tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-141977132024-03-04T22:49:25.871-08:00Yet Another Colorado ClimberA blog about weekend mountain climbs, trail hikes, mountain bikes, and hunting trips by your average dude.Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-72068541374900950192017-12-01T06:16:00.001-08:002017-12-01T06:16:08.273-08:00First Archery Elk HuntShelz bought me a bow from her son a couple of years ago, but for whatever the reason I had not taken up archery until this year. After hearing stories about how much more fun and engaging elk hunting is during the rut, I decided to give it a go this year.<br />
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The first weekend Dave, Jason, Justin, and I hiked our gear in a mile up from Kiss Me rock and set up camp at the top of the old burn. We even took an old cooler up to give us a permanent storage container on the mountain.<br />
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Dave and Jason hiked back out because their muzzle-loader cow tags weere not open season yet. Justin and I hiked up and over to the creek and did some cow calling while overlooking the upper basin from two arrow meadow. <br />
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We spotted a nice bull elk hanging around with a cow at the far ridge line just up from two arrow. We watch the two elk make their way around until they finally disappeared in the oak brush. As the light faded and we cow called a bit more and Justin spotted one cow elk making her way towards us but she was a long ways off. We called and called, but she never came in.<br />
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It finally got to be close to the end of shooting light, so we made our way back to camp. As we were approaching camp, we heard the cow elk call to us from exactly the spot we had just been! Man, we should probably have stayed put.<br />
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The next morning we returned to the same spot, and watched a group of around ten cow elk come all the down the far ridge from the rocky nob all the way through two arrow meadow and disappear into the pinion trees. We figured they were headed for water in the creek, so we decided to work our way down to where we thought they would be just on the other side from two arrow. We made our way down, but never saw those cows again. Justin and I set up in the meadow and called for a couple of hours but no response. <br />
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Being that it was late August, around the 25th 2017, we only could hunt for the weekend. I wanted to save my few vacation days I had left for later in the season when the rut was in full swing. In hindsight we probably should have tried to make a play on the one bull we saw, but it is tough to do on an evening hunt. All in all it was a ton of fun to hunt elk in August with a bow and see that vocalizations really do work! Great first weekend!Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-42359538618929643462017-11-30T05:44:00.004-08:002017-11-30T05:44:55.348-08:00The PackMonday we all went up to the radio towers so we could pack out the two elk. Johnny and Steve went in first because they still had licenses to fill. They spotted a bull elk on the first ridge beyond the towers. Johnny could not see the antlers but could see the bulls balls.<br />
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We loaded up the packs and Clark couldn't make it. These animals are big! It ended up taking me three days to fully get my bull elk out of there. I would hike up in the morning, get a quarter on my pack, eat lunch, then slog down the mountain arriving at my ATV at dusk.<br />
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I went on a straight line from what we call Kiss Me Rock, up to the bald knob where just below I had harvested my bull elk. This took me through the burn, then through thick oak brush, out in the open on a path I would never take when actually hunting. Too easy to see a human for these elk. Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-40112476139081512232017-11-30T05:38:00.002-08:002017-11-30T05:38:59.751-08:00Torreys - Kelso Ridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My second trip to Torrey Peak and the Kelso ridge, Shelley joined me on the adventure. </div>
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The scramble was easier than I remember, and yet it has some cool sections. </div>
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Here's a dramatic shot of Shelz high in the mountains of Colorado.<br />
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Not many people were on the Kelso Ridge this day. Lots of people taking the standard route up to Grey's Peak. Nice to get away from the crowds on a mountain close to Denver, Colorado.<br />
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Here's Shelz on the knife edge. Quite fun for a flat lander from Florida!<br /><br />Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-9197123886240804452017-01-18T05:58:00.000-08:002017-01-18T05:58:42.410-08:00Elk Hunt 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Elk Hunt 2016 was short and sweet! We had planned to camp in the same spot on the radio tower road, but when Justin got there, there was already people there. So he moved up the road a quarter mile and found another spot. There were several other camps on the road. Usually there is nobody! What is happening to our area? Did all the magazines say this is the hot spot?<br />
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Opening morning Justin and Travis went up the radio towers trail, while Dave and Steve went to the honey hole. I went over to what we call lover's rock and up. On the atv ride over, I took a wrong turn and went up to the fence line. I can't believe after 20+ years of hunting that I can still make such a mistake. It put me behind, but I decided to stick with my plan.<br />
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I got to lover's rock and hiked in in the dark. I stalked and glassed my way up the ridge until about 8 am, when I spotted two deer: a doe and her yearling. She was very nervous for some reason and eventually bounded up the hill in the thick oak brush. I was just glassing around and then I spotted him! There was a nice bull elk just 300 yards away in the oak brush.<br />
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There was no way I was going to be able to stalk any closer so I got out my shooting sticks and watched. There were about five cow elk with the bull and a calf. The bull eventually bedded down in the oak brush to where I could just see his antlers and his back. I waited for what seemed like eternity, and finally decided to take the shot.<br />
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I was sure my first shot was a hit because he didn't move at all. All of the other elk immediately took off, except for the calf. The calf was looking directly at the bull as if to say, "What are we doing? Shouldn't we run??" I again waited for an eternity just watching to see if the bull would run. Eventually I decided to take another shot. I learned the hard way in previous seasons that elk are big tough animals and it often takes multiple hits from the 300 Win Mag to bring them down. I think the second shot was a hit too, because this time he got up and started walking toward me. I excitedly gave him a third and a fourth shot. After the fifth shot, he was sitting down in the oak brush and raising his head as if trying to get a breath. I was very excited and just watched him for quite some time.<br />
