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Post by cweston on Oct 5, 2020 14:38:45 GMT -8
No, no selfies were taken. Because we are old men.
We hiked from Monarch Pass to Marshall pass on the CDT, which I understand is about 11.some miles, +1,000 -1,500, all in high country, most often above treeline.
This was a great hike: easy (except for the sidetrip to Mt. Ouray), great views, and a very different type of mountain terrain from the Sangres and Needles where all of my other hiking on this trip has been. Unlike many ridge routes, there was amazingly little up and down on this route.
The only real downside is that there was a pretty steady stream of MTBers, but they were all courteous. There were a few motorbikes as well--we wondered if that was actually legal.
We met at Marshall Pass at 6:30 (!) to set up our two-car shuttle. I believe we were on the trail at Monarch Pass a little before 8:00.
It was a gorgeous day. Smoke did eventually fill all the surrounding valleys, and at one point in the afternoon, it started blowing up into the high country, which was less pleasant. We left the trail to climb Ouray, knowing that it was fairly likely we would not summit. We had already hiked several hours, the summit is at almost 14,000, and it was pretty late in the day.
We had a brief bushwhack in fairly open timber, followed by very straight-forward class 2 travel, mostly on grass/dirt with a minimum of talus. This would be a very straightforward climb with an earlier start.
Most of a grouse in the bushwack:  burntfoot climbing just above the timber (in the middle of the photo, behind some scrubby spruce)
I was moving a little quicker (I'm pretty hella fit these days compared to my usual state), and made it up to the flat area below the summit, at approx 13,000. It was extremely windy, a little smoky, and I really did not have summit fever, so I decided this was far enough and a good place for a snack. When burntfoot made it up, we sat a while on a ridge crest a little below this point--it was lovely. There were some tiny little tarns in the basin below glistening in the sun.
Ouray summit:
Tiny tarns in the sun:
We headed more directly toward Marshall Pass on the descent, rather than (straight down) to the point where we had left the trail. This made for a much longer bushwhack, but the travel was good. We were following a definite (faint) path with some cairns above treeline. Once we dove into the trees there was occasional faint boot path, but nothing obvious (and not always going where we wanted to go). I guess we are two old mountain goats--I don't believe map or compass were ever consulted during this part of the hike, but we came out exactly where we meant to: on the trail about a mile above Marshall Pass.
burntfoot is a very warm person who has lived a very interesting life with many stories to tell. We also have professional common ground: I am a music professor and he is a HS music teacher. So there was never any shortage of conversation.
It was a pretty long day: what with the drive up from Crestone, the car shuttle, the hike, the side climb, and the other car shuttle. I left about 5:00 am and returned after 7:00 pm.
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
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Post by toejam on Oct 13, 2020 6:59:27 GMT -8
Good stuff. Some day I'm taking a sabbatical to Colorado.
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Post by cweston on Oct 13, 2020 7:17:51 GMT -8
Good stuff. Some day I'm taking a sabbatical to Colorado. Sept. in the high country can be a pretty mixed bag. I had the big storm shortly after I arrived in CO (2 feet of snow in the Westcliffe area), which affected my first BP trip considerably, but at least it didn't happen WHILE I was in the backcountry. (It happened two days before.) But the rest of the month was spectacular. For all the time I spent in the high country, there were clear skies and zero precip 95% of the time. Cold nights, but not ridiculously so. |
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Post by burntfoot on Oct 13, 2020 17:19:25 GMT -8
Yes, it was a great trip, and with good company.
I had done that ridge in 1992, 1994 (with my dad) and 2001, and climbed Ouray Peak 2 of those times.
What surprised me were the number of mountain bikers up there.
Based on my trips 19+ years ago, I was expecting maybe a couple dozen bikers, and not beyond Green Creek or Agate Creek.
But there was easily 3 times that number of bikers, plus a few motor bikes.
I may try the trail on the north side of Monarch Pass next time someone wants me to go on a hike with them.
