Tuesday hike to Alberta Peak

What better recognition of our privileged location--a hike on the Continental Divide Trail along the top edge of the Wolf Creek Ski Area--the nation's "King of the Trails" and Colorado's finest ski area.  (We were on the peak last March--when it was much smoother (walking on snow). We had a different perspective yesterday--no snow, but some clouds moving our way.)  We beat the rain back to the cars--again with good timing.

 

Thanks to all the good hikers we had on this trip--remarkably fit and energetic!

 

Plan for next Tuesday (weather permitting):  another segment of the CDT, this time off of Spring Creek Pass.  We can pick up the Creede contingent at the baseball field in Creede (or they can suggest another location).  For now, we'll keep the same starting time 9 a.m. in the South Fork Visitor Center.  We will probably get back to town after 4 p.m.  (Note: If the weather forecast says rain in the afternoon, I'll notify you by e-mail of an earlier morning starting time.)

 

--Doug Knudson

 

DSC05180

 

DSC05181

 

8 of 9 tough hikers

 

Fire near Windy Pass--with plenty plenty of spruce bark beetle trees on the way out.

 

Alberta Peak

 

The Continental Divide Trail

 

Back to the great Pass on the Great Divide

 

NO Friday ATV Ride

There will not be a scheduled ATV Ride on Friday, Aug. 16. The ride next Tuesday, Aug. 20 will be to Elwood Pass. Meet at the visitor center at 9 AM.

George Powell, president

Silverthreaders Club

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

Email President@Silverthreaders.org

 

 

Cinnamon and Stony Pass Ride

We had 9 people to enjoy the ride over Cinnamon and Stony Pass. It was a 75 mile trip, but enjoyable. We had a little excitement on one rock, but lucky no one was hurt. Stayed dry most of the day.

 

 

Where the burn stopped

 

 

Lunch Break at Animas Forks

 

 

Where the mighty Rio Grande starts

 

 

100’s of geese on the valley floor

 

 

Burned area

 

 

Burned area

 

George Powell, president

Silverthreaders Club

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

Email President@Silverthreaders.org

 

 

Coeboy Cookout

We had about 40 people enjoy the cowboy cookout Sunday. We had good food and a wonderful time. We want to give Joe and Joyce and all their helpers a big Thank You for all of their hard work.

 

 

 

George Powell, president

Silverthreaders Club

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

Email President@Silverthreaders.org

 

 

Phoenix Park Hike

 

Phoenix Park went to the top of the favorites list for several of our hikers today.  The waterfall attracted most of the lunch crowd.  They sat on the rather precarious slope and watched thousands of gallons of white water fall to the rocks only 20-30 feet away from their feet.

 

We got out in time to prevent having to swim to the cars; the ice cream at Cottonwood Cove allowed us to watch a rather spectacular rain and hail storm from under the eaves.

 

Tuesday, if the skies clear up, we'll go up the Continental Divide Trail, starting at Wolf Creek Pass and heading over or around Alberta Peak for another mile or so, then back to the cars.  People from Pagosa Springs can meet us at the parking area at the top of the pass on Hwy 160.  We will leave South Fork at 9 a.m. (from the Visitor Center). We should arrive at the Divide sign on top by 9:30-9:40.  We'll go down through the grass and start up the trail into the timber.

 

Thursday, I'll bet the hikers will find more mushrooms--we heard reports today that some people have already eaten those they collected last Thursday.  Could be that's what made them such lively hikers today.

 

     We welcome newcomers to Tuesday hikes. On this one, we'll be doing improve sustained deep breathing as we get up the hill at an appropriate speed for each person.  Lots of questions come now about when we'll tackle a 14er or two.  Only answers I have are 1) when rain doesn't seem to be on the schedule and 2) when we're fit and ready. Where?  Wayne is pretty eager to go up San Luis Peak because we can do it by leaving here early in the morning and be back before dark.  Major assumption:  the rough mining road by pass will be smooth enough.

     Others--late August and early September for attempts up Uncompahgre or Red Cloud and Sunshine Peaks. These require either early rising for one-day attempts or overnight in Lake City or tents near the peaks.