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Finally, his head disappeared in the brush and I made my plan to fight my way over to him. A six point bull elk! On opening morning! It was the first time I had ever got my elk on opening morning. <br />
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I did a gutless dress out as I waited for Justin and Travis to work their way over to help me. Some other hunters told them that a big bear was ahead of them. We decided to haul out the front quarters, backstraps, and antlers and leave the hinds over night since we did not have our packs with us. The next morning, Steve and I hunted up to do the pack and we discovered that a bear had stolen one of the hind quarters. I packed the other down as Steve continued to hunt. He came out on a different road and so I ended up carrying the hind all the way out. Lesson learned: take the best meat first. Especially when you have two strong young men.<br />
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Awesome hunt for me! The rest of the group did not see a single elk all season. Johnny and Donny joined mid week and they hunted all over the mountain to no avail. Donny had his silencer and muzzle break on his 300 which was very nice to shoot.<br />
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<br />Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-3013998158949964222013-11-28T10:57:00.001-08:002013-11-28T10:57:14.727-08:00El Diente to Wilson Peak Traverse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Brian and I took a late August trip down to the San Juan mountains to climb Mount Wilson, Wilson Peak, and El Diente. As one of the four great traverses in Colorado, I was very much looking forward to the ridge run from El Diente to Wilson Peak.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Ridge Crest</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Diente ascent to ridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First good scramble</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Diente Summit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Diente to Wilson Traverse</td></tr>
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These mountains are the furthest fourteeners from Denver, so it took me awhile to get down there. Two other factors delayed my trip: a stop in Grand Junction to have dinner with my mom and a wrong turn which dumped me in Norwood. I knew I should have taken that left turn in Placerville. I have childhood memories of visiting my grandparents in Placerville, so it was nice to return to this area again.<br />
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I made it to the trailhead and found Brian's vehicle before midnight. I hit the bag immediately in the back of the Frontier under the stars. Brian and I got a good start the next morning on our way to El Diente. The first part of the trail is a nice but never ending hike through the woods in the basin. Eventually the waterfall comes into view and the ascent starts in earnest. <br />
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This part of the hike through rock rubble is definitely taxing. Finally we hiked what looked to be past The Tooth which looms like a monarch above. The hike starts to become a climb as we approached the ridge. Brian and I took different lines and we used other climbers as our cairns. With much scrambling ahead of us, I played a bit on the rocks but didn't get too screwy. <br />
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Once on the ridge line, the final push to the top of El Diente is quite an interesting scramble. We made the top and took some great pictures. There were a couple of military guys on top as well as a guy and gal hiking partners.<br />
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Brian wasn't feeling up to the traverse, so he decided to descend back to the valley and meet me at the top of Wilson Peak. Maybe we broke the buddy rule, but my desire to tackle this traverse was too great. Even though 14ers.com makes the ridge approach clear, I was reluctant to loose the prescribed amount of elevation and cut to the ridge too early. This put me on the wrong side of the ridge and I had to scramble-slide down and loose the elevation anyway. I was a bit nervous because there were no other climbers in sight, but eventually I found a few cairns which made me feel a bit better. It is mostly the fear that you won't be able to rejoin the route that gets me.<br />
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I made my way to the ridge crest and spied other scramblers. The views are spectacular and the route is epic. The next section involved a lot of easy but very engaging scrambling. It takes some time, but there is nothing I would rather be doing. Then I came to the crux ramp. This looks quite ominous and I had time to evaluate the approach as other climbers ahead of me were planning theirs. One of the three in the group decided not to even tackle the pitch and bailed off the ridge.<br />
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The climb of the ramp was definitely Class 4 and probably lower Class 5, but I was never nervous due to the nice selection of holds and the solid rock. I would like to put down more adjectives to describe this awesome section and will do so as more memories come to me.<br />
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The final pitch to the top of Wilson Peak turned out to be quite a challenge. There is one rock that takes an awkward belly-rubbing pull to get over. It was even tougher coming down. There is some exposure here to make it even more interesting. Coming down as a short guy leaves ones feet dangling, searching for any kind of a footing. In the end I survived and was the last guy off the summit. <br />
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I heard Brian shouting from down in the valley and assumed he was headed back home. I couldn't exactly make out the words, but was still amazed at how voices carry in the mountains. I was trying to keep up with the others just to make sure I was on the right track. Part of the way down the descent, I realized that their group was taking a different route than Brian. I wanted to be sure and hook up with Brian eventually, so I had to make my way back up to the ridge. This was a bit of an endeavor because I was already spent of energy and more ascent was not easy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHQSjaMT1OldcotockidB0bFzCgR-FMnFa4twJKcGRA1Tq4G23uYyTjoyP0AQF76LlrbmOMChJt4mjLK2JwsGDAnevoPBP4x6SKA0-jUGscmq1qFXge6CEztAnBZX660XW9eMnA/s1600/20130817_194642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHQSjaMT1OldcotockidB0bFzCgR-FMnFa4twJKcGRA1Tq4G23uYyTjoyP0AQF76LlrbmOMChJt4mjLK2JwsGDAnevoPBP4x6SKA0-jUGscmq1qFXge6CEztAnBZX660XW9eMnA/s320/20130817_194642.