Stardate 2017.507

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!
A Snowcatcher Photo


PLAY'N HOOKY
Ride the Rockies is Snowcatcher's gig! She got me into it — I've done 6 now — and it's something you need to check out if you're a cyclist. I think you'll find yourself wanting more. Sadly, orthopedic conditions sidelined Snowcatcher from this year's ride. However, she did SaG (Support and Gear) and escort me around host communities and lodging, which was nice.

Day 4 of the Tour had been a huge day. It tossed me 84 miles of mountain riding over three passes. Much of the route was above 9,000 feet in elevation. Consequently, Coal Bank Pass (10,640 ft), Molas Pass (10,910 ft), and Red Mountain Pass (11,018 ft) took their toll on my aging legs. I just wanted to enjoy the awesome B&B Snowcatcher secured for us in advance. The following pic is looking south from our B&B toward the Sneffels Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado. As a side note, I grew up about 1.5 hours to the north of here, and the locale made me a tad homesick.



Day 5 was a short "rest ride" along a scary, high-use roadway (State Highway 550). So we played hooky instead and journeyed to one of our favorite areas — the East, Middle, and West Forks of the Cimarron River. Twelve years ago I proposed to Snowcatcher high in the Middle Fork Basin, and as they say, "the rest is history."

Following are more pics from the area. All three basins were still snowed in. They should open up for access in early July. The Cimarron Forks begin high in the Uncompahgre Wilderness Area. This area initially was called the Big Blue Wilderness, which I liked much better. Uncompahgre, loosely translated, means dirty water. Oh well... Enjoy!

The next pic is from Owl Creek Pass (11,120 ft) and the access road to lower West Fork Cimarron.




Precipice Peak (13,144 ft, rank 529) is framed in the background. My marriage proposal occurred on its backside, high up the Middle Fork of the Cimarron.




Snow temporarily marked the end of the West Fork road. There's still jeep road before reaching a trailhead.




The airy summit of Chimney Rock rises to 11,781 feet.




Numerous volcanic rock formations line the West Fork. The volcanism in this area is often beyond spectacular.




A member of the Lily family — Veratrum tenuipetalum
Also known as False Hellebore, Skunk Cabbage, and Corn Lily; it will average 4 feet in height.




The East Fork Cimarron is on the left, and the Middle Fork is on the right.




I love how dandelions enhance high Montane meadows. Do you?




That's it for a while. Thanks for reading.

Adios

Stardate 2016.616

Silverjack and the West Fork of the Cimarron River


Cimarron
Recently, Snowcatcher and I visited one of our favorite places – the headwaters of the Cimarron River. We decided to do some mountain biking in the vicinity of the confluence of the East, Middle and West Forks. Each of these rugged basins provide northerly access into the Uncompahgre Wilderness area. Formerly the Big Blue Wilderness, a title I prefer, this arguably is one of the most scenic regions in the northern San Juan Mountains.



The lesser-visited East Fork of the Cimarron is still wild and woolly. Although the area has been "discovered," the Middle and West Forks still have their own wild mysticism. Each basin projects a unique personality; they project their own siren. Enter the 1990s with self-serve gas stations located in isolated corners of the state. A new era of touring was born. Thank you credit cards and 24-hour access. (We used to have to carry extra petrol when venturing into rural areas).

However, it's still easy to disappear from people and civilization, even though things have changed a bit since John Wayne visited in 1969. Are you a Wayne fan? The original True Grit with John Wayne and Kim Darby was filmed in this area.




Majestic ramparts abound.




If you haven't seen this area cloaked in fall color, you're in for a treat.



Looking up Middle Fork, one is awed by rugged Pinnacle Ridge separating the East and Middle Forks of the Cimarron River. I proposed to Snowcatcher in an Elysian basin far up the Middle Fork as the setting sun was turning surrounding rock and peaks crimson red.




Sheep Mountain rises high above the mouth of the East Fork basin to 13,168 feet.




The short and steep grunt up the Middle Fork to the Wilderness area parking is nothing short of a grind.




There are more blog posts to come, especially with fall only a little more than a month away for these mountains.

Adios

Stardate 2015.611

More Cimarron

This post is a continuation of my previous post featuring the Cimarron River region of the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado . Enjoy.



Scruffy Turret Ridge separates Middle Fork Cimarron River from West Fork Cimarron River. Some technical rock climbing takes place here. However, rock climbing is minimal, as the conglomerate can be crumbly and loose. On the other hand, high alpine mountaineering is common, especially on classic peaks such as Coxcomb.



The entire West Fork looked like this – even more colorful in places.




Paintbrush
Castilleja rhexifolia (rose)
Figwort family


Dunsinane Mountain rises above West Fork Cimarron to 12,742 feet. The peak also makes an appearance in the original True Grit movie with John Wayne and Kim Darby. The peak to the right is 13,144-foot Precipice Peak; it is aptly named when viewed from the Middle Fork.



Point 12,260 is the highest peak of Turret Ridge (upper right). It was not summited until 1979. It rivals Lizard Head as the most difficult summit to reach in Colorado. The last I checked, less than ten climbers had summited all of Colorado's peaks exceeding 12,000 feet. That's about 1,200 peaks, plus a few. Peak 12,260 is included in that list, as is Lizard Head.

That’s it for the Cimarron area. Up next, East Fork Dallas Creek – Snaefell!

Adios

Stardate 2015.600

Cimarron

Snowcatcher and I just finished four days of viewing/photographing mountain wildflowers in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. The San Juans are our favorite mountains. Although flowers inhabiting lower elevations had gone to seed, flowers above 9,500 feet in elevation were at their peak. This year has been nothing short of stunning!

In the top photo I'm shooting at the diseased and ragged Pinnacle Ridge separating East Fork Cimarron River from Middle Fork Cimarron River. Some tidbits: first, I proposed to Snowcatcher far up the Middle Fork during a backpack trip. Secondly, parts of the original True Grit movie with John Wayne and Kim Darby were filmed up the West Fork. Back then, the area was still pretty wild. In a sense, it still is wild, but it's been "discovered." Several of my favorite 14er and 13er climbs are in this area. Moreover, you may occasionally catch a glimpse of a moose. This cow moose and her calf were grazing along the West Fork.



I lack the photo skills and gear to fully capture the colorful tapestry of the local landscape in its entirety. But here's a go at it. I hope you enjoy the photos.



Ancient Upper Tertiary volcanic escarpments remind us of a very violent geologic past. Igneous rock of the Oligocene Epoch graces the landscape. These breathtaking rocks (especially at low sun angle) include andesitic lava, breccia, tuff, conglomerates and quartz latite lava.




Elephantella (Elephant Head)
Pedicularis groenlandica
Figwort family




Orange Sneezeweed
Dugaldia hoopesii
Aster family




False Solomonseal
Smilacina racemosa
Lilly family




Daisy
Erigeron caespitotis
Composite family

More Cimarron to come...

Adios