Sept 15th - The Divide Called and more Full Moon Fun!

Having Mondays off, I still like to go out and play.

I actually enjoy having a weekday off. The trails are less busy and the lack of traffic to the trail means I get there quicker!

I enjoy backpacking trips by myself, but do enjoy day hiking with friends.

Luckily, I have a few friends who are unfettered.

One of these friends is Andy. Having just completed the AT and not starting up a new job yet, he has some free time.

So, he joined me for a quick jaunt to Argentine Peak on the Continental Divide via the old Waldorf Mine area.

The weather continues to provide all the reasons why I love Fall hiking in Colorado: Great weather, no lightning danger, insects are gone, the trails are become less crowded. And the touch of snow on the trails really make the ridge lines and mountains stand in sharp relief!

We made our way up the "trail" (a jeep road) and attained the ridge. We were now on the Continental Divide and on the "official" CDT.

Nearby Gray's and Torrey's peak really stuck out and the ridge line lead to many other hikes I would love to do. Andy also pointed out the beautiful Peru Creek valley below; a well known and phenomenal ski tour that is perfect for beginners. (I am also looking to convert people to my new found religion of ski touring!)

On the divide with Grays and Torreys behind me

The day was simply great. A relatively chill hike to a high 13er on the Divide. The sun was warm, the views enticing, the conversation great.

We walked down the summit, followed the ridge and headed back to the car. After a quick late lunch/early dinner at the well known biker bar of Kermitts (known for their chili), we headed back to our homes.

Once I arrived in Boulder, part two of the day began: Chushu no meigetsu; or a Japanese Autumnal Moon hike.

The fall full moons are perhaps my favorite full moon. The air is cool, the moon is bright and large. Even in Colorado there is a slight smell of Autumn in the air.

The plan for this hike was to do an American take on the Japanese Full moon viewing. The destination was the ever beautiful Lost Lake.

At perhaps 4 miles R/T (we parked a little away from the 4wd accessible TH) and less than 1000' elev gain, it is the perfect destination for both a full moon and a weekday hike.

The moonlit walk was stunning. Once we popped out at Lost Lake, the moon was so bright that looking at it actually impaired the night vision a bit!

At the lake, we enjoyed the night. Sake was drank, sushi was eaten, taro chips were consumed.

Another wonderful moonlit walk.

And another hike where many people discovered a new found love for strolls at night.

With each of these social moonlit hikes I do, I seem to make new converts. People who have developed a love for one of my favorite ways of hiking: By the light of the moon.

Argentine Peak photos

Chushu no meigetsu photos

September 14th - Lunar Longs

This past "weekend", the theme was moonlight hikes to high elevation areas.

The first hike was started at almost 1am in the morning to Longs Peak

I had wanted to do this hike last month. But a freak August snow storm canceled the hike.

So this month, we tried again. The moon was almost full, the weather was set to be good. Everything aligned for a great hike.

Then, by 8pm, it started to rain hard..which means SNOW at 14k+ feet.

A decision had to be made. Did we go and take a chance it would clear up? Or would we postpone this hike for next year?

At the parking lot, we made a game day decision. I had a gut feeling the drizzle in Boulder would be clear by the time we made treeline. It was a gamble, but something in me said it would be fine.

So we went for it. The five of us grabbed coffee at a gas station, piled into Tara's Subaru and made it to the trail head for 12:30 am. By 12:45 were on the trail.

The night was drizzly, but surprisingly warm. As we continued higher, the clouds started to thin out.

As we popped above treeline, the clouds almost instantly vanished. The moon lit up everything so brightly that a headlamp was not needed. We were above the clouds and could clearly see the summit of Longs above us.

It was quite simply one of the most stunning moonlit nights I've been on.

As we made our way up the trail, I continued to be amazed at the sight around me. Being above treeline at the foot this distinctive summit was simply a sight to behold. The famous Diamond was illuminated, the patches of moonlit snow glowed, the cold air made us feel alive.

We made our way to the Keyhole at about 13k ft. Looking beyond, we decide to call it a night (morning?). The route becomes somewhat technical beyond this point and hiking at night in the snow and ice was not something I wanted to do!

No matter. The sights to that point was just jaw dropping.