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Once back at the ridge, I descended the correct valley. This was a long and arduous crossing of scree and a sea of boulders. This took a very very long long time. I didn't catch up to Brian until past the waterfall and down to tree line. Brian had waited for me there. The long long hike out was beautiful but there wasn't much left in our gas tanks. In the end the entire day was as epic as any other I can remember. Scrambling one more of the great traverses was the highlight of the summer. Very much recommended!Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-7209720553552546042013-11-19T06:45:00.001-08:002013-11-19T06:45:44.506-08:00Elk Hunt 2013<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyGzj7PwKDwsyM58-sVZ15KiDF98nSniHNqCDqwx6ATqDcDU3eB9u3JHd_w2lRF2HVocu_2I9Q_gd5r3dDMSYf8L4wdLpm3qGuqClvbZRDdOgRxlsL-ztGbDYBYh6c_55fgbZag/s1600/20131103_094127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyGzj7PwKDwsyM58-sVZ15KiDF98nSniHNqCDqwx6ATqDcDU3eB9u3JHd_w2lRF2HVocu_2I9Q_gd5r3dDMSYf8L4wdLpm3qGuqClvbZRDdOgRxlsL-ztGbDYBYh6c_55fgbZag/s320/20131103_094127.jpg" width="320" /></a>Opening day of hunting season: one very anticipated day! On Saturday Steve and I took the spur off wells gulch road. Dave's knee was hurting so he had to sit opening day out. Steve and I reached the end of the road while it was still quite dark, but we could see someone camped there by the light in there small tent. Burr... that had to be a cold night. With other hunters in the area we decided to stick to our plan. I hiked straight up from the road, Steve hiked over to meadow. The hike was easy in the dark even without a solid trail. At around shooting light I saw 7-10 elk at about 600 yards away. I then spotted a cow elk at 400 yards and debated taking a shot. Instead I tried to work my way closer. The pinions are thick in here and I heard them barking but could not see them. Finally they spooked and I heard two shots down below. Damn, I guess my strategy was wrong. Steve didn't get a shot due to the safety on his gun. I hiked on up to Alkali Basin then across to the far ridge and down. At the end of the day I saw the two hunters there on that far ridge. I surmised that the elk went across and down toward the private land ranch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmreWjRjK036oR7hG3PoJRyR7YYUZjr5lftOMNHkZG-e_3UaveRg8vBfrTzYOPEtftJU3CAeNE15UyYuQgfShFksTc8SF26OApkbSFbi3eEKt0ueMtsoLWmEstVrAQphOuDssjg/s1600/20131103_123422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmreWjRjK036oR7hG3PoJRyR7YYUZjr5lftOMNHkZG-e_3UaveRg8vBfrTzYOPEtftJU3CAeNE15UyYuQgfShFksTc8SF26OApkbSFbi3eEKt0ueMtsoLWmEstVrAQphOuDssjg/s320/20131103_123422.jpg" width="320" /></a>On Sunday we decided to hunt the Mesa Pt Road and the next road over to lover's rock. I took my ATV and went over to lovers rock and hiked up. I was surprised nobody else was there. Once above the burn if you stay too low you get into some thick oak brush as seen in the photo above. I fought the oak brush for over an hour. It sucks. I then fought my way through the aspen groves. In this area there are lots of small streams and downed trees. I got a text from Dave saying there are elk below Indian Point. I heard shots and he got his rag horn. After much bushwhacking I actually spotted the elk bedded down right where he said they were. Check out the photo to the right. I worked my way up high and came upon boot tracks and saw a blood trail. The tracks were going the wrong way for me, so I followed the bootprints backwards to the tall pines. Knowing I couldn't get much closer, I worked my way down to some boulders where I could shoot across a small valley. I took off my orange and tried to hide behind the boulders. As I scoped out the herd, I saw many cow elk, 3 spikes, and one bull who looked to be legal. Finally he turned his head to prove it. I set up my shot on the boulders using the snow for a solid base. I took the shot and elk scattered everywhere!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRayja31B9greXI8MuVZUbDQGcTLa7BqgMNtsznOsgrzLy3OsRneWeN3qtuIxvfSVQtFRkafyUdeS4hiu1OaOyH5uC3YcPN58JS2w9newJWkUCxWykx6_S79LpoKGqpeuYAYPx-w/s1600/20131103_165839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRayja31B9greXI8MuVZUbDQGcTLa7BqgMNtsznOsgrzLy3OsRneWeN3qtuIxvfSVQtFRkafyUdeS4hiu1OaOyH5uC3YcPN58JS2w9newJWkUCxWykx6_S79LpoKGqpeuYAYPx-w/s320/20131103_165839.jpg" width="320" /></a>I saw the bull standing on the hill side and tried to bring him down again. Finally all elk were out of sight, so I walked over along the one elk "highway" through the black timber and boulders. I spooked a calf who was separated from the herd. When I got to the meadow where they had been bedded, my bull elk stood up and I dropped him with a final shot. A very nice 5x5 bull!<br />
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After hurriedly doing a gutless field dressing, I started down the mountain. As I crested the ridge, I seen the elk herd again just below me in the meadow. A couple of the spike bulls were sparring. The lead cow was barking to get the group to gather and go down. It was quite a beautiful scene. There must have been 40 elk. Check out the photo to the left.<br />
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I watched the elk as long as I could, then tried to make my way down the mountain without disturbing them too much. It was getting very late and I needed to get to the trail before it was too dark. Busting tail, I made it to Dalton's Rock before dark then walked out on the trail in the dark. Johnny, Dave, and Clark came back to get me at the radio towers. I ended up leaving my ATV and pickup over at lovers rock for two days.<br />
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Here's a nasty picture of my bull. Nobody was with me to take a nicer picture. What an awesome day of hunting! It started out brutal with the oak brush and downed quakies, but ended with the best elk hunt I can imagine!<br />
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Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-31047052889990353042013-10-29T06:39:00.001-07:002013-10-29T06:39:13.423-07:00Deer Hunt 2013 - Opening weekendAs my fourth option, I drew a buck tag for gmu 18, 28, 37, and 371. I've never hunted in this area, so we did a little scouting in the two weeks leading up to the second season.<br />
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First we took the county road 21 off of highway 125 north of Hot Sulphur Springs. This road is a bit rough, and there seemed to be a lot of people around. Not sure how this area around Elk Mountain is to hunt, because we never hunted it during the season, but I'm guessing the deer hunting is best around the radio towers. <br />
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The next weekend we scouted the area around Meadow Creek Reservoir. We met a game warden on Road 8, and he said he had seen 200 head of deer that day. This got me excited so decided to hunt here there opening day the next weekend.<br />
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Opening day I decided to hunt behind Meadow Creek Reservoir. It had snowed the day before, so it was perfect conditions. In fact I almost got my Nissan Frontier stuck just off the road because the snow was so deep. I found a good trail, but it was cold and with the snow Shelz didn't want to continue. She didn't have tall enough boots. I found many sets of deer track and what turned out to be moose track. Finally saw three moose! Very cool.<br />
