13 Platoro "Hike" Photos

One of the most scenic areas in Colorado lived up to its reputation on this Sept. 30.  Eight of us enjoyed the great colors and the rivers and reservoirs and pond.  We walked three times--a total of about 1/4 of a mile.  We make this trip every year; this day was one of the best of the 14 trips I've made.    And, the food folks fed us well at the Lodge where I thought things would be closed.  It will be, but only late tomorrow afternoon. 

You probably got Dennis' note today that he won't be available for any more hikes this Fall.  He expects to be back next fall.  So—our next hikes will be Monday and  Wednesday.

We will look for you then at 9 a.m. at the Visitor Center in South Fork. 

Question about Wednesday:  Would you like to cross the SLValley for a hike in or near the Great Sand Dunes? That might mean an 8 a.m. start, due to the distance.  Please respond if that is a good idea for you.  —Doug Knudson    873-5239  or douglasfir636@gmail.com

 

Sunrise

 

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Tiers of Aspen

 

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Stunner E

 

Short hike 

 

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Lily Pond

 

Lily pond

 

All aspen aren't yellow

 

Sunshine in Aspen

 

Red Mtns

 

There's Stunner!

 

Thursday hikes

I will not be available for any more hikes on Thursdays this Fall, will start again next Spring..........

 

Thanks to all the hikers for the fun and fellowship that you have shared with us.......

 

Dennis

ATV Ride Friday, 10-2-2015

The ATV ride for Friday will be up Pool Table and around to set out poles for snowmobile trails.  We will cook hamburgers and furnish the trimmings.  Please bring something to go with the burgers or desert and your drinks.  It would be helpful to RSVP to President@Silverthreaders.org , so we don’t run out of burgers.  The fall foliage should be pretty also.  Meet at the Visitor’s center and plan to leave at 9:00 AM.  Thanks

Elizabeth

Phoenix Park Photos

Sixteen people walked nearly 6 miles, taking in beautiful gold, yellow, orange leaves and two lovely waterfalls at autumn flow levels.  Phoenix Park is a favorite place for many residents of Creede, including many of the actors and actresses.  The autumn leaves are one reason; two gushing water falls attract in early summer.  The two moose we startled and followed until they magically disappeared added another attraction.

 

The first (smaller and higher up the valley)  offered precarious high seating for fine views (first picture).  Unfortunately, some folks opted for lower seats and only glimpsed the falls.

 

 

Waterfall 2--only about 1/4 of the cascade showing

 

Aspen Phoenix Fox

 

The bigger falls, where some ATV riders have created a precarious surface

 

Trees died on rocks

 

Aspen from Falls

 

Looking W from Phoenix Park Trail.

Next Hike is for color lovers.  On Wednesday, we will do a little short hiking (optional) at at least 3 destinations near Platoro.  We will spend

time in photography of some of the state's most colorful and varied leaf shows. 

Then we'll patronize the new restaurant in Platoro  (the older one will be closing for 2015 on Tuesday, as we understand it). 

Judy and I have eaten well in the new smaller establishment and gift shop..

You will get an array of the colors with any camera.  We'll stop by a couple of lakes and at least one pond, several spectacular peaks

a quick visit to a beautiful campground and two rivers.

  If you haven't visited the Platoro area for a while, you'll get a good ride through great scenery of one of the most remote roaded areas of

our fair state.  The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (hiking) is up near the western peaks.  Pedal bikers go through Platoro on the dirt-road

Great Divide Mountain Bike Trail.  Thousands of bikers from around the world ride through our county (Del Norte) each summer--

about 4,000 miles from Banff National Park to the heel of New Mexico.

The weather forecast is for partial clouds but no rain.  If you prefer to eat your own food, bring it along and enjoy a stroll through the

rustic village with no permanent inhabitants and closed in winter.

We will start at the S.F. Visitor Center, promptly at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.  We plan to be back before 4:30 p.m.

Questions?  Doug or Judy Knudson  719-873-5239

 

ATV Fall Foliage Ride, Tuesday, 9-29-2015

Plan is to ride Park Creek, Pass Creek and Swale Lake.  Should be a beautiful Fall Foliage ride.  This is a side by side friendly ride.  Leave the Visitor’s Center at 9:oo am,  hope to see you there.

Elizabeth

Moonlight hile

We had a great turnout for the campfire and hike. Thanks to everyone who helped put it together. I took one photo of the moon before we left. Barbara (1 of 3).

