Hike up West Alder creek

Wayne led us up the "annual" hike of West Alder cr., still quite a bit of water coming downstream, that is good to see.  The only wildflowers I saw were dandelions, too early for the cactus flowers at our lunch spot.  It was a great warm day for a hike, but the ticks are out so check yourself carefully.  We had a couple of new hikers, Rick & Debbie Haines from the Chinook Lodge and Smokehouse getting in some hiking before the summer rush starts.........

 

We will hike the East end of Beaver Mtn. trail on Thursday (if the road is open), this will be an easy one with a good road all the way to the oil pad.  When we get there we will decide if we have had enough. We will make a short side trip to check out the Indian Medicine tree.

 

Meet at the VCPL at 9AM, bring your lunch, water, sunscreen (we will be in the sun most of the time) and a friend.....

 

Dennis

Alcove Spring Hike

 

Dennis,

I enjoyed today's hike.  We saw a bunch of interesting things.

These are some of the photos that I took.

Thanks,

Bob.

The exploded tree

 

Deer on the way in

The pretty purple flowers

The intrepid crew

Del Norte Peak?

This tree appeared to have been struck by lightning, but has green above.

Tree growing out of the rock

Alcove Spring

Deer on the way out.

Highway Trash Pickup

 

We will pick up trash on our section of the highway on Friday, May 3^rd at 10 AM and a hamburger cookout at Joe and Joyce Degrado’s after we pick up trash. Every thing will be furnished, just show up to work and eat. We need to know if you plan to be there so we will have enough food. Email ghp0181@gmail.com or call 873-5902.

 

Hope to see you there,

 

Every day is a gift, that is why it is called the present.

 

George Powell, president

Silverthreaders Club

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

PO Box 343

South Fork, CO. 81154-0343

Email President@silverthreaders.org

 

 

Hike around Alcove Spring

We went up the South side of the canyon on a very old road until we reached the Saddle, then we kept to the South side of the saddle looking for antlers.  Didn't find any antlers there but we did find lots of the Pasque wild flowers in various stages of growth. When we got to the Alder Cr. drainage we turned North for about a half mile and ate our lunch at our old "lunch spot by the boulders".  Then we went on North for a ways to the lightening blasted tree we found last year (so much power released in such a short time!!)

 

Then we went up the hill East looking for antlers and Bob found one so we didn't get skunked!  We followed  game trails on around the hill until we got above the spring and we made our way down the steep hill to the spring.  Bob Seago hadn't been to the spring so he was glad for the trip.  Even though we didn't find as many antlers as we hoped to, Pat summed up the hike "the wild flowers made it worth the effort"..........................

 

We will hike Monday at 9AM, Wayne will have another interesting outing for us to enjoy, so bring your lunch, water and a friend.

 

Dennis

Silverthreaders Dues

Some of you will receive this twice, because I messed up.

 

The $20 dues for the Silverthreaders are due on May 1^st. I have attached a membership form and release form. If you have signed a release form in the past we don’t need another.

The waiver is first and the membership application is second page.

Silverthreaders Membership Application

 

Every day is a gift, that is why it is called the present.

 

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

 

 

Monday's hike

Wayne led us up to the Aspen grove just short of Bear Cr. for our lunch spot.  This is in the Forest Service land above Upper Alpine, we walked about 5 1/2 miles roundtrip, a good hike for us.  The gate is still closed so no motorized access is allowed yet.

 

Our Thursday hike will be in the Alcove Spring area, we'll go up the South side of the saddle over into the Alder Cr. drainage, loop around and search for dropped antlers.  Then we will make our way to the spring and back to the cars.........

 

We will meet at the VCPL at 9AM, bring your lunch, water and a friend..............

 

Dennis

April Club Meeting

The April meeting of the Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club and the Silverthreaders Club will be on Tuesday, April 16, potluck meal 6:30, meeting 7 PM at the South Fork Community Building. Hope to see you there.

 

Every day is a gift, that is why it is called the present.

 

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

 

 

Quarry area Photos

A short hike in an interesting place, a downhill trip along a dry stream, a good lunch in a beautiful 1876 hotel, and a tour with a dedicated volunteer made for a pleasant day with 18 people, three of them new and one rare appearance.  You're welcome back, Mike and Molly, Connie and Barbara.

 

Thanks to Mark Jones for an excellent tour of his persistent, meticulous handiwork, along with many volunteers and artisans from Del Norte, our County seat.  They served tasty food well and offer overnight hospitality in a most pleasant environment.