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That afternoon I hunted Strawberry Road. It seemed that the deer would be lower than all the snow and Shelz could go with me. We took the right spur and found a mountain bike trail at the top of the road. We hiked this road but didn't see any deer. On the way out, a warden had a check point set up. He said only three deer had come out of this area today, and only one out of Corona Pass Road.<br />
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On Sunday we went back up Strawberry Road and took the left and longer road. We found a great spot and we hiked out across great looking deer country. Again on a mountain bike trail and again no deer. So we decided to hunt Corona Pass in the afternoon. It started snowing but we hunted a spot where a fellow hunter said he saw a buck. Instead we saw three moose! A mother and two young bulls. The one bull was a year older than the other and we watched them sparring and playing a bit. The area looks like good deer and elk country, but the only deer we saw was a buck that some boys from Kansas had harvested at the start of the road.<br />
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All in all, the beetle kill is causing an affect on the deer population I believe. This is also very high country, so maybe not the best in general for deer.Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-1622311542819134852013-01-27T07:02:00.000-08:002013-01-27T07:02:59.526-08:00The Grand Traverse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMLGcfKEQY15hm1YOo01Ys5WFGTck72R0Dy_PW5tUv_ZgYHAqFwLP5gDY1Clzd4iy8pJ8RwGIjow7hrW4xyzr65SGXNATSsS6GYr0qhYCQN1M69TVKzr3xIhhst_-G2v2qTSYCg/s1600/20120818_090656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">The Grand Traverse</a></div>
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I have had the Grand Traverse on my wish list for a couple of years now. The Grand Traverse is on the skyline above Vail as you are heading East. It is part of the Gore Range. We left Denver early and arrived in Vail at about 6 am. We stashed our mountain bikes at the Deluge Lake trail head and parked at the Bighorn trail head about a mile and a half away. This trail head is a bit tricky to find.</div>
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The first section of trail is quite steep. You can imagine the fall colors would be spectacular on this hike, but we were here on August 18, 2013. It is still a very pretty hike. After about a mile and a half the steep slope relents and you have easier walking in the valley. There are many species of mushrooms here if you look for them.</div>
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Once you reach the cabin, take the trail to the left of it rather than to the right. We went right and made it into the upper valley fine, but it just added a bit to the hike.</div>
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The trail peters out and you have to do a little bushwhacking to get to the steep slopes of North Traverse Peak. We were eager to get on with the scrambling so we probably started up the slope too early. I wonder if going all the way to the saddle would have been better. The bushwhacking/scrambling starts here and is a good challenge. It is very untame and wild in the Gore Range.<br />
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Here you can see the kind of true bushwhacking you get yourself into! My climbing partner Shelz was getting a bit put out with it.<br />
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Once you climb past the cliff bands the vegetation thins out but the steepness of the slope remains. The grassy slope is hard on the calves and quads. The views of Vail start to appear and you can see all the way to Holy Cross.<br />
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Then the scree starts. You get boulders of all shapes and sizes. None of them are very stable (as you would expect). For people who have spent there lives boulder hopping, it can be fun to gauge the terrain and find the best way to surf your way up. For people who have less experience, it is not fun at all and can be frustrating and scary. The scree becomes interminable. <br />
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This is a very long climb and a bit much for us on this day, so we turned around with the summit of North Grand Traverse peak in our sites. To touch the top was tempting, but the goal has always been to scramble the traverse, so we will be back. <br />
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The descent down through the scree and then the cliff bands was just as challenging as the ascent. At times we were almost cliffed out and had to use some unorthodox climbing moves to get past the thick ground cover and water trickling rocks.<br />
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The long hike to the truck got us back after 7 pm and in the darkness. If you aren't a fast hiker/climber you should start this adventure as early as possible. We'll be back. We'll see you up there in the summer of 2013!Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-3804228350818973382012-12-05T16:38:00.000-08:002012-12-05T16:38:00.642-08:00Elk Hunt 2012 Part 2 of 2On Thursday we decided to finally hunt the towers. Two in our party went over to the next ridge west from the tower ridge. Two went to the bowl, and I went to the top. We got in early and I was up to Dalton's rock before 7 am. As I scoped the mountain side from the next rock on the ridge, I spotted a bull elk high above and to the right of the mudslide. I devised a plan. I would make my way through the oak brush at the lower end of the slide, then sneak up the soft mud to avoid detection.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBwPPIt2tZ5qqd95isEC5F8eAoD8KNvbShvjIGOtzfkbKcFNbFhWQ1lwMMllz1yrllpDDCeNhCO5zCnIPkxdukvVjVORP6NCg7BjL55-9OB746uu_4sgGTFdUfKH6s8C_531JaQ/s1600/20121108_070020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBwPPIt2tZ5qqd95isEC5F8eAoD8KNvbShvjIGOtzfkbKcFNbFhWQ1lwMMllz1yrllpDDCeNhCO5zCnIPkxdukvVjVORP6NCg7BjL55-9OB746uu_4sgGTFdUfKH6s8C_531JaQ/s320/20121108_070020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dalton's rock</td></tr>
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My plan was working out perfectly as I detangled my way to the bottom of the mud slide. The side ridge of the slide made a perfect visual barrier and the soft dirt was very quiet. I poked my head above the ridge about half way up, but couldn't see the elk. I proceeded on to the next chosen vantage point, but again no elk. I was beginning to think the bull elk I had seen from far below was in reality just a boulder or something.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In my sights</td></tr>
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As I made my way on up, peaking over the ridge, I finally came to the full view. Two spike elk! They were bedded down in a small opening just 30 yards away. They had no idea I was there. Man, did I wish one of them would grow some bigger antlers! I scoped each of them with my rifle, and watched them with my binoculars for over a half hour. They were very on edge, perking their ears and nose to every little change in the breeze.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdofLXM2sKNc6blnt46WHFjk8CGj0Q9qB6lW5MsjGiUVA4AZ2wNbKViPR5e78qmEDcbLZdiZpvB255qMUZSgZQmsjE56jxZkPMma0zpGwRRGNfP0_3d4Qy7EuRMhNLcgN5Q2zWg/s1600/20121108_095136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdofLXM2sKNc6blnt46WHFjk8CGj0Q9qB6lW5MsjGiUVA4AZ2wNbKViPR5e78qmEDcbLZdiZpvB255qMUZSgZQmsjE56jxZkPMma0zpGwRRGNfP0_3d4Qy7EuRMhNLcgN5Q2zWg/s320/20121108_095136.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two spikes</td></tr>