About the same length, but with a little more uphill, and a lot of downhill at the end.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Oct 15, 2020 8:17:25 GMT -8
burntfoot Do you live in close proximity to Monarch Pass? Ouray is a fine summit. Have been in the area from Marshall Pass and Monarch Pass several times and found the motorcyclists much more amiable and respectful of hikers than the mountain bikers. When my daughter and I thru-hiked the CT in '15 our encounter with mountain bikers on the ten mile section inspired me to write a letter to the IMBA. I suggested a standard warning bell, and universal warning language for mountain bikers when approaching hikers from behind. The language would be similar to rock climbing, i.e. "On belay", "Belay On", "Climbing", "Climb on", "Rock" Thanks for the memories, enjoyed the post. June Summit 2010
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Post by burntfoot on Oct 15, 2020 19:57:38 GMT -8
burntfoot Do you live in close proximity to Monarch Pass? Yes, in Gunnison about 45 minutes to the west. Love it here, because I've got 6 mountain ranges within reach on a weekend. Regarding mountain bikes, they were numerous and impatient at times. They'd come up behind us and ask to pass. After the first several, if it was not a good place I'd say something like "up ahead where there is level ground to the side" while pointing. Or, "Once I get to the top of that climb 100 feet ahead." Most, though, were actually good people and not rude at all. Just too many of them. Like I said, next time someone comes out, I'll do the CDT north from Monarch going over to Bald Mtn, dropping to Boss Lake and then the trail leading down to Garfield. Next time you are in the area, let's do a hike. |
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Oct 16, 2020 7:53:04 GMT -8
Next time you are in the area, let's do a hike. Thank you and will do! |
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TrailElder
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Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed
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Post by TrailElder on Feb 9, 2021 6:06:59 GMT -8
This was a fun TR to find, bringing back memories of supporting my daughter a bit on the CT this past summer. You guys just missed my Coffee Truck on Marshall Pass. I enticed her and some trail buddies to stop in for a cup; while we enjoyed it, we were gazing up at Ouray planning our imaginary routes. Then they went on down the trail and I moved on down to Eddiesville, and set up the Taco Truck a few days later. Thanks for the memories...    |
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TrailElder
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Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed
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Post by TrailElder on Feb 9, 2021 6:19:04 GMT -8
As a recovering mountain-biker, I've ridden that Monarch Crest trail and down the various drainages many times. It's very popular -- too popular. Sorry. There are commercial shuttles that take riders up from Salida and Poncha Springs in droves.
My most memorable ride was up the road -- which was closed for the day -- to the top of the pass to see the Pro Cycling Challenge riders come through, then down S Fooses Creek on the CT. There were very few hikers that day to be runned over.
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Post by cweston on Feb 9, 2021 8:16:12 GMT -8
FWIW, the route seems pretty simple either from Marshall Pass or, as we approached it, coming from the other direction. I can share more detail if you're interested. I love the pic with your daughter--including the fact that she seems to genuinely like you (or is good at faking it)  I went on a BP trip with my daughter (first time ever just her and me) when she was about 18, IIRC. It was so awesome to get along, not be caught up in all that teenage father/daughter crap for a few days, etc. I think it was actually a real turning point in our relationship. (She's about to turn 27.) |
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TrailElder
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Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed
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Post by TrailElder on Feb 9, 2021 18:11:16 GMT -8
FWIW, the route seems pretty simple either from Marshall Pass or, as we approached it, coming from the other direction. Yes, it looked pretty straightforward. We all said, "We should walk up there sometime!" That's why it was fun to see your report. I couldn't have dreamed of having the relationship with Emily (who just turned 27) that I do. What a gift. We are each others' favorite backpacking and alpine skiing buddies. (Except the thru-hiking thing -- 20-mile days on a popular trail are not my idea of a good time...but she started the CT solo and made good friends on the trail.) The skiing has been a lifetime thing for us, but the backpacking has been since she was an adult. We kind of got into it together, so she wasn't burned out on it the way that I burned her out on mountain biking. She loves a good bushwhack and has even taken up Tenkara flyfishing. While I understand your skepticism, I'm pretty sure she's not faking it. She actually works with me....a rising star in my company. You'd think she'd had enough already! |
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Post by cweston on Feb 10, 2021 5:42:32 GMT -8
Nice, TrailElder. We have three kids: two sons and a daughter. She was the middle child. In our family, she was the one who really put us through it during the teenage years. (The boys were "easy" by comparison.) But that does sort of make it that much sweeter to have a really good relationship with her now. I know a lot of parents/children never really recover from those teenage years. |
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Post by johntpenca on Feb 10, 2021 16:34:29 GMT -8
bringing back memories of supporting my daughter a bit on the CT this past summer. Good thing she got your wife's good looks and your love for the outdoors. |
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