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Post by Coolkat on Jul 31, 2020 8:27:25 GMT -8
3) I need to loose some weight and try it again This is one thing I really didn't realize, is how truly out of shape I guess I'm in. Here in Michigan even at my fitness level it's relatively easy to get a 15 mile day in even with a heavy pack. However, out there that is completely a different story. Our longest day was about 7 miles and that was pushing it for me. Even if I were still in my 30's I'm not sure that I could have ever done the 18 to 25 mile days that are required for thru hiking in that kind of terrain. Lesson learned for next time. Next time i'm either in better shape or plan on short days that end near water.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jul 31, 2020 14:05:14 GMT -8
Just across the valley from Table Mountain, between Saguache Creek and Cochetopa Creek, there are a couple large heard of elk...
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TrailElder
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Post by TrailElder on Dec 26, 2020 17:11:31 GMT -8
My last trip to the La Garitas was my favorite. I started at Eddiesville Trailhead and hiked west via the La Garita Skyine Trail almost to highway 149, and then doubled back via the Cebolla Trail. Took me 6 days, with side trips up Organ Mountain and San Luis Peak. And, only once in 6 days did I meet anyone else. The Cebolla Trail was lower elevation, but actually harder than the Skyline Trail due to the up and down in and out of those drainages. burntfoot I'm quite interested in this trip. (I also saw another description you gave 12/1/19). Wow! That area! Confluence of, what?, 3 wilderness areas and a WSA? I spent 5 days or so in the Eddiesville area this past August, exploring the creeks coming off of Stewart. I was there to support my daughter, who was blasting through on the CT. Many of the streams around there are drying up. Cochetopa seems still quite healthy. Spent a couple nights on it and found some of the best fishing there of my year (which included 55+ days on the water!). Summited San Luis with her, etc. Great time. Anyway, about this trip: On my way from Eddiesville to Lake City, I discovered the west side of La Garita, along Cebolla Creek Road. Spent a night on Calf Creek between Spruce and Cebolla CGs, fished Cebolla a bit...gorgeous. That's got to be pretty quiet wilderness. No real classic draws to lakes, peaks, etc. So... Said to myself, "Self, you need to get back here." (I had to move on to Lake City to pick her up at Spring Creek Pass and get her into Lake City for a "0.") So here I am planning to get back in. I was thinking of doing a loop -- say out of Rough Creek TH and back, or back to Mineral Creek TH. Was thinking counter-clockwise. What ya say? Is this a good idea? Clockwise or counter? Any route advice welcome. Up for moderate bushwhacking as appropriate. What can you tell me about the water? Any SIZE will do, as long as it is running well and healthy. I'm pretty confident in Cebolla (I've now fished it up on the pass at 149 and down below the wilderness), but don't know anything about Rough (though that canyon above Cebolla looks like something to see -- I was wondering if it might be passable, and I'd just go up it and catch the trail at the top), Mineral, Martinez, Tumble. I don't need spectacular fishing...just nice to find healthy water with fish in it once in a while... Also tagging Lamebeaver. Seems like he might have something to say. THANKS!!!
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Post by burntfoot on Dec 27, 2020 10:51:10 GMT -8
TrailElder, some good loops in there. And, except for the CT/CDT section at the top, you may not see any other people. How many days are you looking at.
I see at least 3 loop possibilities in there. And, the only real route-finding needed is on the Cebolla Trail. 1. Using either the Highway 149 trailhead or the Rough Creek Trailhead, doing the triangle on Tumble Creek, Rough Creek and the Cebolla Trail. I did that once as a day hike (long) from the Rough Creek Trailhead, although my guidebook has it set up as a 3-day, 2-night trip. I did that clockwise. On the Cebolla Trail, it gets faint in the meadows, so be careful to see your exits out of these. I had a good topo map and had no problem. 2. Rough Creek to Mineral Creek using the Cebolla Trail. Another similar loop. But, again, hold your concentration while on the Cebola segment. This is similar in length to the other one. 3. Rough Creek to Mineral Creek via the CT/CDT/Skyline Trail on top. This is too long for a day trip. But, if you start with Rough Creek, you have the options of whether to descend Mineral Creek (east or west fork) and several camping choices. I'd say 3 days for this. 4. Mineral Creek Loop. Another long one that I day-hiked. Go up Mineral Creek and loop up either the east or west fork and go back down the other. Has one of my favorite stretches of the CT, and good (dry) camps on the saddles between the forks of Mineral Creek.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Dec 29, 2020 17:34:27 GMT -8
I am not familiar with that particular area, having spent more time in the eastern half of the LGW. I agree with burntfoot. It looks like there are several good loop possibilities. The shortest would be 466-459-463. Or, you could do 466-465-463. Longer stretches would also be possible. For fishing, take a look at Mineral and Rough creeks on Google Earth. Anywhere you can spot a beaver pond, and I suspect you will see several, you can expect to find a few Brookies. I suspect that area sees very little traffic. The creeks are not even mentioned in Kip Carey's Colorado Fishing Guide, which is the Colorado fishing bible.