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Finally, I decided to move on. Although quiet, when I did stand up, they immediately detected my presence and spooked. They crashed through the thick oak brush and seemed to have some difficulty making their way through. It was good to see it isn't always humans that find this stuff annoying.<br />
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I made my way to the top of the mudslide and to the spot I had shot at the bull a few years back. The only way through the thick brush and back to the ridge, was up over the top of Indian Point. I finally bagged this sucker after many years of hunting around it. Nice view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1FG0QRF-3RdX_jWbEM3-W8Ab_AJFL8GYpoEnw6qafiSbyzII5bP8n3XsjxOpJcyht8aj4_zlN_PXey11EuFcNkETCSNVQ4ZBKZxvM2cZnzp2M3o_tyuNR3Nkg6wpfHlcW-jE8A/s1600/20121108_110313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1FG0QRF-3RdX_jWbEM3-W8Ab_AJFL8GYpoEnw6qafiSbyzII5bP8n3XsjxOpJcyht8aj4_zlN_PXey11EuFcNkETCSNVQ4ZBKZxvM2cZnzp2M3o_tyuNR3Nkg6wpfHlcW-jE8A/s320/20121108_110313.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian Point</td></tr>
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On Friday, my last day of the hunt, we finally got snow. I decided to hunt the middle section of the Blue Grouse Trail. I started up through the meadows about a half mile past the Point Camp Trail hoping to make my way up to the dark timber pockets below the rim. As I rounded a large bend in the path, I spotted two cow elk. As I readied myself for the first shots of the season, I spotted a nice bull. Probably a five point, so I knelt down and tried to steady my aim. I let the lead fly, but missed! Another shot and another miss just low! Damn. Now the elk aren't hanging around any longer and they take off up hill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP72hxCsYLe8xgsD82XKotgP841KsWpOIk8MHMPiRTxM3TUUEgoIdEbJN-Q7paNnkGYCVRuK4xpnGkbZi_BKw_DdU58TFzafx-2hNOpsiMvnO4ZhjzM9eNewymI7bgVwM4rNk2Cw/s1600/20121109_081505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP72hxCsYLe8xgsD82XKotgP841KsWpOIk8MHMPiRTxM3TUUEgoIdEbJN-Q7paNnkGYCVRuK4xpnGkbZi_BKw_DdU58TFzafx-2hNOpsiMvnO4ZhjzM9eNewymI7bgVwM4rNk2Cw/s320/20121109_081505.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where the elk were</td></tr>
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I tracked these elk all the way to the top of the mountain through some steep side hills and a lot of thick timber. Even though it was snowing on and off all day, at times it was hard to find tracks. At one point I had to back track and get my forgotten fanny pack. They led me through the timber and finally into the upper rolling meadows of aspen groves. Finally at midday the tracks became too hard to follow. I never seen the elk again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC-ruSJJvbXnLChB7qZ1bWXZ1XgGpACB7aJDwCEKV_x5WvhB3ZRcEyVM5XYZI6uzsG5Mka_3q0upJ1cuRz-mJ8hGfMPVBlBvH2mFO4RsThyphenhyphenkvALa4ueuigF6cNkGn0j2Hwh7rPw/s1600/20121109_133715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC-ruSJJvbXnLChB7qZ1bWXZ1XgGpACB7aJDwCEKV_x5WvhB3ZRcEyVM5XYZI6uzsG5Mka_3q0upJ1cuRz-mJ8hGfMPVBlBvH2mFO4RsThyphenhyphenkvALa4ueuigF6cNkGn0j2Hwh7rPw/s320/20121109_133715.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where the red fern grows</td></tr>
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I promised myself I would practice shooting my rifle at longer distances: 200-300 yards, at least once per month for the next year. I can't miss another shot like that again. They are too few and the hard hiking it takes makes it silly not to be able to finish. I want you dear reader to keep me honest in this pledge.Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-81627968308576848632012-11-20T06:21:00.002-08:002012-11-20T06:21:22.458-08:00Elk Hunt 2012 Part 1 of 2Saturday opening morning we hunted over to the end of the road on upper alkali basin. Clark came with me, a first time hunter. On the atv ride up we road double up the very cobby road from dry basin where we were camped. There were many hunters over in this area, and we spent the morning trying to make our way to a place of our own. Clark got to experience crawling through the oak brush and tip toeing across boulder fields. In the end we walked right up on two hunters watching a meadow. We walked on until we came to the long park where Dalton shot his bull elk. <br />
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I left Clark on a high perch to watch as I walked down through the park to the far ridge. I decided to hug the lip of the park so I could see down into the basin. As I got 3/4 of the way, I spooked something in the bushes ahead of me. It didn't sound like a deer, and it definitely wasn't an elk. I made my way to a small hill to see, and surprise! a mountain lion! Very cool to see her sleeking into the foliage away from me. As I walked a bit further, I heard more rustling. I got a bit spooked thinking I was the hunted this time. It turned out to be deer this time, not mountain lion.<br />
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I hunted up around to the right of the high point on the far side of the park. There isn't much visibility up here and is quite noisy with all the brush. Sticking to the open face of the point works just as well. As you get to the far side you can see down into the ajoining basin and onto some secluded parks. I didn't spot anything and made my way back to Clark by early afternoon.<br />
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We hunted from the end of the lower road that evening. We spooked a deer right as we came to the lookout point, but spotted no elk in the far basin.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHItMQVWbP5KlkxDW1zIm_JEDjz3I-10EQ1dk0H05bx0xSbtkrr4bG7x4Ok7neJtZQwlyIjyJJ-mmI8BXUXJizV5-jGTvMY4KON7q6-g621suWgs9dSSOahykgKEge81FO47_NQ/s1600/20121105_072650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHItMQVWbP5KlkxDW1zIm_JEDjz3I-10EQ1dk0H05bx0xSbtkrr4bG7x4Ok7neJtZQwlyIjyJJ-mmI8BXUXJizV5-jGTvMY4KON7q6-g621suWgs9dSSOahykgKEge81FO47_NQ/s320/20121105_072650.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mossy creek</td></tr>
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The other boys in my hunting party said there were way too many hunters along the dough spoon road, so I decided to go to the end of the blue grouse trail. I parked at the base of the mountain, just before bull and brown and hiked up the road to start. I found a service atv road to the right, not open to the public, but legal to hike. A perfect option to hunt quietly. It was a very nice hunt, but alas no elk. I met three hunters coming down from the top, so I know you can get there from the granbys. I hiked out through a nice park back toward the ridge in order to make a big loop. I seen a very nice 4x4 buck and we did a little dance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRzwyyGYpcg3PcJ3yMBNIyTN3vIB3ZL-zTfI2fm5JqPiXw-s9lky5Pc11xNrEIXKD01sp-Hgeo3MUTAZqUKypwLNxrb8oPZkTOsYXN2WNvqGf8BZmX4oa7HShwXetvvJqmSiGCA/s1600/20121105_110541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRzwyyGYpcg3PcJ3yMBNIyTN3vIB3ZL-zTfI2fm5JqPiXw-s9lky5Pc11xNrEIXKD01sp-Hgeo3MUTAZqUKypwLNxrb8oPZkTOsYXN2WNvqGf8BZmX4oa7HShwXetvvJqmSiGCA/s320/20121105_110541.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">arrow in tree</td></tr>