We took refuge from the wind in the Agnes Vaille shelter that is next to the Keyhole. Threw on our "puffy jackets" and slurped copious amounts of hot beverages.

Tara and Jessica enjoying some chai

After a while, it was time to get going.

We made our way to the Boulder Field where the sun was just starting to rise.

If the moonlit was walk was surreal and stark, the sunrise over the plains was dramatic and awe inspiring.

We were still well above the clouds. It looked like an ocean below us with the "islands" being the peaks poking above the cloudline. It was simply awesome.

Tom enjoying the start of sunrise

The sun rising over an ocean of clouds. Twin Sisters are in view.

After this amazing sight, we worked out way down in the morning alpenglow. We greeted the people working there way up the mountain and above the clouds as we descended back into them.

After walking into the cool, crisp and fragrant pine forest, we made it to the ranger station for one last group photo. After ~12+ miles and 4000' elev gain, this amazing hike was over.

L>R Tara, Mickey, me, Tom, Jessica

As we drove back, being up since 8am or so hit me. We grabbed some breakfast (a burger and beer was craved out of habit!), made our way back to Boulder. I arrived at Casa Mags. Crawled into bed and almost immediately dreamed about the wonderful hike I just had.

And the following day? A 13er AND another moonlit hike!

Photos

September 7th - Ring Around The Buffalo

Buffalo Mountain is a 12000 ft+ peak right off of I-70 that really dominates the scenery for the town of Silverthorne.

Located in the rugged Gore Range, it is a mountain I have seen many times and have even done some trail restoration work on as well.

But, I did not know the backside of the mountain too well.

The Gore Range is surprisingly remote feeling because it does not have any 14ers. As such, it is ignored by many hikers...and trail maintenance crews!

Every time I go in the Gore Range there is always route finding challenges (sometimes difficult, sometimes no so much), rocky, rooty and steeps trails...and awesome mountain scenery, secluded areas and wide open walking.

This past Sunday was no exception. Throw in PERFECT early Fall weather, and the hiking was awesome.

The route for the trip was a loop around the mountain that was about 15 miles or so with 3500' elev gain (a guesstimate on my part).

The hike started off at a trailhead just off the busy interstate. Within a mile or so, the trail already seemed much more remote.

Joining me for the hike was my friend Andy (Garlic) who just completed the AT and his Triple Crown. What better way to catch up with a hiker friend than on a hike?

After popping into the woods, we came to the wide open meadow and spied our destination for the first part of the hike: Eccles Pass.

One website described the pass follows:

(Featuring) magnificent views of Gore Range, alpine meadows, and the valley behind Buffalo Mountain...the pass at 11,900' that will reward you with some of the most stunning scenery in Colorado.

It was not hyperbole. The entire morning we were surrounded by the wonderful mountains, with bright blue and cloudless skies and a touch of crisp coolness to the air.

View from Eccles Pass. Looking towards Buffalo Mountain

After the pass, we worked our way down to the valley and made our way to a short side trip to Red Buffalo Pass.

This pass was equally outstanding. The highlight for me was seeing Buffalo Mountain flanked by Grays and Torreys peaks. Two 14ers (Grays the only 14er on the Continental Divide) that were probably very busy on this Fall day. On this pass? We had it all to ourselves!

The flank of Buffalo Mountain flanked by Grays and Torrey's

The view of the ridge at Red Buffalo Pass

After all this magnificent mountain scenery, we made our way back into the trees, hiked up some very steep and not-too-well-marked trails and enjoyed the occasional view towards the mountains.

The hike was almost over when we came upon Lily Pad Lake. A very popular family hike (very gentle trail, only ~3 miles R/T), it is very pretty. Alas, there was much evidence of the current nemesis of the Colorado high country - Pine Bark Beetle kill.

The trail continued in a pleasant (if infected) wooded area. We dropped lower and entered into the elevation where much aspen is growing.

With the lighting at its best and the trees placed just so, one grove of aspens reminded of a cathedral.

On this Sunday, I had entered a church.

Not a church of brick and stone.

Rather a church that seems somehow more genuine than any formal place of worship. No church, synagogue, mosque, stupa or what-have-you can equal this simple aspen grove in letting me give thanks for being in the mountains. Letting me celebrate what was around me more so than any organized place of worship ever could.