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Post by burntfoot on Dec 30, 2020 8:06:46 GMT -8
I suspect that area sees very little traffic. Very little traffic indeed. That August that I did that 6-day loop, the only people I saw were in the San Luis Peak area of the CDT/CT. The Cebolla Trail and all of those creek drainages were empty.
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TrailElder
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Post by TrailElder on Jan 1, 2021 18:16:06 GMT -8
burntfoot and Lamebeaver thanks. Let me work the map a bit and come back to you, if I may, with some more specific questions. In general, burntfoot, were the streams pretty healthy -- running okay? As I mentioned, I was saddened by the state of the streams coming off of Stewart Peak.
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TrailElder
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Post by TrailElder on Jan 2, 2021 6:56:17 GMT -8
The creeks are not even mentioned in Kip Carey's Colorado Fishing Guide, which is the Colorado fishing bible. That's what I'm talking about! :-) Off-scripture water.
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Post by burntfoot on Jan 2, 2021 8:03:28 GMT -8
If fishing is what you are looking for, then earlier in the summer is always better. July rather than August. I did my trip through there in mid-August, and all of the main drainages had water in them - Rough Creek, Mineral Creek, Cascade Creek, Mineral Creek. And, I believe I saw fish in one or two of them. But, those are all fairly small, with the exception of Mineral and Cascade, and I could rock-hop across them without wading across. And, on a dry year, you'd have to look for the pools and go earlier in the summer.
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Post by absarokanaut on Jan 3, 2021 7:44:00 GMT -8
Traileleder,
Observing your fishing passion here I've got to ask: It's been a really long time since I've been up there and I don't know current access status but in the Sangres have you ever been to Winchell Lakes REALLY high up near Mt. Lindsey up the Huerfano? REALLY knarly hike/scramble in? I've seen some incredible fishing in the Sangres but this was the best in the Sangres or anywhere else in Colorado that I ever found. If the access is allowed and your ok with that level of a "scramble" you should really consider them. Definitely worthy of your consideration. Elsewhere in the Sangres have you fished Bushnell Lakes, Stout Creek Lakes, Macey Lakes, Pioneer Lake....? Even the shorter hike to Lilly Lake yielded amazing results. The Sangres are my favorite range outside of NW Wyoming. So much amazing fishing. I know they are far more heavily tracelled than when I was there in the 80s and 90s but I'm guessing Winchell, Pioneer, etc. still see few human souls.
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TrailElder
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Post by TrailElder on Jan 3, 2021 8:41:09 GMT -8
absarokanaut thanks for the encouragement! I'm definitely working that list, though not very far along on it in the Sangres. I'm aware of Winchell, but will take a closer look! I'm definitely up for the challenge while I can still contemplate it. The Sangres have been crowded in COVID, as you can imagine, though they are so steep and rugged you can still find places with very little company.
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TrailElder
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Post by TrailElder on Jan 5, 2021 7:23:36 GMT -8
absarokanaut do you recall? Did you come up the Huerfano (Lily Lake trail) and then over the pass to the SE of Lily into Winchell Lakes?
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 6, 2023 3:46:57 GMT -8
Making plans for a return to La Garita next summer with my nephew. I'm wondering how late into the season can one hike without worrying about winter weather? Last time I was there in July and I think we had frost on our tents in the morning almost every night. This will kinda be a lazy hike. It's going to be a combination of backpacking and birding (for my nephew). Would like to make it back to Half Moon Pass. As time gets closer I'll be asking about road conditions (if people would know). But for now I'd like to know if a September hike is possible or not or should I stick with July/August?
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Post by burntfoot on Sept 6, 2023 15:02:39 GMT -8
Depends on the year. I've hiked up high around here into November some years. But, another year, we had a snow day at school the second week of September. Normally, You'd be safe into mid-October.
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cweston
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Post by cweston on Sept 6, 2023 18:28:30 GMT -8
Agree with burntfoot. Nine years out of ten, a September trip will probably be awesome. Far fewer people, aspen trees turning gold, and the end of the summer monsoon season means less pressure to get to camp early, no alpine starts, and so on. (Which is a good thing, since it’s COLD in the early morning.) By all means do it…just be prepared for anything, weather-wise. My last September trips in CO were in 2020. My first week in the Sangres, there was a blizzard. My second week in the San Juans was absolutely glorious.
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