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On Monday it was just Clark and me. Dave and Steve had to work, and Chip was not feeling well. I tried to set Clark on the point camp trail, but screwed up and sent him up the road to that camp. I road my atv to the first open park almost to the top of the bull and brown. I hiked out staying at the same elevation. After about an hour of hiking through aspens and pines, I spooked a nice bull elk. He ran straight away from me knocking his antlers on the aspens. I couldn't get a shot. Shortly after, I heard another hunting shoot four times. I didn't know how to proceed with my hunt. After half an hour I heard two more shots, then another half hour one last shot. In the end I hunted by following a circle where I believe this other hunt went on. It wasn't a winning strategy. Later that day I did come upon fresh blood. I followed it through the thick evergreens and eventually spooked a couple of elk. With no snow, it was very hard to follow the blood and it seemed to disappear.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL59DJE5cHkxgXBrggvXzy_5oXNmO6mR2AP-fgN91sjpULW4Pl3tWLS2eKGjRkdsqTekZiyJGxN9iwDvRNYYEmxatE0kzxfs40eRtqQtR9RYHPE0ousY5nAE0J3Ar5tE38MEXvA/s1600/20121107_095044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL59DJE5cHkxgXBrggvXzy_5oXNmO6mR2AP-fgN91sjpULW4Pl3tWLS2eKGjRkdsqTekZiyJGxN9iwDvRNYYEmxatE0kzxfs40eRtqQtR9RYHPE0ousY5nAE0J3Ar5tE38MEXvA/s320/20121107_095044.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spot the hunter?</td></tr>
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On Tuesday I got Clark on the proper point camp trail, and I again hunted the same place. And again after about an hour of hiking, I spotted three cows. I could just see their heads. I came to a well traveled game trail and followed it. It lead to the upper meadow where the b&b atv trail meets the greenwood trail. In reality this hunt area isn't that far from atv trails. I decided to try to enter the pines, but soon found myself in a boulder field. I was meticulously making my way down the boulder field when I mistakenly stepped on a twig. I heard an elk in the timber take off. Damn! Hunting elk is an exercise in staying alert. One small mistake can ruin hours spent on a hunt. But I did find a new way to hunt the dark timber on the Grand Mesa. I tried to go as far out as possible and came to some huge meadows with many quakies. Eventually I came to the place cattle make there way down the mountain.<br />
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Wednesday brought Steve, Justin and Dave back to camp. We decided to give b&b one more try since I had seen elk both previous days. We all parked in the same meadow, but Steve and I went up the road to the large park on top. Steve entered where I had come out on Tuesday, I went farther and it took awhile to find a way in without getting into the thick timber. The area always looks different based on the exact small rolling meadow you are in. I met up with Dave late morning and nobody had seen elk. When we got back to the atvs, we found Steve napping. Dave used his elk call, but Steve didn't budge. Dave let out a huge bugle and Steve jumped up! A good laugh was had by all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcrXM81NoZh2VLrEQUvwV-jXV6PePyuD3AGUFa8LQoMIm6OnmJ-mkMT9UF7q1lFydQKjyafck7UURbqIc0K2Z4Yv6Wh-2TLillrnfaKuBpM9UrpvWyvx0f1TUJ82XQAeDVsVSXw/s1600/20121107_145050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcrXM81NoZh2VLrEQUvwV-jXV6PePyuD3AGUFa8LQoMIm6OnmJ-mkMT9UF7q1lFydQKjyafck7UURbqIc0K2Z4Yv6Wh-2TLillrnfaKuBpM9UrpvWyvx0f1TUJ82XQAeDVsVSXw/s320/20121107_145050.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">see the porcupine?</td></tr>
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Late in the day Steve and Justin went back down to pick up Clark who was hunting the low end of this area. Dave went up the service road and I hiked down blue grouse trail. I was about an hour in, when I spotted many deer. The hunting got really good. Finally I spooked some cow elk. There was a bull with them! A spike... damn. At the same time, I seen a porcupine. He waddled away up a small trail.<br />
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Stay tuned for part two!<br />
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<br />Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-26195160172246251612012-10-24T05:39:00.000-07:002012-10-24T05:39:27.544-07:00Elk Hunt 2010Opening morning, two nice bucks. Quakies across the trail. Hunted down and around.<br />
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Day two hunted the radio towers. Went all the way to the top, seen a bull elk at 3 pm across Well's Gulch from just above Dalton's rock. Seen a bear who bird dogged for me. Steve seen a bobcat.<br />
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Day three we went up top to flowing park. Dave, Justin, and Steve went to the end of the road and shot at some cows 700 yards. I hunted the crunchy snow on the road to point camp. Forgot my fanny pack. Hunted the ridge... didn't see any elk below me. Hunted down by xx lake. Steep drop off, no way to hunt down.<br />
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Day four it was snowing hard. Hiked up the ridge on the far side of Alkali Basin, but the blizzard turned me around. It let up a bit so I wanted to hunt the bull I seen on day two. Beautiful basin, but no elk. I watched the park where I seen the bull, but didn't spot him.<br />
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New binos are great for seeing elk. Day five Dave and I shot at some cows from the honey hole. Dave followed a wounded cow for three miles. I hiked up, seen a bull up high. Made my way through the oak brush, then tracked him for a couple of hours. Back down at Dalton's rock, I seen four elk up at Indian Point. A doe followed by a little buck came into the park below d rock.<br />
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Day six Dave and Steve hunted from the cabins and I hunted from Point Camp. Seen evidence of a bull, but seen no hair. Drove to the end of blue grouse for lunch. Decided to load my gun and spotted 30 elk on the hill above. Took some long shots. Tracked them across and down to the raging creek.<br />
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Day seven, Steve hunted low and I hunted the end of Blue Grouse again. Went straight across along a trail, up the far ridge and along the ditch bank. A plane scared the elk. I seen evidence of many beds. Decided to ride the ATV up the road and spotted some cows. Took one shot.<br />
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Day eight we had to be out of there to go to Phoenix for the race. Steve and I made it around the downed trees and to the end of the road. My advice is to take the lower spur. The horse trail is a much easier hike than up the ridge. I spotted the bull on the next ridge and made my way across the basin. I got within 400 yards, but too much oak brush to get closer. Took my shots and dusted his ankles but couldn't draw blood.<br />
