cr. canyon for today's hike. We saw lots of bear activity & scat, but didn't see a bear. Lots of wildflowers, and the Clarets cup cactus I hadn't seen for many years. We went up the canyon for a couple of miles and had our lunch then came back to the truck and went to a local watering hole for refreshments...............
We will hike next Monday, so come to the VCPL before 9AM and bring your lunch, water and several friends...
Dennis