Monday, September 3, 2012

Middle San Francisco Creek Trail

A dozen hikers celebrated Labor Day by playing on a beautiful, gentle trail. Most made it for over 6 miles, round trip. Thanks to Wayne Moulds and Linda for front and back work as well as planning the serene, often sunny day.  Later, I'll send you more pictures taken by Christy Craig's niece, a special guest today.
 
Healthy looking group, ages mid 30s to approaching mid 80s--all functioning on all cylinders.

 



We hiked up this canyon a few miles, lunched and returned.  Somehow it looks different coming back.

 



Trail equipped with resting rocks.

 



Signs of September on the Forest Floor

 



Mid-S.Francisco Creek

 



Few barriers hold us back

 



The creek plays hide and seek

 



Most Engelmann Spruce seem healthy still in this valley.

 

Future events:
Tuesday--High hike after a tough ride on 3 miles of jeep road to Bellows Creek, where Fremont camped in the snow in 1847.
We'll go north up a plateau (with Pool Table Mtn. at our backs), then try to locate Fremont's two camps where the trouble
really started.  Meet at the South Fork Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. or at Hanson's Mill Trail head before 10 a.m.
Most of this hike is above 11,500' and may have rocky stretches between grassy areas.  Rain in afternoon is likely. 
We'll stay out of lightning storms, which could mean retreat at some point. Swift walking may be important.
Thursday--No hike scheduled due to travel and other events.
Saturday--One of those events will be a kick-off of a special lecture series at the new Southern Ute Museum in Ignacio (easy to find).  Free.
I'll be talking about the Old Spanish Trail and the Utes (it's really an old Ute trail), which travels for 75 of its 1700 miles through the Southern Ute Reservation. 
If you haven't seen this world-class museum of our neighbors, this will be a fine opportunity. You will be welcomed by new Director Nathan Strong Elk, (a Stanford
graduate and MBA--and a good drummer). 
The drive from South Fork is about 2 hours (90 miles). The event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday morning.
Judy and I will spend Friday night at the first-class beautiful hotel just North of downtown Ignacio--worth at least one night.    --Doug Knudson 873-5239

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