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Drive to Phoenix took all night. I drove from Mexican Hat.Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-92212532935988263622012-10-24T05:35:00.002-07:002012-10-24T05:36:20.286-07:00Lost Creek Wilderness Loop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jlFjK_-Ep7nMavY-yI1738kuw-Hx-iMqt-nEyaGPonFAWxSjl85ENvqTu4XqdRQvsFx8BYQ0FH19K-U8cPwMlZhj6DDneQrsm6X6SoDHzyB-_BSnQdJY4dcNSN83Xlv9IV2xsw/s1600/20120812_092757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jlFjK_-Ep7nMavY-yI1738kuw-Hx-iMqt-nEyaGPonFAWxSjl85ENvqTu4XqdRQvsFx8BYQ0FH19K-U8cPwMlZhj6DDneQrsm6X6SoDHzyB-_BSnQdJY4dcNSN83Xlv9IV2xsw/s320/20120812_092757.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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It has been a while, but finally got out and hiked with my Colorado Trail partner Nick. He has been exploring the Lost Creek Wilderness in Colorado and invited me along on an epic hike of 22 miles (some <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1731198">posts</a> say 26 miles... I didn't bring my gps: mistake #1). Of course Nick wanted to do it all in one day: August 18, 2012!</div>
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We got to the trailhead early and headed out. Due to the length of the hike Nick was worried about finishing before dark so he set a blistering pace. I almost broke into a trot to keep up. There were many cars in the parking lot and quite a few folks in the first couple of miles, but we soon found solitude. The picture above shows a typical Lost Creek scene of monuments.</div>
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We came upon a nice campsite near the spot of the failed <a href="http://www.fomelc.org/lost-creek-trails.html">dam</a> and old buildings. We also seen the first hikers we had seen in a while. Nice quakies.</div>
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Goose creek starts to become lost in this area. We witnessed the tunnel where the creek makes its way through the rock and a man sitting lotus position meditating. Very spiritual and feng shui. <br />
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At the top of the pass you see refrigerator gulch. I'm not sure where it gets its name, but there are many monumental rocks in this fine wilderness. Here is where I started seeing many mushroom species. I'll post pictures later.<br />
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Approaching McCurdy park we were far from civilization and had not seen another person for hours. My dogs were barking and we were only half way. Serenity is in abundance here.<br />
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How about a nice combination of aspens, pines, and granite?<br />
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How about my ugly mug? Hiking in my approach shoes, but why not. Don't tell anyone, but fly agaric in this area.<br />
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Long before you reach this lovely rock, a word of extreme caution: you will reach the massive blow down of Lake Park trail. There are so many trees blown down that you are in for one hell of a bushwhack. It is easy to get lost here. Funny how the wilderness rules work: no chainsaws, so it will be awhile before this trail is nice again.<br />
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Proof I made it. The hike to the top of the pass after an unwanted set of switchback descent sapped me of any remaining energy. Plus we still had six miles to go. The long gradual descent back to the truck was enjoyable despite my tired feet and empty tank. Here again you see the unique beauty of Lost Creek Wilderness.Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-87955905604529709762012-08-11T14:33:00.002-07:002012-08-11T14:33:48.443-07:00Ellingwood Point Southwest Ridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We met Brian at the trailhead for the road to Lake Como deep in the
Sangre De Cristo mountains. Due to a flat tire, we started up the road
very late in the day. Add to this that I didn't feel comfortable taking
my stock 4x4 as far up the road as I did in my Little Bear ascent. We
ended up hiking most of the way to Como in the dark. We got to Lake
Como at midnight and pitched our tents.</div>
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I originally had planned to do the Little Bear to Blanca traverse, but Shelz was not comfortable with such a committing route so early in her scrambling life. Instead we decided to try the Southwest ridge on Ellingwood Point. Roach describes it as a fun and continuous tune up for Little Bear to Blanca, and so it is.</div>
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We hiked passed the recommended start, and so I decided to take off from the next lake up. This approach to the ridge proved to be a bit harder scramble. At one point we spent the better part of an hour trying to get around a particular vertical rock section.<br />
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Finally once on the ridge, the scrambling is solid class 3. Often times the ridge looks like it is too hard, but you can always find a reasonable weakness in the slope. If the rock gets too vertical, you can always drop to the left side of the ridge.<br />
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Once you can see all of the final approach, things get a bit airy. The ridge narrows and you must keep your balance. A couple of knife like edges exist here. Just before the final pitch, we found it necessary to downclimb and then scurry up a loose rock and dirt section to the last notch on the ridge.<br />
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The scrambling up to the summit was easier both in climbing and in route finding than the final pitch on Sneffels. We had the summit to ourselves and hadn't seen a soul on our route all day. Even the descent was us alone. The 14er initiative volunteers had even quit for the day.<br />
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The descent down the standard route was an exercise in talus hopping. Once we made it to the cave, the descent was easier. The long slog back to camp was highlighted by the sighting of four nice mule deer bucks. Two of the fellas had quite large racks, while the other two were younger. All still in the velvet.<br />
