August 6, 2011 Bowen Gulch

August 6, 2011 Bowen Gulch- Valley 5 mile rt.

Just what the doctor called for; a easy hike. Very tired all week long after the Mt Ida hike.  Left the house around 3:30 a.m. Arrived at Gaskil barn area around 6:00 a.m. Turned on the dirt road and two yearling cow moose were near the road. Looked like twins, but did not see the Mom around. The air was very cool.Winter Park temperature was 39 degrees, but felt warmer here. Just as I approached the Colorado River another older yearling was by the river. I took a few pictures. She crossed the river and came right by me. She proceeded to the west towards the forest. I saw another one south going to the east towards the cabins sought of the barn. Great way to start off the hike. Once I got on the portion of the trail that comes from the Baker/Bowen trailhead the trail is very nice. Very easy trail. The closer you get to the northern end the more little creeks you cross. A couple of very muddy areas my boots have taken a beating this year. At the Baker/Bowen trailhead they have an access for the hunters during hunting season, I always wonder why they would go here. Now I know why. When you get close to the trailhead the trail comes very close to the valley floor and the National Forest begins.  From this area you can see the elk in the valley in the early morning and once the sun comes up they will wander into the forest. The hunters wait and follow them. They probably work in pairs; one a spotter and the other taking the shot(s).
The portion that we tried cross country skiing last winter looks totally different without all the snow and fallen trees.  It's a wide road to a creek which  you would never know with all the snow. We had a hard time skiing it due to the fallen trees and snow amounts. It is amazing to see it now.  I followed a few animal tracks to explore. One deadhead and found another more interesting, eventually it took me just north of the trail. this particular animal trail was being used alot. There is a small creek that is an overflow from the Bowen Gulch creek that runs near the trail.  I saw this man walking fast away from the forest along the creek. The land south  of the overflow is private land. I thought he might be the owner, you could tell he was on a mission.  He worked himself around the small creek to the road past me and back into the forest. Strange. The creek is running very high. The grass in the area is about a foot and half tall and very green. No elk though. I was walking around the barn area and taking pictures of the wild flowers and on the way back ran into the same man. He told me this area just opened about 2 weeks ago.  I headed back to the truck there is an area just south of the parking lot that has a sign private drive.  I have seen moose down in this area before so  waled along the river avoiding the private drive. I could see moose tracks near the fence.  Last year I saw a Cow and two babies in the same area last year. As I headed back to the truck I see a cow and baby laying down. I could not get clean shot.  I moved in closer, maybe too close, but could not get a clear shot. Finally they got up and headed south, I was able to get some good shots.  This area is just a mess with all the down trees.  They have been cutting the beetle kill trees and some have fallen on the fences breaking them down.
Heading back I came to the gate and saw a family having a picnic right by the river.  I then notice two moose right across from me. A cow and baby, I got some good pictures.  There is a fence that runs along the river and the baby was going to get on the other side, It tried going in between but would not fit. Finally it went under.  The Mom just jumped it. The people having the picnic had no idea what the animals were across the stream.  Amazing. I saw two other moose while driving toward the Colorado River Trail, and a juge cow and Bull near the Beaver Pond area.

Mt Ida July 30, 2011

Mt Ida  11.5 miles
Finally!! One of nine trails to hike this year. This is the first and I was looking forward to the most.  Most of all the other trails are still packed with snow or have washed out bridges and or the creeks are still running too high. Tough spring snow season.

