Groomed

Blow Out is groomed and there is a unique sight on it. I have attached two pictures showing the steam coming out of the snow.

 

 

 

George Powell, president

 

Snowshoe walk #1

On Monday morning, four of us walked through about 8-10" of snow, not far from Barbara's house. As you can see, it wasn't difficult. It was beautiful, sunny, brisk, and something of a workout of 2.2 miles.  We were out for less than two hours.  Barb and Lloyd refreshed us at their lovely perch on the rocks.

 

With the recent and the coming snows, we will probably "glide across the white stuff" every Monday. We can start at the South Fork Visitor Center at 9 a.m. (for a couple more weeks--then start at 10 after Christmas).

 

We hope to see a good number of visitors for the next three or four Mondays.  Bring your guests.  Wear warm foot coverings.  A snack, some water, and a camera are all worth having. 

 

You will find that perspiration can occur even at 0º F, so layers work well.

 

I think you can rent snowshoes and poles in three places in South Fork.  I have a little pair for a trim, fine-footed person.

--Doug Knudson    719-873-5239

 

 

 

Trying thing out.

 

Always nice country--this one headed for the Youth Camp

 

For some reason, people walk in a line.

 

Beaver Creek

 

Sand Dunes

A beautifully revealing day of interesting patterns in the sky and on the sand--and a nice energetic hike. Seven drove in two cars to the Great Sand Dunes National Park (minus a few we expected). The sun was out; the temperature rose; the snow was all of 1.5 inches deep. The road we walked parallels Médano Creek. (The 10 miles to the top of Médano Pass might be a summer target for us, with a tent campout in the area.--something to think about up there near the altitude of Mt. Herard.)

 

Thanks to Bob and Bonnie, Wayne and Linda, Pat, and Blanche for realizing that -10° doesn't last all morning and that exercise warms one. I appreciate their positive attitudes and ability to enjoy the outdoors.  I think that all seven of us were rewarded with what we saw and the new places we visited.

 

Next Monday we may be able to try a little snowshoeing. If the snow doesn't get deeper, we'll do another interesting hike.

Still--9 a.m. at the S.F. Visitor Center.  --Doug Knudson   873-5239 or contact the Moulds.

 

Patterns at GRSA

 

Mt. Herard

 

Linda, Pat, Blanche, Wayne, Bob, Bonnie, GRSA

 

Snow patterns in GRSA

 

Medano Cr. E side Dunes

 

N from Médano Cr, GRSA

 

E side of Dunes Médano Cr. Rd.

 

Baxter hike

 

Around Baxter Mountain we went, starting high above South Fork and swinging clockwise to Alder Creek Guard Station.

Bonnie, Connie, Marty, and Ozzie; Wayne, Eve, Blanche, and Doug thank Bob M for transporting to close the gap.

 

Next week we'll try what we thought we might do this week--a trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. We'll check the conditions for our options--one nomination is to traipse through the sand and maybe snow.  Another is to follow one of the several hard rock trails. A third is to get a little of both.

 

This trip will require a long drive, so we may not be back until 5 or 6 p.m.

Looking back on a nice hike

 

STS = steep trail segment

 

Where did the trail go?

 

Our biggest trail marker

 

 Bonnie the hiker sat on the trail

 

Lunch room in the saddle

 

Dues

It is time to pay dues to the Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club for year 2013. You can go online at www.snowmobilecolo.com or you can mail them to the address below. Individual and family member dues are $30, business, $40. This does include your CSA dues If you are a member of another club and have paid your CSA dues they are only $8. They need to be paid by Dec. 31^, 2012. If you have any questions feel free to contact me or have paid your dues then disregard this notice.

 

Thanks,

 

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

 

Hike today

Second hunting season is over and the next one doesn't start until Nov 3rd, so we can hike today (10/29). 

             Thanks    Wayne

Thanksgiving Dinner

Hey everyone! Kiwanis is planning our annual Thanksgiving Dinner on November 22nd from 11 a.m until 2 p.m. We would really appreciate some extra hands to help out with all kinds of things that we have going on that day. Be a part of the annual free dinner for the community! It's so rewarding and we have a good time! We are now working on assigning spots for things to do. Please contact Karen Miller at 719-873-5466 or mkmillermink@aol.com to sign up! Thanks so much!

Karen Miller

October Silverthread Club Meeting

The club meeting will be on Oct. 16^th at the South Fork Community Center. Pot luck meal at 6:30 PM and meeting at 7. Hope every one can come.

 

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

 

“Myrna Trail” hike

Wayne led us up the "Myrna Trail" today and had our lunch at an overlook of the Elk Cr. canyon............

There is still some nice foliage to see but with the cold weather (18-25 degrees) it will probably go in a hurry.

