This trip started with a beautiful warm hike on Friday after a solitary night at a windswept camp spot above still closed Goose Creek Campground. The trail head had 3 vehicles when I arrived - one of which was a small bus ( http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=39.1731,-105.3749&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1) . I left around 9am and made it to Refrigerator Gulch and camped there ( http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=39.2375,-105.4315&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1 ) after seeing just 2 separate individual hikers (a guy day hiking from his packed in camp and a gal with full pack who was lost) and a school group from CO Springs. I went to bed early after a meal of potato flakes with garlic, rice, corn, broccoli and pepperoni slices. Right after this meal it began to rain so I went to bed for a bit. During a lull in the rain, I hung my food bag using the improved "PCT Method" with a caribeener and a twig. As I was finishing this task it began raining again so I went back to bed where I stayed the rest of the night. Soon it began hailing (with accumulation) and then a large thunder storm rolled in. I was happy to be snug in my tent.
The morning broke with overcast skies but thankfully no more rain. I had a breakfast of Starbucks Instant Coffee which is pretty good (!?) and instant oatmeal (well, OK - I know this isn't a good breakfast but I actually like this slop). I spent the morning trying to dry out as much as possible before packing up.
I continued hiking up through McCurdy Park and then turned on the Lake Park trail. A scout master with a troop warned me that this trail can be faint and snow covered this time of year and that I should carefully follow the "splashes" (tree cut trail markings"). BOY WAS HE RIGHT!! I ended up post holing for a long stretch of 10,500-11,200 north sloping terrain. I had gators and by using a convenient stick as a staff, I made it through the snow OK but only after getting well and thoroughly lost. To find my way again, I had to backtrack and zigzag to find another splash from which to start again. This terrain topped out at 11,200' before descending and when I rounded to the SE side the snow diminished. I continued to Lake Park where the only water was in a brackish pond ( http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=39.1778,-105.4301&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1 ).
Fortunately, there were two other backpackers there and they let me filter enough water for the night (my filter does not have a pump). There would be more water on the Hankins Pass trail the next day. That evening the two backpackers went for a photographic stroll and I went for a walk down canyon. A mile or so from my camp I heard water flowing in the distance, and returned to camp for my water bag. I fought through thick undergrowth and marshy terrain until I came upon the sound's source . It wasn't much of a flow but I really wanted coffee in the morning and I didn't have enough water for that unless I took advantage of this flow. After dark I returned to camp and heard noises in the distance - the sound of breaking tree limbs and thrashing. These sounds were coming from the area near-but not quite at- the trail I had taken in to Lake Park. As I scanned the hill side from where these sounds emanated, I noticed two headlamps coming directly down the slope to the south of where I knew the trail was. Soon I realized that these were the lights of the two photographers making their way cross country back to camp. When they got down to their camp they let out quite a WHOOP in happiness at having gotten out of all the rough terrain they just traversed.
The next morning I awoke chilled due to not having had a warm dinner the night before. After the sun truly rose I got up, ate and had coffee and packed prior to leaving. My trip down to the trail head was uneventful but the remaining beer in the car tasted great! There were over 27 vehicles at the trail head when I left.
Links to Google Earth provided by my SPOT locater.
Several points worth remembering:
1. Among the highlights of this trip for me was the lack of bugs of any kind. They will surely be arriving soon so May could be the best month for this loop if bugs "bug" you.
2. Be prepared for any weather and conditions you may encounter no matter how unlikely.
3. When lost - ALWAYS return to your last known position if possible before continuing.
No comments:
Post a Comment