Stardate 2016.058

A Nordic Day At Mill Creek

Snowcatcher and I recently visited another area where we like to cross-country ski. Mill Creek is just a handful of miles north of Gunnison, Colorado, in the Ohio Creek Drainage. Mill Creek is a major stream flowing east out of the West Elk Wilderness. The area is known for its dramatic, cliffy ramparts, as well as the highest peak in the West Elk Mountains – West Elk Peak at 13,035 feet (state rank # 617).

After an uneventful drive through a sun and snow layered ground-blizzard in South Park, we reached the intersection of the Sangre de Cristo and Sawatch Mountain Ranges. The northern terminus of the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) Mountains refused to relinquish their cloud cover.



Above treeline, snow received overnight doesn't last long on high 14ers like 14,229-foot Mount Shavano (state rank # 17). Cold temps, very robust winds, intense sunlight, and low air pressure is a perfect potpourri for sublimation to occur. Sublimation is the conversion between solid matter (snow and ice) and their gaseous phase, with no intermediate liquid phase occurring. Snow also is deposited on lee slopes, setting up ripe conditions for slab avalanches. Colorado's cold and shallow snowpack provides very exciting backcountry conditions – and deadly too.



Twenty miles to the west found us crossing the southern Sawatch Mountains in heavy snow before dropping into the Gunnison Basin. Note the structure behind the sign. That's a very snowed in, almost covered, visitor center.




About 1.5 hours later, we enjoyed viewing the lower ramparts of Mill Creek; which are silently waiting out the winter.




The Ohio Creek drainage is high, cold and quiet this time of year.




The silence of a sleeping forest can be surreal at times. It's like entering another dimension.




Slowly fading to an eye-pleasing alpenglow, sunlight on 12,544-foot Castle View reminds me how fast time seems to go with age -- another day, lost forever.




So much for the alpenglow, an early evening storm took aim on us. We returned to the car just as the snow picked up in intensity. Time to hit the Jacuzzi!



The next morning we began the drive back to the Denver Metro area. However, our first stop would be the Hartman Rocks area to photograph a rustic quilt I had just finished. Hartman Rocks is home to numerous mountain bike races, novice to professional to 24-hour endurance. Moreover, the parking area stop sign seems to get picked on a bit. Just think, each one of those stickers has a tale to tell.




My Ice Queen goes to work on icicles.



Later in the day, after a snow-packed drive over Monarch Pass, we enjoyed clearing weather and seeing some of the Collegiate Peaks (southern Sawatch Range) we've ascended over the years. This Blog's opening pic is 14,197-foot Mount Princeton (state rank # 20). One of Snowcatcher and I's early dates was an ascent of Princeton. The below pic is 14,269-foot Mount Antero (state rank # 10). Regretfully, the actual summit shyly remained hidden in the clouds.




Clouds were lifting off of Mount Yale. This somewhat shy mountain touches the sky at 14,196 feet (state rank # 21).



Gentle Mount Columbia rises to 14,073 feet (state rank # 35). Even the clouds look gentle. It's also a very stiff hike. Don't let the rounded curves fool you. Once on top, you will feel like you earned this one; and once you've descended, your knees will hate you!




Eventually we made it home. I have more adventure on the docket as we slowly make our way into March, April and spring. I know, I'm pushing the season a bit.

Stay tuned...

Audios

Stardate 2015.575

Ohio Pass – Crested Butte's Back Door

Ohio Pass connects the Gunnison and Ohio Creek Valleys with Kebler Pass and Crested Butte. It's very scenic. During the fall colors, it's simply on fire. Moreover, on any given fall day, you may inch your way through a herd of cattle being driven down to winter pasture. It's like being in the old west for several hours. It's especially fun to watch the cow dogs work; they're amazing.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'
Though the streams are swollen
Keep them doggies rollin',
Rawhide...


We're starting our ride up Ohio Pass, with the Anthracite Range in the background.



The mountain gods be a brewin' something.



If you were to wade out into the quakie jungle, which I highly recommend, the understory would be waist- to chest-high.



Ohio Pass road is not difficult. The average car usually has enough clearance. Nonetheless, there are some rock and drainage surprises to clear; this can change from storm to storm. The pass is narrow, steep and exposed (don't drive off the edge) in places. Long vehicles and trailers are not allowed.



An enchanting waterfall adorns the eastern terminous of the Antracite Range.



After riding Ohio Pass, we began the five-hour journey home (Yes, we take the long scenic route.). While driving down Ohio Valley, afternoon storms rapidly gathered over The Castles, eastern ramparts of the West Elk Mountains.




Parry Clover
Trifolium parryi
Pea family
The clover was getting after it at the confluence of the Ohio Creek and Gunnison Valleys.






Lupine
Lupinus argenteus
Pea family
Reminiscent to Ride the Rockies, our route home took us up the Taylor River Valley to Taylor Park and 12,126-foot Cottonwood Pass. Much of the montane forest ecosystem was quilted together with Lupine.


I think my next blog will be a foray into the colorful Elk Mountains. Stay tuned...

Adios

Stardate 2015.570

More Crested Butte

After a somewhat wet Day One, we retired for the evening along the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir and listened to the waves caress the shoreline throughout the night. For Day Two, we headed back up toward Crested Butte via Ohio Creek and Ohio Creek Pass.



