Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2016 19:26:59 GMT -8
I'm thinking of heading to the San Juan Mountains of SW Colorado in early August. I'm considering hiking the route from Telluride to Quray. Last summer and fall I spent a lot of time in Grand Teton, Glacier, and Banff national parks. Will the San Juans be as incredible as those places? I really like alpine and glacial lake hikes. The color of the water and surrounding peaks in the aforementioned places was unreal. Will I find comparable beauty in the San Juans? Wondering if I'll be let down after having visited the places I mentioned. Anyone have recommendations for places to see in SW Colorado?
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Post by absarokanaut on Jul 14, 2016 4:41:34 GMT -8
Ice Lakes is one of the most scenic dayhikes in the world. Higland Mary Lakes are really awesome as well, and there is a lot of other awesome country. There's a tremendous amount of exquisite country in the San Juans, but IMO the Sangre de Cristo is the glory of Colorado. Lots of truly amazing lakes. Wish I could figure out how to post pics.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2016 9:51:25 GMT -8
The northern and southern Rockies are pretty different, but the southern ones are pretty nice also. I agree with you that the northern Rockies are hard to beat.
The Weminuche Wilderness area is very nice.
I've only done a couple areas there; climbing trips to Chicago Basin and the Grenadiers, and they were both beautiful. They're both areas you can access from the Durango <=> Silverton narrow gauge railroad. The train stops at a couple points to let day hikers and backpackers disembark or embark.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Jul 15, 2016 10:42:19 GMT -8
I think Teton, Glacier and Banff-Jasper et al. have the incredible factor over the San Juan's. Recommend you modify your plan to increase the fun factor and rent a jeep for a day over Imogene Pass between Ouray and Telluride rather than a hike. No matter, you won't have a let down.
What is your hiking timeline?
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Post by larrys on Jul 18, 2016 6:51:00 GMT -8
I agree with Westy. Do the train loop from Elk Creek to the Chicago Basin. The top of Columbine Pass is just about as good as it gets in Colorado to me. Then I would do the jeep trip above. Take some time to head over to Mesa Verde for the cliff dweller ruins and you will have a great trip. Durango is a pretty cool town.
Titcomb Basin in the Wind Rivers is a close second to the Tetons for Wyoming's best, but Glacier and Canadian Rockies have them all beat.
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Post by absarokanaut on Jul 20, 2016 14:56:53 GMT -8
Mt. Robson, Edith Clavell, etc. are amazing but otherwise Canada didn't do a lot for me, and Glacier didn't impress me any more than my beloved South Absaroka Wall. The Wind Rivers were full of Canadians when I went to Bomber a couple of years ago. I would guess the Winds are the backpacking mecca of the known universe; there is SO MUCH more than Titcomb.
We all have our own best places.
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