Silverthread Outdoor Recreational Club

Sunday, May 8, 2016

ATV Ride

The club will have an ATV ride on Tuesday, May 10^th. Plan to meet at the Visitor’s Center and be ready to leave at 9:00 am. Side by side friendly. If the weather is rain or snow, the ride will be canceled.

Monday, May 2, 2016

ATV Ride 5/03/2016

The club will have an ATV ride on Tuesday, 5/03/2016. Meet at the Visitor's Center and plan to leave at 9:00 am. This will be a side by side friendly, easy ride. Hope to see you there. If it is snowing, the ride will be canceled.

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Strolling by the River

A hike along the Rio Grande on a gray to sunny day was pleasant and not too strenuous. The Coller State Wildlife Area offers one of the flattest hikes in our mountainous country. The Ponderosa and Limber pines are dropping a rich cone crop. The leavings of "processed" food by elk and deer are enriching the soil. Fourteen folks seemed to enjoy the cool weather and ambulatory conversation.

The group agreed with someone's suggestion that the summer start time of 9 a.m. should be started next Monday. So, with apparent agreement by all those present, we will leave the Visitor Center at 9 a.m. on Mondays from the South Fork Visitor Center from next Monday until the autumn leaves and chilly winds of winter arrive.

In a few weeks we will add our traditional second hike on Wednesdays (also at 9 a.m.). When the kids show up, Dennis Shepherd and collaborators will probably offer kids' hikes (parents and grandparents allowed) starting at the Chapel of the South Fork.

I have had about 8 people say they wanted to get in shape and climb a series of peak hikes through the summer. Please join us on Monday and Wednesday hikes and we'll plan some deep breathing activities through May and June, moving up in elevations as the summer progresses. Let me know of your interest and willingness to participate regularly.

Next hike: Monday next before 9 a.m. at the South Fork Visitor Center. All levels of skills are welcome to join those of us who are either of advanced age or slow gait. We've got to keep those hearts and lungs pumping and the leg muscles well oiled.

— Doug Knudson

Up from the Rio Grande

What'sIt?

Tie-man

Cactus bloom

Mayebelle and Linda

We found a hill!

Spring colors Lichen color brightening season

Lower Coller Hike

A VERY NICE HIKE UNDER A CLOUDY SKY AND WARM WEATHER. IT STARTED TO

SPRINKLE AS SOOM AS WE GOT BACK TO THE CARS, JUST LUCKY I SUPPOSE.

WE WILL BE CHANGING OUR START TIME TO 9AM EFFECTIVE NEXT MONDAY, COME
OUT AND JOIN THE FUN.....

DENNIS

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Monday hike

Dennis and I discussed Monday's hiking time and place today at church.

Our recommendation (not sacred, of course) is to bring waterproof boots and hike on the nearly flat ground of the Coller Wildlife Area. We will meet before 10 a.m. (allows some melting time) at the Visitor Center in South Fork. We will park across from the Green Bridge off of State Road149 and meander about on the open area, following along with the flow of the river.

Indeed, it is Spring time in the Rockies, but it's not 99 below. Maybe a little bit mushy, but no need for shoes of snow.
Come and help us enjoy the ever-changing seasons.

We will probably be back before 1 p.m.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Palisades hike

Near home but seldom visited by pedestrians. Deer, elk, and golden eagles, the lower palisades are also favored by a few hardy autumn hunters/campers. Trails there are, but some might suggest there were no trails (they'd be right if they disqualified animal trails).

A hardy young lady from Rhode Island joined us and will be back in June for the summer. We're still meeting on Mondays at 10 a.m. That will change on the second hike in May; we'll start at 9 a.m. on Mondays. As numbers pick up we will discuss Wednesday and another hike.

Welcome back, Dennis. Thanks for the other set of pictures.

We'll see you next Monday at 10 a.m. Bring a friend or two. — Doug Knudson 873-5239

A full weekend moon

a dozen hikers

above the RGN

The R.Grande

Rock hike

Hardy young folks

resting spot

lowest palisades

Hike April 18, 2016

A lovely spring snow, still falling now and then at 8 p.m., drew only 6 hikers today. It was a lovely, almost secret place along the Rio Grande. Spring had melted much of the heavy snowfall. Winter lingered to decorate the landscape. Beauty was in every direction.

We are surely enriched with our environment and its numerous decorations. Thanks to Linda for the idea and the coffee afterward.

Let's see if next week's weather can match this!

— Doug Knudson

Mouth of S. Fork

April snobirds

Spring scene

Wetland

Rio Grande

Lovely Landscape

Monday, April 11, 2016

Close-to-home hike Photos

We are blessed with beautiful scenery, high mountains, and gentle paths to get us up and down the slopes. We live in beautiful places, with no end to the scenery. We hike with several 80-yr.-olds who are seldom bored with the company of younger folks.