I arrived at Milner Pass or Poudre Lakes about 5:15 am. Daylight was starting to break but still very dark.  I brought my headlamp but was not crazy about hiking in the dark on a trail I am unfamiliar with. As I arrived there was a group of boys about 12 years old with two 20 year olds that were going the same direction. They all had headlamps as well so I just followed them.  When they say  the first 1.5 miles is the toughest they are right! The first mile is in the trees. There was a landslide in the middle of the first 1.5 and it was difficult to see the trail in the dark, but with the help of the other group we found it.  Once you get about tree line the views of the Never Summer Range are gorgeous. This is one of my favorite views in Colorado.  I was taking pictures going up.  The group passed me, I have never seen a group this young attack the mountain like they did. Not one complaint from any of them and they had a very fast pace.  They got further in front of me since I was taking pictures which was OK with me.  The trail disappeared about 1.5 miles from Ida. You have to use the cliffs to your left as a guide line.  You do have to walk on some loose rocks at times but it is not too bad. Once you get to Mt. Ida the views are spectacular. You can see Longs Peak to the Southeast. Southwest is Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Lake. To the west is the Never Summer Range and to the north you can see Noka Crags, Thunderpass and even Snowy Mtn Range in Wyoming. Very hazy. It's been hot so that did not help but the views were great.  The Northeast side of Ida goes straight down.  Lake Agnes is still Frozen and Lake Inkwell is partially frozen. Amazing! The snow that hanging in the east face of the mountain is at least 20' deep. Amazing to see this at this time of the year.  The west side of Ida is a very easy to climb Very gentle slope. You an see Big Meadow from Mt Ida, it looks very green in the valley below.  Very green on the higher peaks. Chief Cheley and Crocktop that are south of Ida have ton's of snow on them.  On the way back I enjoyed the beautiful day and overlooking the small lakes below in the forest  in Never Summer Range to the west. It got very warm coming back.
I saw a herd of Elk down in a valley west of the trail about 100 or so. Just a beautiful hike, but long and too much above tree line.  Weather was great until the heat rolled in at the end.

Synder Creek Trail July 23, 2011

Snyder Creek Trail 8+ miles (5 hours)
Very easy trail, flat for most of the trail. Wild flowers everywhere but beginning to dry out. Creek was running higher than last year at this time.  There was some concrete bricks near by so we put in the creek so we could cross, our feet still got wet.  La;st year we stayed in the valley and did not take the trail up the mountain. This year the trail at the north end was not visible due to all the snow and rain this year so we stayed on the main trail.  It seems to go on forever.  We finally turned around. Once you get on top of the first ridge the trail turns into a road. This is not a heavily used trail which is nice. Saw one female moose in the woods, she took off very quickly.  We did not see any other wildlife on the trail, although we did see numerous tracks on the road and trail.  It was a very hot day for this time of the year. We waded thru the creek on the way back.  On the drive back we went through Gould on Hwy 14. We saw 3 bull moose on the top of Cameron Pass.

