Middle Alder hike

Linda, Barbara & Cindy led 12 of us up the Middle Alder Creek trail for our inaugural Thursday hike. We went up 2 1/2 miles and had our lunch while enjoying the great scenery and then came back to the vehicles. The stream has carved some very interesting and pretty designs in the ice and snow banks, hope the pix convey that.

Wayne says we are going to maintain our Lake Fork trail next Monday, trimming brush, moving rocks and removing dead falls from the trail, so wear appropriate clothing and boots, bring a tool to help in doing the job. I will bring my chainsaw.

We will meet at the VCPL at 9AM, bring plenty of water, lunch and a few friends.................

Dennis

Cathedral Creek Hike

Six rugged hikers went up the steeps of beautiful Cathedral Creek to Groundhog Park. Snow pellets helped us on the way up. Sunshine accompanied us on the downward trip. "A good trail," "Better than expected" were the comments. Entertainment was by a magnificent snowshoe hare pair (Bob may have a picture). Elk in the meadows caught Linda's eye. Only a couple of tiny flowers were blooming, with none at 11,000 feet.

Dennis Shepherd will lead the next two tough hikes on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. Meet at the South Fork Visitor Center and train for the peaks of Southern Colorado.

Pool Table ATV Ride

We found some poles, some snow, even a down tree, and got snowed on heavily. You will notice, I almost saw the snow real close. We had a wonderful meal and the camp fire was great. There were about 20 of us. It was a great snowy day, and thanks to all for picking up poles and trash. For your information, 612, 613, and 630 can not be traveled all the way through, because of snow.

George

Hike to Model T park.

Hiking the Agua Ramon Road

A bakers dozen strolled up and down the Agua Ramon Road on Monday with views of Alpine, South Fork, the Continental Divide, the vivid northern peaks of the Southern San Juans, and the Sangre de Cristos (hazy).

The five-1/2 mile round trip took more time up than down; I guess that's normal. Welcome to the Welinders from New Jersey, here for a month. Welcome back to Linda Cross, Barbara and Lloyd Thiesfeld.

Tuesday, we'll get tough with Model T Park. The washed-out road (our long trail) should be firm. We may get a little slushy in the big meadow. Our view today convinced us the snow is gone. Warning: we will be building endurance on a trail through the burned area. Altitude gain will be at least 2,000-2400 feet. Avoid this one if you're not conditioned. It's not as steep as Sentinel Mountain, but it is much longer.
--Doug Knudson 873-5239

Arleen,Anders,Gail,Wayne,Christy,Linda C,Connie,Linda M,Barbara
(cocoon),Lloyd,Pat,Marty

•S.Fork amid Rio Grande NF

Limber pine on windy hill

Bristlecone pine 5 needles/bunch

Lunch counter

A mesa of Agua Ramon Mtn.

Sentinel Mountain Hike

"Tough Hike" May 10: Eight started in Ponderosa, climbed steeply (2,000 feet in 2 miles), rested and ate on top of Sentinel Mountain, then scooted down the loose rocks and branches, arrived at Judy's kitchen and declared themselves tired and thirsty.

The snow is gone (but still white above 11,000'). The creek we followed back is dry (it's usually running at this time of year). Only a few flowers (about 4 or 5 species) are in bloom. The scenery is still spectacular. This little mountain is still a surprisingly vigorous challenge.

Next week, we'll continue getting in shape for some longer hikes and a few 14,000' summits later in the summer. If you want to train on your own, we suggest a walk up Sentinel--it's steep, breath-taking, and challenging to your muscles and lungs. There are trails--made by elk and deer--with intentions of getting to places other than the top.

For more tough hiking, meet on Tuesday mornings before 9 a.m. at the South Fork Visitor Center. (Easier hikes same place on Mondays at 9 a.m). No pets, please. We strongly advise you to wear good boots, bring a lunch or snacks, water, and go easy on weighty gear. This week, long, sturdy pants were useful to all, due to a few short, planned three-point descents (plus hands).

Doug

Sentinel Mt. crew Marty,Pat,Wayne,Bill,Linda, Wayne M. Note the mountain-side inclination. Topography is our fitness friend.

8 of 8 summited Sentinel Mtn. Congratulations! Three ladies, 5 men; none a callow youth, but full of vim and vigor; 3 men over 70; two within a few years of that; the 3 fit ladies could be approaching healthy maturity. This is a key to health care--and it doesn't require taxes or unsustainable debt.

Sentinel view--it looks like Wolf Cr.Ski area on the horizon.

•View SSE from Sentinel--Del Norte Pk and Beaver Mountain above Church Creek.

OK--so where do we go now?

Oregon Holly-grape

Mountain Ball Cactus in full bloom.

Agate mine hike

We had a very windy hike from the vehicles up to the agate mine area, after that it was pretty nice, at least we avoided the snow/rain that was around South Fork. We found several nice specimens, maybe next time I will remember to take some pix of them..........

We left the mine area and headed for a cave for our lunch spot. We navigated down a thorny, brushy gully to get there, don't want to do that again any time soon. We had our lunch at the cave and it was a warm, sunny spot without any wind, which was nice. After lunch we hiked back to the vehicles, about 5 miles total, by this time the wind had died down considerably. We spotted one antelope but it was camera shy...............

If anybody knows the name of the flower or what kind of creature leaves droppings like that around the nest let me know and I will pass it on to the group.

Next week meet at the VCPL at 9AM, no definite hike was suggested so come and offer your choice of routes to take. Bring your lunch, water and a friend.

Dennis

Your unknown flower looks like a stemless yellow evening-primrose. – John and Sue

I Think, is where a pack-rat comes out on a ledge and leaves droppings and debris it wants out of its real nest back in the crack.  - Ronnie Day

Sentinel Mtn. Hike Tuesday May 3

Seven tackled the uphill stress of lower Sentinel Mtn, getting ready for bigger things. We huffed and puffed for two beautiful hours of uphill, then an hour of more or less level rock-walking, plus a steep down-hill off the 300-foot knoll above Ponderosa St.

Somewhere in the near future--to the top of Sentinel, via a more direct route, but still a 5-hour round trip. Be ready.

Next Tuesday 9 a.m. for a conditioning hike of surpassing beauty--weather guided.

--Doug Knudson

Penitente Canyon Hike

We hiked in the Penitente Canyon area, going down a slippery slide into the Rock Garden area and then looping around to the Keyhole rock. The keyhole rock isn't on a regular trail, it takes some looking in order to find it so we erected some cairns to help find it next time. We covered about 4 miles in total........

Next week we will plan on going to the Agate mines in the Old Woman Cr. area, it is an easy hike and can be anywhere from 2 miles to 6 miles in length, depending on where we choose to park. Bring your rock hammers and small shovel to help collect specimens........

We will meet at the Visitors Center at 9AM, bring your lunch, water and a friend(s).....................

Dennis