THE BOARD HAS DECIDED TO CALL A HALT TO ALL THE HIKES UNTIL RIFLE SEASON IS OVER. SO, NO HIKES AFTER THIS WEEK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.......

Dennis

Fremont's Christmas Camp - 1848

 

 

What a delight to finally find the location of Fremont's Christmas Camp.  As we stood there it was hard to imagine multiple feet of snow on that cold December  1848, 164 years ago.  Places had no names and they could only describe what they saw at that time.  I'm sure that somewhere under the current growth there is a brass button (or other artifact) to mark their passage.

For me, it was a great adventure.

Off we go following Dennis.  That is Mesa Mountain in the background.

 

 

After circumscribing a full circle interrupted by lunch, Dennis found a post on the almost non-existent cattle trail.  Spreading out once more we attempted to follow the trail until we found a downed carsonite post (did I spell that right?).  Dennis then knew where to look and the sign was found.  The camp was nearby.

 

First photo is looking down the Embargo Creek drainage with the second the group hikes out of the drainage.  The sign states "Fremont Camp 1" with an arrow pointing east.

 

 

Climbing back up we encountered back lit willows and came upon these 2 crosses on the top of the ridge.  There is an interesting story in this place, but we know it not.

Looking west, Pool Table Mountain is to the left and Palmer Mesa is to the right.  The Rio Grande Pyramid is on the horizon just right of center.  Fremont was searching for a central railroad route through the mountains.  Alas, Pool Table was about as far west as he got before he had to retreat.  Who goes looking for a railroad route through the Rocky Mountains in the winter?

Bob.

Fremont hike on October 2, 2012

Where did Fremont make his Christmas camp in December 1848?  Some said the sign was lost. At least 4 of our 6 hikers had heard that the sign was gone and we had had no luck locating the site. After lunch in the southern part of the correct mesa, we decided to go farther north.  We located an almost vanished cattle trail and then a V tree and then a series of high stumps that may have been buried in snow when their tops were turned into firewood.

 

So--the original sign is still there, mounted on two trees recently killed by tiny Dendroctonus engelmannii.  We have a place for a new one and it is being routed soon. We now know where to put it. 

 

Even with dead elderly spruce, the scenery is vast and lovely, the hills are breath-taking, and the skies are blue.

This was our 4th "Fremont's Fourth" hike.  We've been walking through one of the most infamous historic events of Rio Grande County. The drama started when the expedition headed up Alder Creek through today's golf course.  We've traced it to the Christmas camp--but there is more--and it's mostly down hill to Embargo Creek's emptying into the Rio Grande and then the long trek to Taos and recuperation. The story is that, in Taos, when Fremont finally knocked on Kit Carson's door late at night, the mountain man/guide could not recognize his friend, the haggard Captain, whom he had guided several times for long expeditions.

 

They say that all's well that ends well.  Well, well, well, this story did not end well.  By the time the men arrived at this Christmas camp, the mules had been dying from starvation and the men were hungry, weak, and suffering the winter miseries in 8 feet of snow.  What a Christmas it was--right here in South Fork's back yard, in 1848.

 

Mesa Mtn (background) and Dennis looking for Fremont

 

Fremont camp hunters Dennis, Wayne O., Linda, Wayne M., Bob.

 

Here's the Sign!--Wayne,Dennis, Linda, Wayne O. + Bob and Doug 

 

1848 Christmas Camp sign

 

Fremont Christmas Camp

 

Fremont? and stump

 

The way of the beetle

 

One more hill to climb--a steep one that made the hike fall into the "tough" category.

 

N side of Pool Table Mtn from the top of the previous hill.  Fremont hiked his troops and mules across the top of the summit on the right, then descended into the notch, then descended toward the north to camp more than a week before arriving at the Christmas camp.

NEXT WEEK all hikers are invited to another hike--perhaps to the same spot if the new sign is ready (it was only about 5.5 miles round trip, plus a long ride in the pickups to and from the starting point).

Otherwise, we'll see some of the Fremont "tours" at lower elevations, down by the golden riverside (less strenuous).

We depart the South Fork Visitor Center at 9 a.m., car-pooling. Remember, October can be warm and cold on the same day. I have a few orange vests and sweaters for your safety. Questions?  873-5239    --Doug Knudson

 

Hike to Phoenix Park

Wayne led us up to the waterfall, about 2 1/2 miles, we had our lunch and hiked back to the trucks. Some of us took the old trail down to the road where we were picked up..........

There has been a lot of rain, the water puddles were plentiful and even caused some rocks to appear to be "floating" in the water; an optical illusion no doubt.

Doug will be leading the hike tomorrow, be at the VCPL by 9AM with your, lunch, water, camera, raingear and a friend....

Dennis