ATV Fall Ride, Friday,9/25/2015

The plan for Friday’s ATV ride is Fall Foliage to Jasper.  Do not know the exact route, buy should be pretty and fun.  Meet at the Visitor’s Center and plan to leave at 9:00 am.  This will be side by side friendly.  Hope to see you there.

Elizabeth

Myrna's lovely hike—an autumn beauty

Morning mists; many views of tiers of palisades; beautiful lights and colors among aspen, ancient Ponderosa pines, and the big surprise

—a moose walking parallel to the access road, slowly enough so Susan Stewart (visiting from Bolivar, Missouri) got several "thrill" pictures.

 

Next Wednesday, Sept. 30, we hope to have a sunny day and bright colors near Platoro and maybe a tasty restaurant lunch (one of the town's two eateries).

 

Mist on palisades

 

Golden Day

 

Awesome Aspen

 

Susan and Sentinel Mtn, above "The Ranch."

 

Lovely!

 

Old Ponderosas

 

Pleasant path

 

Susan's masterpiece

 

Wednesday hike

For Wednesday's hike, I promised Wanda and her neighbor a short, easy hike. Come and join us so we'll be in beautiful country and home about noon. (If rain comes, we may choose to eating out at Platoro, but I hope the weather holds out another week for that one.

This is probably one my last 3 hikes of this season, due to plans to visit our daughter in Brazil for a while. We'll try to bring back some new Portuguese phrases (they change their informal lingo every week or two).
— Doug Knudson

Squaw Creek Hike

We went to 30 mile campground, near the Rio Grande Reservoir and hiked into the Weminuche Wilderness for a 6 mile hike. We saw some beautiful fall colors as we hiked along the creek. Afterwards we stopped at Freeman's and had lunch. Thanks, Wayne and Linda for another great hike.

Moonlight outing

Our Full Moon outing will be next Saturday the 26th at 6 PM.  Wayne & Linda will be furnishing the campfire and Terry & Sandy Riddles will be bringing the brats and everything else that Mary & I usually bring; we will be in Oregon.

 

Come out to Shaw Mesa and enjoy the food, fun and fellowship with your friends...........bring your own chairs and a dish to share.

 

Dennis

ATV Ride, Tuesday, 9-22-2015

Fall Foliage ride Tuesday,9-22-2015, the plan is to go to Pool Table and make a loop around Hansen’s Mill, Rincon and Middle Park.  This will be side by side friendly.  Hope to see you there.  The fall colors should be really pretty.  9:00 am at the Visitor’s Center, leave.

Wednesday hike

The"thumb"

Wednesday Alder Hike

Six hikers went up trail 797 and crossed this stream 15 times before we made it to our destination which was an old structure.

Monday 9/21 Hike

The hike on Monday is going to be near 30 mile campground by the Rio Grande reservoir. Because of the added driving distance, we will meet one hour earlier at 8:00 AM at the visitor center.

We plan to stop at Freeman's for hamburgers/ice cream on the way back.

Hope to see you on Monday,
Wayne and Linda

Sent from my iPad Air 2

ATV Workday,Friday, 9/18/2015

The plan is to go to Shorty Springs and continue what was started a couple weeks ago.  9:00 am leave the Visitor’s Center.  Hope to see you there, with a smile and your work gloves!!  Thanks

Ivy creek hike 9-14-15

Wayne led 12 of us up the trail today, just as we started up the trail we met a group of hunters on horseback coming down the trail. so we had lots of "road apples" to watch out for.  We had a couple of creek crossings to make as the pix show, our leaders are great about helping out when needed.  This trail is well used with the trail cut to a depth of about 15 inches in places.  The registration book shows over 180 users of this trail since July 1st of this year...

 

A couple of hikers were "ambushed" by a patch of wild, ripe raspberries but were fortunate in being able to pick and eat their way out of it........

We had our lunch at a nice spot with lots of places to sit and a good view of the canyon.  On the way down I went across to the other side of the canyon to get a pix of the valley below.

There was a new stream coming across the trail at one point, I found a new beaver dam causing the new channel for the stream.  The dam isn't very high, the pond is barely 2 feet deep and as I was watching a large beaver came out of the lodge and swam underwater across the pond. I couldn't get a pix of it, wish I had a Polaroid lens for my camera so I could have.

 

Doug will lead a good hike on Wednesday and I will take a short hike up to the top of Baxter mountain on Thursday, all hikes start at 9AM from the Visitors Center..........

 

Dennis