We feel that we're fortunate to live where variety is the spice of life and mountains come down to greet those who will just have the grace to embrace them with a smile and a rhythmic stride. —Doug Knudson

8 hikers paused to gaze.

Looking up the trail

Pat had just discovered by phone that a young local business women had succumbed this morning to a strange disease,

following a recent return from a cruise ship week in the Caribbean. This severely affects the Gillespie families and the

Fluck family. Of course, in a town our size, it also is a shock to everyone. May God's peace be with them all.

This sizeable niche in the rocky surroundings is lovely and soothing. Thanks to Jan for pointing it out to us.

Beautiful rim rock surrounded us

We expect to continue our Monday hikes starting at 10 a.m. All able bodied folks are welcome to get better acquainted with our lovely natural surroundings. No cost, no dogs, no strollers, but plenty of scenery. In mid-May or so, we'll move the start time to 9 a.m. and add a Wednesday hike as well, usually to a different destination.

Several of you have expressed interest in the peak hikes, with a June period of preparation (physically). Gently but consistently building fitness will be the start of things, so join us (or do it on your own) to breathe deeply and to "walk without wishing you weren't". Now is the time to start training those bodies and breathing apparatus' so you can gracefully move upward and onward. Join us on our Monday hikes; then do some more.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Old Folks' Ascents

South Fork Hikers:

I've been hearing that some of our hikes could be more achievement oriented. It does appear that some of us are getting on in years, but still want to act as if we haven't yet given up our health and strength. To do that, we may have the urge to attack some of those high peaks now — better sooner than later.

If you're old and fit, let's get together for a few ascents up some fine peaks this summer. If you're too young for the category, you're welcome to join us if you will be patient and helpful. If you wish to try out one or two of the early ones, you are welcome 9 a.m. Wed.

Here are some initial ideas for the program.

First, the targets and conditions: Assuming that we won't hurry into the snow nor climb into clouds, we can choose 6 peaks of 14,000 or so. If we're lucky, we could possibly ascend as many as 10. The schedule below is one of hope for good weather. We will not take hikes into areas of seriously threatening storms nor other dangerous conditions.

Preparations

Sprightly Spring hikes in May & early June

As soon as the snow allows, we can plan on conditioning, assuming "normal" weather and snow melt.

I recommend at least two prep hikes per week to beat peak fatigue—once with group; one on your own.

Running will help a lot.

Spend some exertion time at altitude of 11,000' or more, moving vigorously.

Trot up hills as you breathe vigorously.

Mid June: a quickie up a 12,000 heavy breather such as Del Norte Peak or Pool Table Mountain

Followup the next week: Sentinel or other nearby

Later June: a 13,000' peak such as Bennett Peak

Early July: another 13,000': Baldy Cinco

Peak Attacks

1. 1 or 2 Then: either Handies Peak or the two peaks Red Cloud and Sunshine (Probably an overnight in Lake City).

2. again July again: Uncompahgre Peak or Wetterhorn (weather here is touchy; (Have an overnight or very early start).

3. July: Mt. Princeton or one of the Ute Peaks, e.g. Shavano, or Tabauache

4. August: Mt. Elbert (Colorado's tallest). We've had pleasant camping here on the night before. Cabins are nearby.

5+. One of our neighbors made it up 4 peaks in one day last summer, all of them clustered north of Fairplay and west of Alma.

(He was about 83 or 84 then.) That would be an overnight trip (maybe 2 nights).

Sleeping campground is at 12,000'; bring a tent and warm sleeping bag and food (high clearance vehicle will make it!)

The peaks are Democrat, Cameron , Lincoln, and Bross ( Weather likely to keep us from all 4).

None of these peaks is dangerous in good weather. Likewise, none are perfectly safe. For example, Bross is a persistent seducer of descenders; don't go back to camp down the seductive rock-slides. If you understand the word "slide" you get the idea.

Please don't be a last-minute insistent hiker. Be strong physically and ready to carry me down in case of slippage, as I enter my 81st year.

This is a first version of the program. Your comments and adjustments are welcome. People just in off the prairies are welcome to the preparations. Those who show up in early July with your slippers or tennys on might enjoy another group more than this program.

Questions/information: Doug Knudson 719-873-5239

Agua Ramon hike

11 hikers stepped lively on a gentle gravel road from Agua Ramon village up to the cross we'll see again on Easter morning (6:15 a.m.), maybe a morning as spectacular as today's sunrise (1st picture)