 

 

 

 

Potentilla

 

Phoenix Park photographer

 

Real Estate Inspectors looked doubtful

 

Flowery trail to the Falls

 

Fireweed

 

Lunch beside the Falls

 

Fireweed

 

Creede Residents '13  (one pretends to be Phileas Fogg on working days).

 

Somewhere in Phoenix Park

 

Linda and Burdelle

 

Crystal lakes hike

Seven of us started a hike about 2 miles NW of Crystal lakes, then we made a wide loop all around the area looking (and finding) mushrooms.  We went as far E as the foot of Hogback Mesa, then S to the lake and back to the vehicles.  Around 7 to 8 miles total I would guess............

 

We found a lot of good King Boletes, one patch of chanterelles, a few hawk wings and gobs of little puffballs.  We had a couple of rookie hunters but they caught on very quickly and helped find the fungi..............on the way back to town we did a good deed for the day and drug a big rock out of the road.

 

There is a mushroom foray tomorrow and Saturday at 830AM at the Visitor Center, it would be a good opportunity to find out what all of those LBM's (Little Brown Mushrooms) really are!!

 

Wayne will be leading a good hike Monday, Doug is heading for the high country Tuesday and I will probable lead a group over to the top of Fox mountain (the easy way) and check for fungi along the way.

 

All hikes meet at the VCPl at 9AM...................

 

Dennis

CDT S of Elwood Pass

Today--Tuesday--we guessed right on the rain, got hail only while returning in the cars, saw the vast open high country near Elwood Pass, and enjoyed the dominant green plus many small flowers--and a few deer.  An able, agile crew seemed to enjoy the 4.5 miles of  lovely views on the King of Trails.

 

Thursday--Dennis has had good luck with mushrooms; he's choosing places that will probably involve carrying a few bags.

 

Next Monday--Phoenix Park; Creede hikers will meet us at the parking lot across from the mining museum/firetruck tunnel at about 9:25-9:30.

 

Next Tuesday, we hope to hike another portion of the Continental Divide Trail--Southerly from Wolf Creek Pass--on and beyond Alberta Peak (as the weather permits).

--Doug Knudson

 

 

Nature's monument on the CDT (Mary's on her Mount)

 

Alpine forget-me-nots

 

Mary's Mount--she climbed both summits--she hope to hit 14ers next summer

 

Mary Toussaint on CDT' "lightning peak"

 

Mary's Mount

 

CDT--we avoided the hail storm

 

Krummholz on CDT @ about 12,000'

 

Queen's Crown

 

Cowboy Cookout

 

There will be a Cowboy Cookout on Sunday, Aug. 11, start meeting about 3 PM and will eat around 5 PM. Bring a dish to share and whatever you want to cook and eat. They will cook it or you can cook your own. It will be on FR340. Go on Willow Park Road (FR345), take a left at the first intersection, at the next intersection like going to Shaw Mesa, take a left (FR340) and go about 2 miles and They will be off to your right. Have any questions call Joe at 873-5617. 

George Powell, president

Silverthreaders Club

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

Email President@Silverthreaders.org

 

 

Mushroom hike around Poage lake

We started our day on a high note; while waiting for road construction just below Beaver Dam, we gathered and ate ripe raspberries..our good luck continued by finding a few King Boletes, a lot of Hawkswings and a whole gob of Chanterelle mushrooms.......more than I had ever seen before.

 

We had cloudy skies and a few sprinkles several times, just enough to settle the dust on the road.  We met a DOW truck coming into the lake, bringing some 4 to 5 inch cutthroat trout to restock the lake, good fishing in a couple of years.

 

The King Boletes had been up for several days so it appears the Kings are going to be pretty scarce in this area.  Hopefully we will find more at a lower altitude than the 11,000 ft. elevation we were hunting in.  One never knows for sure when it comes to finding mushrooms, just have to get out there and look for them..........

 

Wayne will be leading an easier hike Monday, Doug will be leading a "conditioning" hike Tuesday and I don't know what Thursday will be for sure............but it will be fun.

 

All hikes leave the VCPL at 9AM.

 

Dennis

Friday ATV Ride

There will be a ride Friday, Aug. 2, 9 AM at the visitor center. May be some work involved.

 

George Powell, president

Email President@Silverthreaders.org