Lake City Colorado July 8 thru July 15th 2011

Our first destination was Lake City, CO. We have never been to this area of the state. Very small towns, no major brand stores, all Mom and Pop Shops. Takes about 5 minutes to drive through the town.  Friday we dis small 2 mile hike along the Henson River. Interesting rock formations.
July 9th, we rented a jeep and drove the Alpine Loop.  There is a 50+ mile drive over some very rough  and narrow roads. Very scenic. You are above tree line the majority of the drive. We did a hike up to Sloan Lake, 1.3 miles one way. They say it is one of the most popular hikes in Colorado. Very scenic area. We ran into quite a bit of snow near the lake area. No signs or directions. 90% of the people on the trail were going to Mt. Andres 14er.  Had a difficult time maneuvering thru the snow to get to the Lake.  Finally arrived at the lake but was disappointed because it was still frozen.  Nice view of the mountain ranges. Wild flowers were all over the place. Back in the jeep we continued on the Alpine Loop up to Cinnamon Pass. Nothing remarkable. We then dropped down to Alamosa Junction, old ghost town.  We drove up to Engineer Pass, very scenic.
Great view of 14 and 13er mountains all around Clouds started to move in and very dark to the west.  We made our way back into Lake City.  It was a one and done, scenic but boring.
Once back in Lake City we drove over to Creede, which is a very small town not much to see.  We tried the Bachelor loop but had trouble with the jeep and did not want to get stranded so we headed back.  The roads were so narrow with only enough room for one car, could not imagine getting around any oncoming cars, we glad it was not busy.  The jeep kept on shutting down as we were going down hill. Not fun!58
Sunday - we drove up to the Cataract Trail.  Plan was to go to Cataract Lake we never made it 1/2 mile out we had to cross a stream that was running very fast and was unsafe to cross.  The hike up to this point was very beautiful and full of wild Columbine.  It was  tough trail almost straight up.
Monday we drove to Telluride. We took a shortcut on road 58P. We drove by the area were they shot scenes for the movie "True Grit".  Wild flowers were everywhere, so beautiful. We dropped down into the small town of Saw Pit towards Telluride. Very beautiful area.  We hiked up the very popular Bridal falls. It was a beautiful hike but lots of people and storm started coming in.
It rained a good part of the following day.
Tuesday we drove down to Lizard Head Pass to hike to get a good view of Lizard Head Peak. The trail climbed very quickly for about a mile. We ran into some snow but nothing major.  Finally found an overlook off the trail to see Lizard Head, Mt Wilson, Wilson Peak and Wilson Meadow.  Clouds started moving in so we headed back down.
Wednesday we drove to Grand Junction by taking the back way thru Norwood and Gateway  We drove up to Grand Mesa. Very disappointing, very few trails. Lots of lakes, great for fishing.
Thursday we drove to Debeque to the Bookcliffs looking for Wild Horses.
We were so fortunate to see 5 different bands all in the same area.  We sat and watched them for about 2 hours.  It was so incredible to see how the Mustangs kept their band together. It was a great experience.  We had a Great Time!

Bear vs Coyote July 3, 2011

After a long hike yesterday we decided to just take a trip up to Estes Park and check out the Beaver Dams on Fish Creek Road.  We arrived early (as usual) but very little activity so we drove in to Morraine Park to see if Randy could get some shots of hummingbirds.   As we were driving in Randy yells "BEAR", Thankful to be in the car I see a Bear cross the road in front of us.  Randy takes the switch back so he can be in position to take pictures when the bear crosses the road again.  This poor bear had no idea what he was running into.  As we drive around instead of the bear crossing the road we see a baby coyote run across the road in full speed.  Randy gets out of the car looking up to see the bear being chased up a tree by the two parent coyotes.  The bear comes down the tree and the coyotes proceed to chase the bear away.  Once the bear is diverted in a opposite direction the female coyote leaves to find the baby.  The other coyote stays on the heels of the bear pushing him further and further away.  The bear although annoyed by the coyote would stop to eat or scratch himself and occasionally turn and swat at the coyote when he got too close.
Randy is following the two but staying a safe distance.  The coyote continued to follow and nip at the bear for at least a mile until we last sight of the pair.

East Inlet June 16, 2011

7 mile RT

I came back. I cannot believe I am doing this trail again.  I arrive around 5:30 a.m.. Hoping that by arriving earlier I might see the fox kits.  Weather is perfect with clear skies.  I am first car in the parking lot. Nice!

First meadow I see a female moose and she sees me.  I walked a little bit more down the trail and notice she has a baby which must be just over a week old. You can barely see the baby in the willows. It comes up to about the mothers knees.  The Sun is not up yet so not a great time to get pictures.  That is the disadvantage of hiking too early.  The cow saw something in near the creek so the move into the trees.

 As I was approaching  the second meadow and see two bulls about 5 feet off the side.  I take a few pictures hoping they would move but one was too busy eating while the other just kept his eye on me but still would not move.  I carefully proceed on the trail and they could care less.

