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Post by bikehikefish on Jun 27, 2018 6:08:58 GMT -8
One of our options for a July hike is to head up the Gore Creek trail, over Red Buffalo Pass, Eccles Pass, then down Meadow Creek Trail to Frisco. I would like to stretch this out by detouring up to Gore Lake and Snow Lake. Are there any decent places to camp below Snow Lake?
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Post by cweston on Jun 27, 2018 9:12:57 GMT -8
One of our options for a July hike is to head up the Gore Creek trail, over Red Buffalo Pass, Eccles Pass, then down Meadow Creek Trail to Frisco. I would like to stretch this out by detouring up to Gore Lake and Snow Lake. Are there any decent places to camp below Snow Lake? Yes. There are excellent camps right at Snow Lake, in a flat area on the outlet side of the lake. There are also some nice balconies further up from the lake. (I'd be hesitant to camp right near the lake if others were camped in the basin. And, of course, if you camp near the lake, you'd have to toilet well away from camp.) The area is very exposed, of course. Here are some pics, one from near the outlet side, and one from near Snow Pass, looking down at the lake: You could also probably find some flat-ish areas further down-valley from the lake--it's all open and fairly gentle terrain: I would highly recommend this detour: and do the climb up to Snow Pass (and continue to Snow Peak, if you're into that.) It's well worth the couple few hours up and down from the lake.
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Post by bikehikefish on Jun 27, 2018 11:28:18 GMT -8
Thanks cweston, I was hoping you would comment on this. But: The area is very exposed, of course. If there are afternoon storms, would camping here be unwise?
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Post by cweston on Jun 27, 2018 11:36:00 GMT -8
I would do it. i HAVE done it (on the trip that the pictures were from.) You can pretty-much count on storms every afternoon in the summer.
So, you know, HYOH. People camp above treeline in monsoon season all the time--just make sure you have a shelter that you trust to stand up to a storm.
If you're not comfortable with such an exposed camp, you could camp at Gore Lake, which is just below treeline, and take a side-trip without packs to Snow Lake.
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Post by cweston on Jun 27, 2018 11:42:07 GMT -8
BTW, the route from Gore Lake to Snow Lake is pretty straightforward. Descend a bit from Gore Lake on the trail, but not too far--don't go all the way down to Snow Creek. At about 11,200, head straight north in sparse timber until you're right below cliffs on your left. Start contouring around the base of the cliffs and you'll start picking up some bits of path leading through increasingly open terrain into an obvious entry into the Snow Lake hanging valley to the left. Once you clear the trees there's no path, but you don't need one.
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Post by bikehikefish on Jun 27, 2018 12:36:02 GMT -8
Thanks for the route tips, that should make it easier.
Your pics are great, I hope I can talk my hiking partners into doing it.
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Post by bikehikefish on Jul 1, 2018 11:04:44 GMT -8
Cweston, did you use a bear cannister for food storage? Being able to hang food looks unlikely.
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Post by cweston on Jul 2, 2018 4:59:44 GMT -8
I have never used a bear canister in the Gores. I’ve seen bear there a couple times, but always in lower elevation timber: I’ve not seen much sign of them in the alpine country. That’s one of those decisions where you just have to HYOH I guess. Most of my high camps there I’ve been able to find a scrubby tree or cliff or something to at least make them work a little if they want my food. In reality, I think the marmots are probably a much bigger threat—I’ve encountered some pretty bold marmots in that area.
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Post by bikehikefish on Jul 2, 2018 12:05:24 GMT -8
Since I hate carrying the Bear Vault, I am going to bet on the scrubby tree or cliff thing, and I won't tell my hiking partners in advance. They can be somewhat anal about bear precautions, even to the point of bringing bear spray, which IMHO, is not really necessary for black bears.
The closest I have come to using bear spray was last year on the North Crestone Trail when a HUGE dog came galloping around a bend in the trail towards us. I yelled "bear spray!" to my hiking partner, but the dog was on us in seconds, looking to be petted.
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Post by bikehikefish on Jul 23, 2018 7:07:00 GMT -8
The Gore trip was fantastic, much more scenic and less crowded than I anticipated. We did not make it up to Gore Lake, as one in our group was struggling, and almost turned back on the first day. We shared some of his gear among us and he did well with less weight. It's funny how carrying a 50 pound pack becomes more difficult as one ages.
We camped the first night just short of the Gore Creek Trail cutoff, went over Red Buffalo Pass and Eccles Pass the next day, and then camped along the Meadow Creek trail on the second night. We saw only two other hikers on that middle day, and the scenery between the passes was incredible.
A comment about footwear -- I decided to wear trail runners (Salomon Pro XD something) instead of my Merrell boots. Although I do not like wet feet, I waded across the creek when the trail crossed it, and hiked in soggy shoes for part of the day. But the wetness did not bother me, and by evening the shoes were dry. I am an convert to trail runners now, at least in warm weather.
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Post by cweston on Jul 23, 2018 7:13:27 GMT -8
Glad you had a great trip: Gore Lake and Snow lake will be there waiting for you next time. (You can make it a nice loop from the Gore Creek trailhead by crossing Snow Pass and descending (talus, a bit tedious) to Deluge Lake, then return from there to the car by the Deluge Lake trail.) I also recently retuned from the Gores: trip report here.
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Post by bikehikefish on Jul 23, 2018 8:53:52 GMT -8
Great trip report and beautiful photos. That loop via Deluge Lake looks nice, I would like to do it someday.
Thanks for your help answering my questions for this trip. Once again, this forum has come through as a place where the experts help out us not-so-expert backpackers.
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Post by cweston on Jul 23, 2018 9:08:06 GMT -8
Great trip report and beautiful photos. That loop via Deluge Lake looks nice, I would like to do it someday. I did it in July 2014 with my daughter. I bet there is a TR on this site if posts from 4 years ago are still accessible. It's a nice 3 day loop (with camps at Gore Lake and Snow Lake). Some day hikers do the entire loop in one day--but that's a pretty big day.
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Post by bikehikefish on Jun 29, 2019 6:01:15 GMT -8
Almost a year later (time went by fast!), I am going to attempt the loop over Snow Pass to Deluge Lake as suggested by cweston. I am hoping to do it the week after the 4th of July holiday, my main concern is how much snow will still be found find at elevation. Although I'm not too worried about it, as I can always turn around if I am uncomfortable with the footing.
This will probably be a solo trip unless I can talk my son into getting off his butt to hike with me. Regardless, I'll post a report when I get back.
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Post by desertsp on Jun 30, 2019 8:58:48 GMT -8
Have fun! A similar trip was on my list for the same dates too, but we’re going elsewhere because of the snow. Bet you’ll have the place to yourself!
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