 

Next hike is next Monday at 9 a.m. departure from the Visitor Center, with Wayne and Linda.  Newcomers are welcome. Keep healthy, breathe deeply, push those muscles.  I hope to see you in May with some refreshed Portuguese on the tip of my tongue.

--Doug Knudson

 

 

We were 18 but couldn't find the two bashful ones.

 

How long does it take for lichens to appear?

 

At least 6 different lichens  How old are they?

 

Marilyn on the Quarry

 

Mike 

 

Yucca seed pods

 

Trailside non-hiker

 

More downhill.

 

Season’s First ATV Ride

Connie has a wonderful ride planned for Tuesday (4/9).  Be ready to roll at 9 AM from the South Fork Visitor Center.

Monday hike coming up--IDEA and Reminder

Hikers--

Monday, April 8, we will take a hike to an historic spot or two. Then we can follow up with an delicious lunch in an historic hotel in Del Norte.
The hotel is tied directly to the hike destination.

Yes, the 1870's Windsor Hotel is open and operating (forget the rumors). It has been an apparently smooth transition. This hotel is an important part of our county's heritage and its future. The "new" Mr. and Mrs. Chef are skilled, of local traditional families, and were working with and trained by the California couple who recently departed for opportunities elsewhere.

Judy and I ate lunch there on Wednesday and it was just as tasty and a bit less expensive than before. Yes, they have gluten-free meals and are flexible enough about other foods that you ask about when there. Yes, they offer sinfully rich desserts which could be your meal.

We sat there thinking that you would enjoy this more than a candy bar in your pack. If not, you can go home. If you would eat with us, you could help celebrate our 3 eldest hikers--I think that means Mayebelle and Wayne Odom and Ozzie--with a free lunch. (Don't say it!)

We've made reservations for at least 9 people--there's plenty of room for more. If you wish, we might be able to arrange a tour of the hotel (yet, we suppose that all who are interested will have already done this). It's an interesting experience and we think we may persuade the president or treasurer of the Hotel association to lead us.

LOGISTICS: We'll be going into our hiking place on a rugged road. Bring or ride in a high clearance vehicle. OR—if you're making a getaway on the way out in a low-slung vehicle—you can park it near the Rifle Range (smooth road), and jump in another vehicle for the rocky-in-spots <1 mile approach to the next parking place.

On this hike, I plan on a rather short walk up hill to the main feature. If that's enough walking for some of you, you can return to the vehicles or explore on a side jaunt, while the rest of us go into a 2-mile loop that should be quite picturesque.

Those who forget to bring their cameras for this hike will regret it. The walk is picturesque in nature and history.

We'll see you Monday by 9 a.m. at the South Fork Visitor Center (reminder--9 a.m., not 10).

--Doug Knudson

Elephant Rocks stroll

Monday clouds looked ambivalent in South Fork, with a little sleet falling.  NEVERTHELESS, 19 hikers headed out to Elephant Rocks,

a favorite place of the late Ruth Marie Colville and her children.

 

Up and down the rocks, along the deer trails between them, we traveled a varied route, making about 2.5 to 3 miles seem like more, without great effort. We used our imaginations as we looked at formations.  We saw plenty of lichens, grasses, piñons, and junipers.  As Ruth Marie wrote--

"each rock is a rock island in a sea of earth" and "it is safe country, except for rattlesnakes."

 

At coffee, we made two decisions:

1. We will start the next 50+ hikes at 9 a.m. (departing the visitor center), unless an earlier start is announced.

2. Next week's hike -- the "limekiln area."  We'll get off US 160 at the Old Spanish Trail exhibits/sculpture (between D.Norte and M.Vista).

    Starting time--see decision 1.

We're pleased to see the increase in participation.  We will begin offering more than one hike per week in May.

 

Tentative schedule involving Wayne Moulds, Doug Knudson, Dennis Shepherd:

Monday--Moulds and "easy" hikes.

Tuesday--Knudson and "tough hikes" with gradual build-up of conditioning.

Wednesday--Chapel of S.F. sponsored kids' hikes, with adults accompanying.

Thursday--Shepherd--intermediate and whatever Dennis and the group decides.

Invitation:  The Old Spanish Trail Association has its National Conference in Cortez, CO, May 31-June 2.  See oldspanishtrail.org.

   We'd really like to have you take a field trip and hear some talks about this National Historic Trail covering 6 states.

South Fork Sky 

 

The gang and Connie

 

Elevated ridges of volcanic rocks

 

Woman with a basket?

 

Grumpy and two friends

 

Cave Man?

 

Elephant Rocks

 

Hikers between elephant rocks

 

Round Rocks (Ruth Marie's preferred name for them)