Looking for Backpacking Destination Southwest Colorado

Just finished the Weminuche earlier this month by coming in from the north (Silverton) but no lower TH .. felt it (think my days of sleeping in a car next to the TH to acclimate in just 1 night are over). On top of Mesa verde, you might try Vallecito reservoir area or going along the road to the TH to Florida Lake .. car camp nearby before starting up.

September is when the aspens all turn 'gold'. Some spectacular hikes. I took family (kids 6 and 8) over a trail head on Snowmass Creek to Snowmass Lake then over Buckskin, Willow and another pass that connects to east Snowmass Creek back to the car. Three days and the trees should be terrific.

mapper.acme.com/?ll=39.11075,-107.00315&z

Another long walk through aspen is Conundrum Hot Springs south following the creek. It is a 'natural' spring. Meaning clothing optional.

mapper.acme.com/?ll=39.00998,-106.88388&z

Most people who come from out of state to hike in Colorado aren't acclimated. The Snowmass trip stays close to 10,000 with quick trips over higher passes.

Thanks speacock, I'll check those out. I've been reading up on the Four Passes Loop in Maroon Bells and would dearly love to do it, but acclimation is my biggest concern. I'm contemplating a change of plans to skip Mesa Verde and visit Great Basin NP instead (I'm coming from Vegas). The car campsites at Great Basin are above 7,000, and I could hike higher to get some altitude. From there I'll drive to a hotel near the trailhead. Aspen CO is above 7,000, but I'd like to sleep a little higher the night before starting Maroon Bells.

Not sure if 2 nights over 7,000 are enough to acclimate for the Four Passes Loop, which we'd do in 4 days/3 nights (one hiking buddy with me). Looks like the backcountry campsites are 10-11k. Doing the loop clockwise, the first night we'd hike past Crater Lake and camp somewhere in the valley along Maroon Creek. If not acclimated we could bail by backtracking, but that would be a big disappointment.

I live in Chicagoland, flat and low. The last time we tried a multiday trek at high altitude we had to bail. Drove from Chi to a hotel @9800 feet, didn't get much sleep. Next day started the trek from west side of Lost Creek Wilderness and camped at 10.8k, not much sleep. Next day hike to 12+ was very difficult. My symptoms were fatigue and light headedness, but my buddy lost his lunch on Bison Peak. Too far from the car, we camped in the same 10.8k spot that night and slept a little better. Next day we did a dayhike in Lost Creek (all about 10k) and felt pretty good. Two days later we did a long dayhike in RMNP up to Sky Pond, no problems.

That was about 5 years ago. We'll be 56 & 58 this time, in decent shape but not compared to mountain junkies. I'd like more time to acclimate but it just doesn't fit our schedule. We're in Vegas for the World Masters slowpitch softball championships which ends the last Sunday in September, and we will likely be a bit legsore from playing a lot of games over the 3 day tourney. Monday night we'll be in Great Basin, and Tuesday night Aspen (or Leadville) if we're shooting for Maroon Bells. Weather forecast may play a factor. We're good down to upper teens overnight, but aren't bringing snowshoes.

Last year for this tournament we took 2 weeks vacation, and hiked in Utah the week before and the week after the tourney. Visited all 5 NP's in southern Utah plus the North Rim of the GC. Haven't ruled out Utah again, though I also did a full week there in 2012. It's been much longer since I've hiked the Rockies, which I feel like doing this trip.

I live at 600' above sea level. My play ground is from the east side of the Sierra. Trail heads start around 9500'+ after a 4 hour drive.

I have a problem with high altitude - at times. Its called Cheyne-Stokes syndrome and is essentially sleep apnea which I don't have below 7,000'. I keep 250mg Diamox (prescription drug - check with your MD) tablets handy and take one in the evening during dinner and before I go to bed. Without it, I get portions of sleep - that is for as long as I can hold my breath after I drift off. It is especially troublesome if I lay on my back. Laying on my side seems to be better. Otherwise I have the usual minor symptoms of altitude adaptation. Usually by end of first day I forget about the altitude - except when powering uphill. That just doesn't happen.

My wife brought it to my attention when she first noticed it. She thought I had died and was checking for a pulse. She mentioned that I snore at altitude - not so much at home.

You will still loose some sleep. It is a diuretic, so after all the extra water you will need to replace what it uses, you will be seeing a few nice starry late nights. It causes some interesting affects by reducing the amount of dissolved CO2 and changes the pH of your blood. That causes you to breath faster and increase uptake of oxygen. Minor problems for others include tingling lips and carbonated beverages are really just crap. I take a half pill in the afternoon, during lunch, if I want to drift off for a snooze reading a book. It's a sulfa drug used for treatment of epilepsy.

For me it is a 2 or 3 nighter usually. It is really the pits when you don't sleep for 3 nights and you have to hustle up a pass the next day.

If you get some significant symptoms back off.

Do check weather forecasts and current conditions. It really is a pain to have to remember where the trail is that you went up the day before which is now covered in almost knee high snow. Take along short gaiters. They keep trail debris out the top of your boots too.

If you go to Leadville and surrounds, check out as much of the mining history as you can. A trip down a mine will give you extra needed oxygen. If still a little woosie in the morning, keep your explorations to eating carbohydrates, hydrating, driving and going WOW! a lot, rather than walking.

The highest peak in Colorado is just a few miles south on Hiway 24 from Leadville. If you feel like 20 yo's, that is a nice quick up and back.