When we arrived at the base of the pass, the Anthracite Mountains were still enshrouded in overnight mystique.



The flower-bathed meadow at the Swampy Trailhead was awash in yellow.



Remember, a flowery hill slope is a happy hill slope.




Goldeneye
Heliomeris multiflora
Aster family




Yellow Paintbrush
Castilleja sulphurea
Figwort family
This species can have a while color variation.
The actual flower is hidden within the colored bracts.




Coral Root
Corallorhiza maculate
Orchid family
This is a very shy orchid.




Orange Sneezeweed
Dugaldia hoopesii
Aster family




Sticky Geranium
Geranium viscosissimum
Geranium family




The above two pics are of backcountry and livestock staging area corrals at the Swampy Trailhead. I think the bent upper rails are to ease in throwing heavy bales of hay into the corrals. If the corrals are full, it would be easy to get squished while feeding from the inside.

I had a unique bonding experience with these corrals on that day. I was filming the fields of flowers with my video camera, just moseying through the grass and flowers. The plant life was waist- to chest-high and I couldn't see my feet very well. Slowly moving, concentrating on keeping the camera still, I faintly noticed the tail of a snake in front of me. No big deal. Without looking, I conveniently stepped up onto a small log to go around the stealthy reptile. Well, as I stepped onto the log, I jumped clean out of my skin and exited as fast as I could! The log was covered with serpents sunning themselves! As soon as they felt the log tip, they began writhing hypnotically and slithering around! The rest was all reflex and a few colorful words! Snowcatcher caught the moment on film, too, and it's hilarious. My camera was still recording as well. I think the trailhead should be renamed Serpents' Lair. What do you think?



More Day Two is on the way!

Adios

Stardate 2015.142

Ride The Rockies Dirty 30

Day 4 of this year's Ride the Rockies has an option. In addition to the normal State Highway route between Gunnison and Crested Butte, Colorado, riders will have the option of riding over Ohio Pass (10,033 ft), dropping to Kebler Pass (9,980 ft), then further dropping to historic Crested Butte.



The Ohio Pass option — "Dirty Thirty" as it's called — should be a jewel. The route up Ohio Creek begins about 3 miles north of Gunnison. The ride up the creek is a very scenic roll through numerous working ranches. Better yet, the Castles will be in view a good portion of the way.



About 18 miles up Ohio Creek, give or take, the asphalt gives way to dirt and gravel. During the fall, this region can be immersed in colored foliage. Ohio Pass is still several miles ahead. The rocky grade increases significantly as the route begins its climb over the eastern shoulder of the Anthracite Range.



I've spent a fair amount of time on Ohio Pass and Cottonwood Pass, the other dirt leg of this year's ride. Cottonwood has the elevation, but Ohio is more narrow and rocky. More than a few wheel rims will come off of Ohio Pass with war wounds.




From the summit of Ohio Pass, it's a short, easy, dirt descent to Kebler Pass. West of Kebler Pass, the road remains dirt. However, the tour will descend the east side of Kebler on relatively new asphalt.




The Kebler descent will deposit riders in the heart of Crested Butte.

Adios

Stardate 2014.756

Durango to Gunny

We originally planned to swing back around through Durango and head east, laying over in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. En-route to Pagosa, it was apparent the leaves were still a week or two from peaking in this area.


We decided to head over Wolf Creek Pass to South Fork. From South Fork, we headed north.


While heading up Spring Creek Pass, a good view of the headwaters of the Rio Grande River came into view.


From Spring Creek Pass, our route took us over Slumgullion Pass. The views from the north side of Slumgullion Pass are exquisite. To the west and southwest, the high peaks of the Weminuche Wilderness begin to rise.


Did you notice that the white stuff that decided to show up?


To the northwest rise several high peaks of the Uncompahgre Wilderness. Although their summits are in the clouds, one can still make out 14,015 foot Wetterhorn Peak (far left, rank 49) and 14,309 foot Uncompahgre Peak (center, rank 6). I’ve summited Uncompahgre several times. Wetterhorn will be my last 14er for a variety of reasons, if I ever finish them. I’m not far away.


Slumgullion Pass deposited us in Lake City, site of Alferd Packer’s cannibalism back in the late 1880s. Lake City also is the staging area for accessing many of the higher peaks of the San Juan Mountains. We took a little ride up Henson Creek to check out the snow, as well as the leaves. The above peak is Point 13,811. It's altitude is its official name. It is the 99th tallest peak in Colorado. It also is a bicentennial peak, meaning it is one of the two-hundred highest peaks in the state.


From Lake City, we ventured north to one of our favorite towns – Gunnison. The following morning we headed up Ohio Creek looking for gold. We also found some stands that have not turned yet. Many leaves in this area have already fallen.


Weather was developing yet again. So we decided to head back toward home. First we took one more detour to the old 1880s mining town of Pitkin.


The Pikin area had some good spots of color


But it won’t last for long. The ensuing weather will see to that.


These little hamlets can be fun to visit. You may find some intriguing sites.


The little town once was the largest in Colorado; now it’s one of the smallest.


According to a born-and-raised local, Pitkin boasts a year-round population of about 60.


The skies opened up and we headed for home. It was snowing heavily on Monarch Pass, and the snow was starting to stick on the top of the ski area.

Adios