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Post by hikerjer on Nov 27, 2020 18:22:09 GMT -8
Man, looks like a great hike. Thanks for posting.
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Nov 28, 2020 10:29:50 GMT -8
That’s a great hike, and a great TR. Thanks for sharing! I have avoided that whole area of the Weminuche because of crowds, but it looks like you found a fix for that—combo of off trail and late season cleared them out pretty well.
There are so many fantastic trails out there. I am going to need a long life and good luck to manage to get on even a fraction of them!
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Post by johntpenca on Nov 28, 2020 18:15:20 GMT -8
Nice TR and photos. Thought I already posted here; guess not.
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Post by cweston on Nov 28, 2020 20:20:12 GMT -8
That’s a great hike, and a great TR. Thanks for sharing! I have avoided that whole area of the Weminuche because of crowds, but it looks like you found a fix for that—combo of off trail and late season cleared them out pretty well. Exactly. It also helped that the train was not running. So kindof the perfect storm. I’ve always wanted to hike the area but was also put off by the crowds. I can handle crowds (to an extent) as long as I can get a few days off trail or in otherwise lonesome country. I have no idea how many folks make it into those off-trail areas in summer—it’s pretty rugged terrain.
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Post by cweston on Nov 30, 2020 6:53:33 GMT -8
Also, I would add that the San Juans are a pretty ideal fall location: typically pretty moderate temps in September by high mountain standards, lots of aspen, and precip is relatively uncommon once the monsoon cycle ends.
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Westy
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Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
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Post by Westy on Dec 8, 2020 9:45:35 GMT -8
The Wemi may be calling me in '21. Planning 2021 at the minute. Trending towards shorter, perhaps week long, point-to-point trips. Expect Covid to still be an issue.
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Post by cweston on Dec 8, 2020 10:17:52 GMT -8
The Wemi may be calling me in '21. Planning 2021 at the minute. Trending towards shorter, perhaps week long, point-to-point trips. Expect Covid to still be an issue. A point-to-point trip that I've thought about is to go up the Los Piños (from near Vallecito Lake) via Rock Creek Basin to the CD. From there, you could take an off-trail side-trip to the high lakes country of the Needles, via Leviathan and/or Sunlight Creeks. There would be several point-to-point options from that point... -Continue off-trail to Chicago Basin and exit via Needle Creek trail. (Train, or keep hiking to Purgatory Flats). Or, to make the same connection on-trail, drop down Vallecito Creek TO Johnson Creek and (4,000 feet of climbing later) over Columbine Pass to Chicago Basin.
or
-Continue on the CDT down Elk Creek to Elk Park. (Train, or keep hiking to Molas Pass)
or
-Head south on Vallecito trail to Vallecito TH (probably within hitch-hiking distance of the car at Los Piños TH).
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Dec 8, 2020 14:36:41 GMT -8
My primary objective is this remote peak, Mount Oso, also White Dome & Peak One. Hiking Distance: 34 miles backpacking; 6 miles climbing (Oso Loop only) Start: 7,916’ Vertical: 5,000’ backpacking, 2,800’ climbing Maps: Nat Geo # 140 Weminuche Wilderness, 7.5-Minute Emerald Lake This remote summit is in the high eastern plateau of the Wenimuche Wilderness. It is the high point rising east of Vallecito Creek when viewed from the summits of the Grenadier Range and Needle Mountains. Drive to trailhead at Vallecito Campground. The trail climbs north up Vallecito Creek and Rock Creek to Rock Lake in a total of seventeen miles. Follow the trail upstream eight miles to a junction with a trail going left to Johnson Creek to Columbine Pass. Continue north another five miles under the imposing presence of the Guardian to the Rock Creek trail junction. Turn right on the Rock Creek Trail. It climbs southeast up the northeast side of Rock Creek another three and a half miles prior to crossing to the west side of the creek for the final half mile to Rock Creek Lake at 11,841 feet. To climb Mount Oso, continue south on the trail to a 12,420-foot pass above Rock Lake. Follow the trail as it continues along the ridge west of the pass. Leave the trail on the right when it turns left and begin to descend to Half Moon Lake. Hike southwest over grassy slopes, losing four hundred (400) feet of elevation, into the wide drainage west and northwest of Moon Lake Once in the center of the basin, turn right and climb west. Aim to ascend to the southeast ridge of Mount Oso at 13,000 feet. Use a shallow grass and gravel couloir that climbs steeply to the left of the east-face cliffs. Once on the ridge, climb northwest to the broad summit plateau. Cross the rocky plateau and continue northwest for the final pitch to the summit. Mount OsoIf putting the train into play would hire Buckhorn to store car and drive to TH. End would include General Palmer Hotel and dinner Ken & Sue's
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Post by cweston on Dec 8, 2020 14:50:24 GMT -8
Sounds excellent. We're right on the same page: the point-to-point I described would take you right to the route to Oso.
I seem to recall reading somewhere that Rock Creek Lake was the furthest point from a road in Colorado.
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TrailElder
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Post by TrailElder on Dec 24, 2020 7:55:43 GMT -8
Thanks for the good TR on an amazing trip. I drive by Bayfield regularly, and have yet to get into that area. It's now on the list! One question: This is Sunlight Creek? Or upper Vallencito?
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Post by cweston on Dec 24, 2020 8:26:32 GMT -8
Thanks for the good TR on an amazing trip. I drive by Bayfield regularly, and have yet to get into that area. It's now on the list! One question: This is Sunlight Creek? Or upper Vallencito? That is Vallecito, actually not far above the trailhead.
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Post by absarokanaut on Jan 16, 2021 14:41:36 GMT -8
Outstanding!
One of my best friends that I went to college with built an awesome house outside Bayfield. Has a Telescope on the deck. Love looking up at the 14ers and elsewhere we've been at different times long ago. That's near the top of my list once I've got my shot in the arm and its "ok" to stay there.
I'll never forget a half dozen of us having Chicago Basin to ourselves. I think its now like the Cirque of the Towers, etc., lots of people?
Thanks for sharing CW.
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Post by cweston on Jan 16, 2021 15:30:29 GMT -8
I'll never forget a half dozen of us having Chicago Basin to ourselves. I think its now like the Cirque of the Towers, etc., lots of people? I was there on a weeknight in late September, in a year where the train was not running. There were (I think) three or four other parties in the basin that night. So I guess you can extrapolate from that how crowded it would be on a Saturday in August. That said, it's a pretty big place, but with surprisingly few good camps if you follow the USFS restrictions. I guess there might be more good camps down a little lower on the Needle Creek trail--I never investigated in that direction. The established camps I saw were on the west side of the creek, just below the western slope, near the trail, all pretty close together. (Perfect if you're with a group with multiple tents, though.)
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