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Post by trinity on Jul 14, 2016 8:21:11 GMT -8
As I posted in a previous thread, I am researching possible trips in CO for this Sept. This will be the first non-solo trip I have taken in many years, and I'm not really sure of the backpacking abilities of some of the folks I will be out with. I have come up with some possible trips, and was wondering if anyone knows these areas well enough to comment on how these itineraries look:
Flat Tops Wilderness
-Day 1: Stillwater Lake trailhead to West Lost Lake--about 10 miles
-Day 2: West Lost Lake to Mosquito Lake--about 10.5 miles
-Day 3: Mosquito Lake to Island Lake--about 8 miles
-Day 4: Island Lake to Edge Lake--about 10 miles
-Day 5: Edge Lake to trailhead--about 4 miles
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
-Day 1: Venable-Comanche trailhead to Venable Lakes--about 4.5 miles
-Day 2: Venable Lakes over Venable Pass to Rito Alto Lake--about 5 miles?
-Day 3: Rito Alto Lake to North Crestone Lake--about 7-8 miles?
-Day 4: North Crestone Lake to Comanche Lake--about 5 miles
-Day 5: Comanche Lake to trailhead--about 4.5 miles
We are also considering the Lost Creek Loop (about a 30 mile loop) and the Four-pass Loop (shouldn't be too crowded during the week).
I haven't been to the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, but the terrain is quite a bit steeper there, so I'm guessing we'd take lower mileage days there than in the Flat Tops. Some of these mileages I'm having to guess or estimate. Anyone have any thoughts on the feasibility of either of these loops?
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Post by absarokanaut on Jul 16, 2016 12:48:31 GMT -8
Don't skip the Phantom Terrace!
Sangre Trails have some steeps but are usually well graded. Like the most spectacular of places that are narrow and rugged you people with Loopsternitis will skip the BEST because it's in and out. But that's a great loop, do it if you can.
Here's a non-loop Sangre Adventure. With five days in the Sangres I'd:
Do two nights to Willow Lake area, one of the most spectacular of places ANYWHERE. Dayhike Challenger-Kit Carson.
On day 3 afternoon option 1:
Drive over to Comanche Venable Trailhead. Do the loop going to Comanche Lake first then over Comanche Pass, up to and then down the Phantom Terrace.
Option 2:
Go back to your vehicle and resupply for a nite or two up to South Crestone Lake. If you do this you might throw in S. Zapata LAke as a dayhike when heading Southeast.
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Post by cweston on Jul 16, 2016 13:26:34 GMT -8
I haven't been to the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, but the terrain is quite a bit steeper there, so I'm guessing we'd take lower mileage days there than in the Flat Tops. Some of these mileages I'm having to guess or estimate. Anyone have any thoughts on the feasibility of either of these loops? In addition to Absarokanaut's Sangre comments... If you like summits, you can climb Fluted Peak from N. Crestone Lake, which is a little easier than Kit Carson from Willow Lake. The toughest part is gaining the hanging valley above the north shore of the lake. It's smooth sailing from there to the pass on the main crest of the Sangres and the summit of Fluted. Class 2, not particularly steep except gaining the hanging valley. I'm am also a big fan of the Cottonwood Pass (also known as Milwaukee Pass) area of the Sangres, which is accessed from Music Pass (on the East side). From the basin on the Cottonwood Creek side of the pass, Broken Hand Peak is a nice class 2 climb. Not really a loop trip, but see above. The views on the way to Cottonwood Pass from Sand Creek are among the finest in Colorado. Cottonwood Pass can also be accessed from Cottonwood Creek on the West side, but the trail is basically abandoned, and includes a particularly tricky section of class 3 scrambling and some tough route-finding. |
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Post by cweston on Jul 16, 2016 13:31:38 GMT -8
Oh, I just re-read your OP. If you're taking people whose abilities you're not sure of, don't take them up Cottonwood Creek on the Crestone Side.
But do take them to the Sangres. I haven't been to the Flattops, but I've been to the Sangres several times and they are among the best CO has to offer.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2016 6:54:55 GMT -8
Your Flattops trip first day is rather ambitious. Not sure why you'd want to lose all the elevation from the Flattop to camp in Mosquito swamp. You're dropping about 2000 ft and will have to climb right back up the next day. There are a couple of small lakes about a mile past Devil's Causeway that I've camped at in the past. Don't know about Edge lake but the last time I took that trail to Island Lake I camped at Road lake.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jul 17, 2016 11:04:27 GMT -8
For me the big attraction of the Sangres is the solitude. You will see a few others on the loop, but don't be surprised if you find you have some of the target lakes all to yourself. Here would be my suggestion: Start From the Comanche Venable trailhead take the Rainbow Trail to Hermit Pass road, then hike up the road to Hermit lake. Day 2, Hermit Lake to Rito Alto Lake. Day 3, Rito Alto to Venable Lake. Day 4, Venable to Comanche Lake via the Phantom Terrace. Day 5 Comanche lake back to the trailhead.
You could also do this hike in the reverse order, which might make more sense, as the longest leg would then be mostly downhill.
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Post by trinity on Jul 18, 2016 10:11:59 GMT -8
These are all very helpful comments, thank you! Lamebeaver , that seems like a lot of road walking. Is there a reason you'd rather take this route? |
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jul 18, 2016 10:53:25 GMT -8
The road walking is rather easy going. If it were me, I'd cache a mountain bike near my destination. The Rito Alto to North Crestone day would be quite a hike as well.
Another alternative would be start on the west side from Cotton Lake, then go to Rito Alto...eventually ending up in Crestone. You should be able to find someone there who would be willing to give one of you a ride back to the Cotton Lake trailhead for a small donation.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Jul 18, 2016 14:28:23 GMT -8
I like the San Juans quite a bit. I like the Sangres, too, but they're not as amenable to long rambles.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2016 10:43:55 GMT -8
If you're really uncertain about the abilities of the people you're backpacking with, the Lost Creek Wilderness trip you mentioned might be worth considering. Or do a couple segments of the Colorado Trail in the same general area.
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