Wolf Creek

Beautiful day for a 3+ mile hike up on top of the Wolf Creek area. Some of us were beginning to wonder if we were ever going to get back to the vehicles; but we finally did! Had an enjoyable outing.
Harolena Powell

Palisades

Last week we enjoyed the Doves' hospitality and goodies.
This week we left our snowshoes at home and walked on solid ground.
We tried somewhere new, a place we've all seen but never visited.
The palisades above the county line on Hwy 149
look forbidding, but weren't after we tested several ways up.
Once on top, we had fun finding bear caves and nature's rock sculptures.

So near to the highway, but so different from the familiar.
One layer up in the Rio Grande National Forest
gives another dimension and sense of distance.

Snow is on the way, so they say.
If so, we'll revert to the big snowshoes next Monday.
We'll see you at 9 at the SF visitor center.

Thin Mtn-mahogany with bulky palisade

Yoda?

On the edge-Palisade

atop Palisade over Rio Grande

Down the deer trail

Lobo Point

Lobo Point allowed 7 trudgers to play on its lower levels on Monday. Beautiful scenery, snow of the perfect consistency, temperatures pretty warm without melting. We tried free-lance exploring, then switched to road-work. We were in SF before 1 p.m.

Next week on Monday at 9 a.m. we depart from the SF Visitor Center for another wandering in the forest. Tentative aim—Wolf Creek  headwaters (on solid ground), just across Wolf Creek Pass in the San Juan National Forest. You are welcome to join us; bring a friend.

Lobo ladies

5 on Lobo

Shoes resting

Linda & Wayne Moulds

The venerable Mayebelle Gilfillan

Alligator sleeping in snow

Alberta Peak

Six snowshoers enjoyed: A warm winter day, except for a few gusty minutes. Alberta Peak as a backdrop; Alberta Lake on our left; Making easy trail through the trees. Huffing some on the track back to the carriages. And welcoming Wayne and Linda Moulds, who were spritely and strong-winded, despite their relative youth.

We invite you to join us next Monday at 9 at the South Fork Visitor Center, with snowshoes, a snack, and warm clothing. I'll check Wolf Creek headwaters and Lobo Overlook as destinations.

--Doug Knudson
873-5239

Snowshoes on!

New kids Wayne & Linda, Wayne, Marty, Maybelle

Pretty traffic flow

BriteWhite; dark green

Snowshoe low, ski hi

Boulder field

The boulder field gave us a nice, brisk workout to restart the snowshoeing season. Five of us have experienced some conditioning.

Next week, 9 a.m. on Monday morning. We welcome all who can and have the gumption to show up at the Visitor Center. Bring snowshoes and some nibblings.

Questions? call 719-873-5239. Obviously, we go when it's cold! Snow walking is better then. --Doug Knudson

Little boulders

Middle size boulders

Big Boulders--wrong shoes

Sometimes the winter gets you down.

Beaver Creek trail

The Rio Grande National Forest offered a sunny, pretty warm day with great views. Mayebelle, Joyce, Pat, Marilyn, Wayne, and Doug enjoyed cloudless vistas.

We hiked up, then down, went through a gate that has wheel tracks but says no motorized vehicles.

This was our last hike scheduled for 2010. It's been a busy year for hiking and snowshoeing. Mayebelle's book of the year will soon be available for viewing at the South Fork Library.

We'll convene again at the SF Visitor Center on January 3, 2011. Hopefully for snowshoeing. 9 a.m. Bring a snack or lunch, a friend, and your snowshoes (unless the ground is bare).

Bear Cr. road & the cone

Aspen on a ridge Bear Cr.

Thermal control

#709 and Wayne

Del Norte Peak

Wayne's Tactic of Rapid Descent

East Alder Creek

Six of us took a short one up E. Alder Creek, One rolled a stone, sat down, then limped quite a ways.

Harry brought the red "ambulance." Judy's using a walker for a while.

The rest of us are ready for another trail next Monday at 9 a.m. The weather may tell you whether or not you'll need snowshoes or not.

Join us! We won't knock you down!

--Wayne, Pat, MayeBelle, Joyce, Doug (Judy will be healing and cooking)

The forest is lovely. We saw Ponderosa and limber pines, Douglas-fir, White fir, Rocky Mtn. and Common junipers, plus lovely aspens. We forgot to look for alders along the dry stream. The snow is still scanty, mostly evaporated.

Trudging up the track E. Alder

Ponderosa/Limber Pines, White fir, Douglas-fir, and two kinds of junipers

Cookie time

Populus tremuloides E.Alder Cr.

Look at what I did!  I thought downhill was easier!

Time to rest the twisted ankle.

5 Nov 29th short hike

Pat/MayeBelle-Look, no snowshoes

Fire and Beaver Mtn.

Edge of 2002 fire

2002 fire falling apart.

One to check out in summer

 

Someone predicted snow falling in abundance.
We encountered sunshine and unusual clarity.

We were but three.
We walked snowshoe-free.

The edge of the fire of 2002
crept near to FDR 350 and stopped.
The remains are falling apart and over.

Next summer, some of us will follow
the snazzy sign that invites us to go
upwards to Beaver Mountain.

Next Monday, more are welcome to find
a new place in the snow--which may be deeper.

Bring snowshoes and hiking boots to
adapt to the conditions.
Visitor Center, 9 a.m. Questions? --Doug Knudson 719-873-5239

Sentinel Mtn hike

Nov. 8 brought rain. It then froze and at 3:15-4:15 a.m. on Nov. 9,
snow fell. The South Fork landscape shown bright white with signs of more snow coming.

Five of us enjoyed a long interval without snow, with intermittent
warming sunshine. We ambled up and across and down the lower slopes of Sentinel Mountain, from Hwy 160 to Ponderosa Drive.

The glimpses of Del Norte Peak and Beaver Mountain, South Fork Center and the Rio Grande Club, plus the Rio Grande, the rocks and trees reveal the essence of our community.

This slight separation from, yet proximity to, "civilization" offers new perspectives and appreciation of our town and the Rio Grande National Forest.We are privileged to live here.

Next Monday we'll shift from Tuesday to Monday, what with ski season
getting under way.Pat Fluck will meet all comers, whatever the weather, at 8:50 a.m. at the South Fork Visitor Center.She has a couple of options in mind that will be governed by the weather. If the snow on the ground is a foot or more deep, bring your snowshoes. Otherwise, hiking boots will do well.

Remember, Monday, Nov. 15.No sense in being timid! We had a great time today!

--Doug Knudson