Not long after, we reached the cars. Drove to the neighboring town of Frisco and celebrated and worshiped another equally compelling artifact of my Sunday hiking rituals: BEER.

Life, as I continue to think, is good.

All the photos

August 31st - The Saddle..and hiker trash in town!

Originally, I had wanted to get out of town this past weekend for a nice, long, hard backpacking trip.

I contemplated going up to the Medicine Bows/Snowy Range just over the Wyoming Border or perhaps the Rawahs. Both ranges I have not explored much and see little use.

But my plans changed.

I received a call from my CDT friend (who now lives in Boulder) Love Barge.

LB said how another CDT buddy Skittles is up in Steamboat Springs with Recess. Poor Recess had a case of giardia, needed to recuperate and could not hike for a while.

Long story short: I picked them up in Steam Boat and came back to the Boulder area via Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.

It was great seeing Skittles and Recess. I have not seen Skittles since near Wolf Creek Pass in 2006 when we hiked the CDT. All four of us had fun playing tourist on the road, we enjoyed the sites and we all christened my new apartment (that I moved in 2 days before!) in true hiker style: we ate a lot of food!!!

I still wanted to get in a hike, though.

So Saturday, I had planed to hike Fairchild Mountain. However, the impending clouds made me decide to hike to The Saddle instead. At 16 or so miles R/T and almost 4000' elev gain, it made for a nice, solid day hike.

The park, as expected, was busy.

However, once I was past the main trailhead area, the crowds dispersed.

The hike up to Lawn Lake was easy. I enjoyed the view towards my destination and the high 13ers of the Mummy Range surrounding me.

I continued my hike to The Saddle.

The appropriately named place connects the ends of the Mummy Range together and makes for the easiest approach to Fairchild.

However, with the black clouds building up, the mountain would have to wait for another day.

I enjoyed one last view from The Saddle and headed down.

The rest of the hike was uneventful but was a great way to unwind from the busy week.

I made it back to Casa Mags, we ordered some pizza had two more local hikers visit us and called it a night.

Labor Day was uneventful. But Skittles and Recess did get to finish up some needed chores.

And Tues morning? I drove Recess and Skittles up to Brainard Lake where they planned to go to Pawnee Pass on the Continental Divide, hook up to the CDT again at Monarch Lake and do some sort of flip-flop to continue their journey.

It was hard seeing them off. Not only was it the perfect Colorado Fall day (crisp air, blue skies, gorgeous mountains with a slightly coating of snow), but my friends were able to be on a long journey. Me? I had to go to the office and work. Waaah!

Not quite the weekend I planned, but enjoyable.

All the photos from The Saddle Hike

August 22nd - 25th : Divide Walk Weekend

After a frustrating week of work (and a some frustrating events in my own life in general) and preparing to move into a new place (eating terribly, not exercising enough this past week). I desperately wanted to get out of town for the weekend.

I was invited to a happy hour on Friday. Had another opportunity to "party" on Saturday. But, I wanted the simple joy of being in the backcountry instead.

On Friday, I drove directly to the Moffat Tunnel trailhead. Loaded up my pack and did a leisurely 4 mile hike to Rogers Pass Lake in the shadow of the Continental Divide. I had planned on hiking further to Heart Lake just above treeline. But the storm hanging on the divide convinced me to find a nice campsite in the trees by the lower of the two lakes instead.

The view towards the divide, the rain gently falling on my shelter, a beer I packed in and a good book all proved to make for relaxing and satisfying Friday evening.

On the way to Rogers Pass Lake

The following morning, I woke up to a much more crowded trail and trailhead. The hike out was pleasant if uneventful.

Relaxed in the small mountain town of Nederland over a leisurely breakfast.

Finally drove back to Boulder for part two of the weekend: A walk on the Continental Divide.

I met up with my good buddy d-low, picked up our friend Nira (42 to you AT hikers) fresh from her summer of being an instructor for Outward Bound and we drove up to Guanella Pass Road.

This road was car camping central! Many people; most of whom seemed to be chopping down wood with chain saws, shooting targets (when shooting is not allowed on the road) and generally making lots of noise in what is rather nice valley. Not my idea of fun, but to each their own...