At the second meadow there are three moose out in the meadow.  I see one cross the stream and head towards the trail.  This one was a yearling.  It came very close to where I was standing, eating everything in sight.  It's that time of the year.  I proceed on the trail thinking I am never gong to get to the area with the foxes.  I just passed the falls and was moving up the trail and looking at the terrain thinking that it would be a rough area for a bear.  Wrong!  I see one above me but behind a downed tree.  It was about 30 yards north of me moving the same direction I was going.  I stopped to watch it and it disappeared in some willows.  I proceed up the trail looking and listening for the bear.  It was very quiet.  Then I hear a twig break.  I stop. No sigh of bear but I know it was there.  I walk very carefully looking into the trees and still nothing.  Then I see the bear standing straight up scratching his back on a tree.  He looked about 5 feet tall, but then again it is till fairly dark.  The picture came out terribly.  I hide behind a tree watching the bear.  The main problem is that the trail comes closer to the path of the direction the bear is heading.  I moved again and step out from behind the tree to get a better shot.  It must have seen me and stopped.  I got a few shots before it turned around and ran away.  Got good shots of his back tho.

Later looking at the pictures it looks like the bear was much bigger than I thought.  Great day so far!
Well I finally get near to the fox area.  As I approach the area I see a kit running away in a dark forest area.

I followed it and see it scurry up but lose sight of it.  I proceed up the trail and see movement behind a rock field.  I see two kits moving around .  One came out and took some good pictures.  It stood for a long time in one area then disappeared in the rocks.  For awhile I did not see other one so I went back down to where I had first seen them. I see nothing.  All of a sudden one came down the rock steps across the dark forest area and was just starring at me.  It took off again back to the rock slide area.  I followed it back and was looking in the area when out of the corner of my eye I see something at the top of a little hill.  It was the same one I had just seen. It was warming itself in the early morning sun.  It layed down and stretched out.  The Sun was in my face so the pictures have along of back flash, but it was a great experience.  I could not move behind him due to lack of room and was worried I would scare him away.  So I just took pictures working my camera.  Then it approached me and gave me a chance to get behind it.  Not very good shots, Wrong angle.  It finally went back into other rock area took some more pictures. I finally left.  Coming back down I see the yearling moose.  Great day!

Coal Creek Canyon

April 23, 2011  - 6 mile round trip S/B 8

We were really excited to to this hike. Looking for wild horses!  Rain, rain and more rain. Mud, mud and more mud. 6 hours of rain and mud.  Still it was a great time!  We arrived at the trailhead about 6:30 a.m.. The trailhead is just north of I-70 and Cameo.  It started raining just as we arrived at the parking lot.  It was a light rain but would increase intermittently.  It was snowing above on the Mesa's.

The first 1/2 mile of the trail is on soft dirt, I had a funny feeling this was going to be a problem coming back as we had yet to find out.  The trail goes up quickly for about 100 yards.  When you reach the top of the ridge you  look down into a valley.  There are many trails that the horses have made so you need to find the one that takes you down into the valley. No horses in sight.  We proceed north on the trail, after about 1/2 mile we notice some horses to the west on a ridge.  due to the clouds and time of day it was still very dark.  They notice us right away.  There is a large gully in front of me so I thought if I keep low and stay in the gully I can get closer to get some pictures.  I get about 50 yards closer  to see a band of 4, once they spot me they  proceed down the ridge and looked like they were going right in to the same gully I was in.  The gully is very wide so I just followed it hoping I would be able to sneak up behind them.  Wrong!  Never saw them. Amazing!

