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Post by desertsp on Jun 30, 2019 9:10:10 GMT -8
As expected, all the routes I had researched for a 4 night trip in two weeks are still pretty well covered in snow.
Can anyone suggest a not-too-strenuous 10 to 20 mile route for my wife and I plus our two dogs?
With less than two weeks left I’m getting stressed about finding something. Main concern is that the wife and dogs have a good time as they’re not as “hardcore” as I am. That takes anything with lots of mud, snow, deadfall, or avalanche debris off the table. Also worried about timing with the mosquito hatch post-snowmelt....but I guess that’s lower on the priority (we can manage). Finally, the desire for a basecamp is complicating things - we don’t just want zero-days for their own sake...we’d like to be camped near other trails suitable for dayhiking.
Anyways, if anyone has suggestions I’d be very appreciative!
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jul 2, 2019 13:40:12 GMT -8
Low and flat is not generally what I seek, but I'm thinking Escalante, Canyon of the Ancients....someplace like that.
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Post by hikinggods on Jul 2, 2019 19:54:47 GMT -8
The weather has finally warmed up here in Colorado. I suspect that, in a couple of weeks, you will have a lot more options open up. I'm going on a short BP trip in 2 DAYS, and am a little stymied about what we can do that will be low enough not to be snowed in, but high enough to not be too hot! It's a tough summer for hikers, so far.
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Post by desertsp on Jul 3, 2019 6:43:58 GMT -8
Thanks! Yes that's the predicament...low hot and dry, or high cool and wet. I've been putting my Caltopo subscription to good use and am finally coming up with some stuff in CO. They just added high-res weekly satellite photos depicting snow cover which has been super helpful! Also Alltrails.com lets you select an area and then sort the reviews within that area by date. Here's the list so far: - One of the lakes in the Sangres. Most are fully accessible. Steep, but if there's decent campsites partway up that might work to make the trip feel less strenuous...still working on identifying those having this "feature".
- Collegiate Peaks. Several trails go pretty far into the wilderness before encountering much snow.
- Lost Creek Wilderness.
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Post by cweston on Jul 3, 2019 8:03:22 GMT -8
One of the lakes in the Sangres. Most are fully accessible. Steep, but if there's decent campsites partway up that might work to make the trip feel less strenuous...still working on identifying those having this "feature". Macy Lakes is a little less steep an approach than most Sangres lakes. Very nice camps in trees above the lower lake. The two higher lakes are very scenic. You could climb Colony Baldy from the middle lake--it's a fantastic class 2+ climb with great views of the Crestones. Sand Creek via Music Pass: can tend to be a little crowded, but most people look to camp at one of the two Sand Creek Lakes. The more scenic camps, IMHO, are in the creek valley, either in the meadowy areas where you first come down from Music Pass, or around treeline a mile up-valley from the junction with the trail to the upper lake. If you want solitude, turn down valley when you reach the Sand Creek trail from Music Pass. Watch for widow makers if you camp in the trees: this area has been hard-hit by the beetle kill. |
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Post by desertsp on Jul 3, 2019 16:46:30 GMT -8
Thank you, those both sounds like good options, better than what I was coming up with.
Anything else come to mind with less scrambly dayhike options? I forgot to mention but we will be traveling with two dogs (leashed) and it might be a bit much to manage them on difficult terrain - one of them is pretty reckless lol.
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Post by cweston on Jul 3, 2019 17:20:37 GMT -8
I think Sand Creek is out with dogs: it's NPS administered (Great Sand Dunes Preserve), so probably no dogs allowed.
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Post by cweston on Jul 3, 2019 17:25:49 GMT -8
Macy Lakes: the middle lake is very gently "scrambly" from the lower lake. The upper lake is a short use trail hike from the lower, no scrambling. There's not really anywhere not scrambly to go (the main ridgecrest of the Sangres is very steep in this area) but a lot of good wandering around the middle and upper lake.
When I was there many years ago, I left my youngest son at the middle lake where he puttered around while I and his older brother bagged Colony Baldy. I guess that makes me a bad dad, but we could see him at all times.
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Post by burntfoot on Jul 4, 2019 7:02:47 GMT -8
We got turned around on a hike just yesterday. We had patches of snow, which I was expecting and could handle. We had some downed logs, which I was expecting and could handle. But, there was WAY more water in those "seasonal streams" than my newbies could handle. So, we turned around and walked out the way we went in.
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Post by desertsp on Jul 4, 2019 12:41:46 GMT -8
Where’d you go?
Bummer about turning around but better to play it safe. As a kid on a backpacking trip my dad got pushed under water during a creek crossing - scary stuff!
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Post by lennox on Jul 5, 2019 9:17:23 GMT -8
I also am hoping to find a snow-free backpack. I was hoping to hike Elliot Ridge in the Eagle's Nest Wilderness to the Upper Cataract Lake trail, and then down that trail to camp at a lake. Will that be feasible by about July 14th? Or should I look at a lower elevation somewhere?
Thanks, Lennox
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Post by cweston on Jul 5, 2019 9:28:29 GMT -8
Welcome to the forums, Lennox. The Elliot Ridge/Cataract Creek route was discussed in detail in a thread this spring that might interest you: bpbasecamp.freeforums.net/thread/13101/basecamp-style-trip-suggestions-nights I don't know the answer to your question about snow--the ridge itself is pretty windswept, and the descent into Cataract Creek is on a mostly south-facing slope, so my guess would be that the route doesn't hold snow much, except for the long, narrow snowfield shown on the east edge of the ridge on maps, which appears more-or-less permanent. One thing to mention: the trail down to Cataract Creek is a little tricky to follow in the first 1/2 mile or so after dropping off of Elliot Ridge, before dropping into timber. It could be very tricky with snow. (But you also don't really need to follow the trail exactly if you know where you are going.) |
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,962 
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Post by Westy on Jul 5, 2019 16:04:48 GMT -8
Have seen photos on Facebook from the past week including today. I would stick to your original plan. The best way is to monitor Snowpack increasing passable the Colorado Trail Facebook Page or Colorado Trail Website. Correlate your original plan to a nearby segment. Also, hikers are posting pictures on the CT Facebook Page all the time. Since I am unaware of your original trekking plan I am unable to suggest a SNOTEL site in the proximity for you to review. This the SNOTEL report for Independence Pass SNOTEL which is over 10,000 feet. |
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Post by lennox on Jul 6, 2019 10:12:05 GMT -8
Thanks! My original plan was/is to hike Elliot Ridge to the Upper Cataract Creek trail and then down the trail to the first lake area with a good campsite that is in the trees and setup a base camp. From there I would fish and do day hikes for a couple of days before returning the way I came in. I had actually planned this route several years ago, but due to family commitments could not get there until mid/late September. A blizzard hit the very day we planned to hike and we had to abandon the walk. I will check out the snow monitor information you provided. Thanks again.
Lennox
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,962
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Post by Westy on Jul 6, 2019 13:42:34 GMT -8
Elliot Ridge SNOTELSnow Depth as of July 6th, at 10,520 feet is 0.0. The last snow reported was .3 of an inch on June 24th. I believe the TH is at 11,160'. You might consider contacting the Dillion Ranger District Office at 970-468-5400.
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