After finding a parking spot, we started up the South Park trail, crossed a creek and quickly left the noise and crowds behind. I suspect most of the car campers would not hike this trail and most hikers are probably reluctant to start a hike in this busy area. Plus, many of the hikers tend to go to the nearby 14ers.

The three of us ended up having this area to ourselves and enjoyed the views towards Bierstadt in the evening light.

We found a decent camping spot, set up our shelters and enjoyed the soothing sound of the brook when we finally called it a night.

The following morning we followed the trail to the ridge and the Red Cone jeep trail. Early in the morning, the normally busy trail was deserted. We enjoyed the above treeline views towards the divide, the not-so-distant 14ers and the nearly cloudless sky.

Myself, Nira (42) and d-low

Our route to Red Cone

After summit Red Cone we followed the jeep road a bit to the physical divide and then followed a use trail up to a series of 13k foot peaks.

Funny. We could see Grays and Torry's peaks, Evans and Bierstardt at some point throughout the trip. All very busy and popular peaks because they are 14ers. Below us, we could see a fair amount of jeep traffic on the roads below.

On this gorgeous day, with outstanding views along this ridge? We were the only people. Using the logic of d-low, I am glad so many people get wrapped up in "bagging" 14ers. It leaves the other peaks to us.

I love ridge walks. And being on the Continental Divide, with mountains all around us, is about as good a ridge walk you can get.

We took a leisurely break on our last peak and headed down to Lake Josephine for lunch.

The lake was tranquil and provided a good look towards where we had been all morning.

A storm started brewing, so we packed up our gear, and headed down one last jeep road to make our way to the car.

The jeep road walk was actually pleasant. Nice views, a meandering creek and so quiet. Almost all the campers were gone. The valley was again quiet. It was easier to appreciate the beauty of the valley without listening to guns, chainsaws, loud music and other types of noise we experienced the previous day.

The rain opened up. Luckily we were two minutes at the most from the car. We changed into dry clothes, drove off and again had another enjoyable weekend playing in Colorado.

All the photos

My Cheesy Backpacker Magazine cover.. ;-)

Though I like this photo, I'll be the first to admit it looks like something out of a bad cover for Backpacker Magazine:


Being the sarcastic twerp I am, I gave the photo this caption:

I can see the titles on the cover: DON'T GET LOST..TIPS FROM EXPERTS! TOP TEN SECRET PLACES THAT WE'LL RUIN! EXPENSIVE GEAR YOU HAVE TO BUY!

Dlarson over the BPLITE.COM took my idea and ran with it:




Too funny!

He also Photoshopped one my other photos and made an old time looking post card as a joke:



Never knew my photos were so inspirational. ;)

August 16th and 17th - A Change of Plans

All summer, the weekends have been hot and dry. The weekend where I plan two 14+ miles hikes (one of which a full moon hike to Longs Peak), it rains and snows! :)

The weather forecast was such:

RAIN SHOWERS LIKELY AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF
THUNDERSTORMS EARLY IN THE EVENING...THEN RAIN SHOWERS...SNOW
SHOWERS LIKELY AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LATE
EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE
IN THE HIGHER PASSES.  LOWS 36 TO 42. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60
PERCENT.

Needless to say, hiking above treeline (and later on, hiking above treeline at night!) was not exactly the brightest idea.

I've always said "I will not cancel hikes..but I will modify them" :)

So I modified the hikes.

I just did some local hikes in Boulder on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday was a drizzly, New-England-esque stroll. Perfect day for a solo, contemplative hike.

From the west ridge, I could see the very cloudy, socked in continental divide. What little of the mountains I could see were covered in a layer of fresh snow.

Sunday a friend joined me for a hike with some beer at the Southern Sun afterwards. My friend had never been to the SoSun; I could not pass up the opportunity to bring a friend to one of my favorite places in Boulder. :)

The hike itself was up Gregory Canyon to Green and back again. The weather was actually nice in Boulder..but the divide was still socked in the clouds.

Not quite the weekend I planned, but enjoyable. The nice thing about living in the Boulder area is that even the local hikes are fun, challenging and offer a good experience in the outdoors.

Not too bad...