I head back to Pixie and Jamie and we continue up the trail.  The trail, very easy, very little change in climbing noticed , but it goes on forever so it seems.  They say you go 3.9 miles until you run into a wire fence where the trail ends.  Never found it.  We crossed the creek about twenty times.  It was raining but the creek was running low and easy to cross. Further along the sandy areas were getting very muddy & sloppy.  This trail runs along the creek and you have the canyon walls on both sides.  It was difficult to see what a beautiful area it is due to the cloud cover and the rain.  We saw fresh tracks on the trail and near the creek so we thought we were following a couple of horses but never saw them.
Rain was coming down pretty good at times, but we all wanted to get to the end of the trail.  It was only 3.9 miles right? The trail became very muddy and sloppy so Pixie and Jamie decided to head back.  I went up further thinking it was not very far to the end.  Wrong! I went another mile or so and came to another junction at the cottonwood trail.  At this point the canyon walls came in and made it very narrow.  Crossing the creek was getting very sloppy and the trail disappeared.  I crossed the creek to see if the trail picked up but did not see it. I said screw it! Tired of the rain and mud so I headed back. I felt I had gone at least 4 miles but Kenny said at that point it was probably only about 3 miles with another mile to go to the fenced area. (He had run the trail a couple of weeks earlier on a training run). Coming back I had the wind and rain to my back and I was walking fast to catch up with the girls.  I heard a wild turkey calling but I could not see it, I hesitated until I heard it again.  It was about 25 yard away by the creek so I tried to sneak up on it but lost it.
The trail was so slick now but I was making good time.  I finally caught up with Pixie and Jamie at the end of the trail.  They had stopped so I knew there were horses in front of them.  The same 4 we had seen earlier were in the meadow grazing no more than 75 yards from us.  I took out the camera and started taking pictures.  I was excited to see and had not expected to get so close.  The day was not wasted although we had a great time in the rain.   After getting so close to them for pictures I was disappointed to find that the filter had fogged up slightly from rain so the pictures did not turn out as well as I'd hoped.

Now the fun begins,  I was so close to the horses taking pictures and just slipped in the mud.  I did a face plant but saved the camera.  I cannot believe all that time on the trail and crossing over the streams I didn't fall, but right near the end down I go.  Pixie had fallen earlier just standing still on a slight incline.  Well now it is time to head back to the car.  Like I mentioned in the beginning the first part of the trail was on a ridge and the type of dirt was very soft.  We started going up and got about 10 feet and could not get any traction.  We had about 6 inches of mud on the bottom of our boots.  We only had to climb about 100 yard but there was no way we could go up on this slippery trail.  We had to go back down and climb up the face of the ridge.  It had more vegetation and rocks.  It took some time to navigate our way through the wall of rocks but we finally found a way.  Sometimes crawling on all fours.  It was amazing to see the trails and hoof marks on this wall where you would think is too treacherous for the horses to climb. Incredible animals.
Before we started this climb we saw two black horses about 200 yard east of the 4 horses I had just photographed.  As we reached the top and looked back we saw the two black horses getting closer to the band of four.  The band kept a close eye on them until they got too close.  The one of the two roans decided enough was enough and charged towards the 2 uninvited guests. He kicked and reared then stood his ground.  The rest of the band then all charged towards the 2 and they high tailed it out of there.  It was a welcome reward to see the horses in their natural environment after climbing this wet, muddy, rocky ridge.
Well now that we had reached the summit of the ridge we now had to head down to the parking lot.  Yes still wet, muddy.  No escaping the mud this time around.  As we contemplate our decent we can see the parking lot and just about 25 yards from the car is another band of 4 horses. Seriously right by the parking lot! Unbelievable!   Well we make our way down sliding all the way with mud caked to the bottom of our boots.
We got pretty close to the band and see a beautiful Palomino that was the stud of the band.  Once he spotted us he moved his band out.


We spent 6 hours in the rain but what a great adventure.  We really enjoyed having Jamie hike with us for the day.  Sorry about your shoes Jamie!
We went to a car wash once we got into town to spray the mud off our boots.  The pictures did not turn out very good due to the condensation on the filters.  Very Frustrating!  We plan on going back before the rattlesnakes come out and better weather.  We hear the horses will go up in the mesa's during the summer months where it is cooler.  I am looking forward to going back and getting better pictures.  Overall I learned a lot about taking pictures in the rain.  This would be a great spot to come back to in the winter time as well  It was a great time!