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This route took us from dawn to dusk. It took us over eleven hours, granted we were moving slow. This was one of the most fun scrambling routes I've done. It wasn't the hardest, but the continuous fun is hard to beat!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Initial Ramp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our harder scramble</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balancing on the ridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW5i9d50gE0Btn3gvpzLuipv_dwQO377oWYN9kNA2JtcUwY38VLTqFOVsSpFxIyaEhLUArQW0fqrrjKbmYmiJ83SSI6VU8V4XWBlenrH7DBPxnHnts9iQrkghWRkhzPvKL0YUyw/s1600/20120728_120809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW5i9d50gE0Btn3gvpzLuipv_dwQO377oWYN9kNA2JtcUwY38VLTqFOVsSpFxIyaEhLUArQW0fqrrjKbmYmiJ83SSI6VU8V4XWBlenrH7DBPxnHnts9iQrkghWRkhzPvKL0YUyw/s320/20120728_120809.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At times on the east side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYFOiq33fjd6dL_AtnSJoazLgh5SKwC9T6aeKfd8Uv67j4bYRZDN-DZdGEKDofzzFhuU_sLxdUwwgPvk3gR8UlBkXnovCtbPwVAe2IXy07tKrHy2jR1Zcjw5wbWTunxCSgnCO8Q/s1600/20120728_130842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYFOiq33fjd6dL_AtnSJoazLgh5SKwC9T6aeKfd8Uv67j4bYRZDN-DZdGEKDofzzFhuU_sLxdUwwgPvk3gR8UlBkXnovCtbPwVAe2IXy07tKrHy2jR1Zcjw5wbWTunxCSgnCO8Q/s320/20120728_130842.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A long way down on either side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfPFEPOPIP5jlBd5d7zJM3-guEETyMHVlP0sQDtieRR7x92gITS91q1tBLHBsjL1KEJo6_e7XeyP8VP8StlfJVROydk3JUON5KSHd8YSZvAud0CmcGQgnt0LycGuIzJdmznJb3A/s1600/20120728_130851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfPFEPOPIP5jlBd5d7zJM3-guEETyMHVlP0sQDtieRR7x92gITS91q1tBLHBsjL1KEJo6_e7XeyP8VP8StlfJVROydk3JUON5KSHd8YSZvAud0CmcGQgnt0LycGuIzJdmznJb3A/s320/20120728_130851.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, the rest of the ridge to the summit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P_slBHuN4mFR6H9vLWJyC5KkRhbUT7r-RKaABHS8tL9n2jkO3z8vgLSLUhYnxt9dVQUQsu8mAPwJdULb8JyiZM7bdNEzHzsGl_Gd2kCr1xvl8Es9gXIGR_Yc7H_I2vp7OUEdaA/s1600/20120728_151500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P_slBHuN4mFR6H9vLWJyC5KkRhbUT7r-RKaABHS8tL9n2jkO3z8vgLSLUhYnxt9dVQUQsu8mAPwJdULb8JyiZM7bdNEzHzsGl_Gd2kCr1xvl8Es9gXIGR_Yc7H_I2vp7OUEdaA/s320/20120728_151500.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Bear in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNup1CKAuqpX_tl1CI-A5F-E516D4L6i-FH8seWVsBaOiQfpEC9S01iEbbanU7RvtPwhOiVqSXz4zxLChX5aj7_-_HABcaYPj7gufE6HyyD9Zx1aUQGSP7m_I8BukhD-XEtHaKrA/s1600/20120728_151810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNup1CKAuqpX_tl1CI-A5F-E516D4L6i-FH8seWVsBaOiQfpEC9S01iEbbanU7RvtPwhOiVqSXz4zxLChX5aj7_-_HABcaYPj7gufE6HyyD9Zx1aUQGSP7m_I8BukhD-XEtHaKrA/s320/20120728_151810.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final pitch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1zYSWiw7Qk4PC_yMQ9hR-fyuxo7JYo14kqeEgVvssjYjTTxr3RjzBNzG0pNJM6QS9Uhw7yafaE7h7paCw4tyNvXwdrWAFMbCkLD__jVGJuWRcOzaYkd5UaSR4xDgog1E4Uh8Ow/s1600/20120728_155422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1zYSWiw7Qk4PC_yMQ9hR-fyuxo7JYo14kqeEgVvssjYjTTxr3RjzBNzG0pNJM6QS9Uhw7yafaE7h7paCw4tyNvXwdrWAFMbCkLD__jVGJuWRcOzaYkd5UaSR4xDgog1E4Uh8Ow/s320/20120728_155422.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">39th 14er</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cc8ZKXSt-MeknmrT7nskWhTn5aknMyOtYpPBDbqU3NUhXBN-8f5rxSNizTRdiCoZbOttHDVMRVSVTk1PjsuYdJxP073w_dwiHZgjvF3grw9snabsECoE0_8UDpFWvWdtWAMGmA/s1600/20120728_184230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cc8ZKXSt-MeknmrT7nskWhTn5aknMyOtYpPBDbqU3NUhXBN-8f5rxSNizTRdiCoZbOttHDVMRVSVTk1PjsuYdJxP073w_dwiHZgjvF3grw9snabsECoE0_8UDpFWvWdtWAMGmA/s320/20120728_184230.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look at our first pitch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0AIOei3dwZ__4nKiTmVz5wq5X6sEfnXdgOFqBEv3GLpReJdV5uYt0H1aouzgORdtOxcrQlnERCAQaM1lHH7AwhqtBJSAbidK7aTXnr79LArIfI0zGz1qZsFUBTPH-_8_4V9l0w/s1600/20120728_190021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0AIOei3dwZ__4nKiTmVz5wq5X6sEfnXdgOFqBEv3GLpReJdV5uYt0H1aouzgORdtOxcrQlnERCAQaM1lHH7AwhqtBJSAbidK7aTXnr79LArIfI0zGz1qZsFUBTPH-_8_4V9l0w/s320/20120728_190021.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look at the recommended start</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-72532567073750206342012-08-11T12:57:00.005-07:002012-08-11T12:57:59.991-07:00Sneffles Southwest RidgeShelz and I decided to brave the Class 3 Southwest Ridge of Sneffles on a fine July weekend. We arrived Friday night amid a hail and sleet storm. It was so wet that we decided to sleep in the pickup cab rather than try and set up a tent.<br />
<br />
We woke after an uncomfortable sleep and took the truck up the 4WD road to a point just below the lower trailhead. The hike to Blue Lakes pass was very picturesque and enjoyable. Once up the switchbacks you get a glimpse of the ferocious gendarmes that guard the start of the ridge. Luckily these are avoided on the west side.<br />
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Once past the gendarmes the ridge progresses steadily from hard class 2 to easy class 3 to harder moves. This was Shelz first big class 3 outing so it was a descent choice for a noob. She tackled the climb with aplomb. Route finding was even a test as you pass to the east side and do a bit of descent via a notch in the ridge.<br />
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The climbing continues in a fun fashion until you see the final pitch. The climbing became a bit harder here due to the line we took. A couple of times we had to retreat and find another way up. Shelz even slipped once providing a tense moment.<br />
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The views on top are amazing.<br />
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Our descent followed the standard Sneffels route. At top it is still some class 2+ ridges but then descends into a nasty scree and dirt slope. Shelz decided a dirt and mud glissade was best for her.<br />
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The shelf road on the way out is crazy for sure. Once down into Ridgway we stopped at Colorado Boy for a brew and a souvenir T-shirt. A great adventure in the San Juans!Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-46713305516461542302011-07-27T22:54:00.000-07:002011-07-27T22:54:20.287-07:00The Second Flatiron July 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSp68ltycNu1XSWbh59Orj_ozUaJ2OKy8fS-9BPqcwQDfNw6w32sLX3UUEnlzYD6ceLpBwuPQs2pubZA4r1kvta7q1LT2oH79l8qzS-VJIo09Ad2TwDPeRMTN0S-FoYsbI2hi_A/s1600/IMAG0184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSp68ltycNu1XSWbh59Orj_ozUaJ2OKy8fS-9BPqcwQDfNw6w32sLX3UUEnlzYD6ceLpBwuPQs2pubZA4r1kvta7q1LT2oH79l8qzS-VJIo09Ad2TwDPeRMTN0S-FoYsbI2hi_A/s400/IMAG0184.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">scramblers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I haven't been back to the second flatiron for awhile -- it's not my favorite scramble, but it is a good one. It makes for a good after work climb where you can get done before the sun sets. Here you can see some of my scrambling brethren. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60dcmm0pyU6kO-pAJ7L1DdCoyWONf-rAubpT7K-3z8xk9LurDLUgXtmIZ2FcRwbAzB3jtBZz_9ugVNb2Cnw89F5ykcOiCTdmEup98eIdcr5wCk3F7rkdZbeCnjPkdasz9hzfIaA/s1600/IMAG0185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60dcmm0pyU6kO-pAJ7L1DdCoyWONf-rAubpT7K-3z8xk9LurDLUgXtmIZ2FcRwbAzB3jtBZz_9ugVNb2Cnw89F5ykcOiCTdmEup98eIdcr5wCk3F7rkdZbeCnjPkdasz9hzfIaA/s320/IMAG0185.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dodge Block</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Today I climbed the Dodge Block line on the Second Flatiron. It is a bit easier in my opinion than Freeway. You can actually make it as easy as you like by trending left. Here's a picture of the first pitch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFJLN__Vj9YpiJst5CzkTOjgfQC5Cu1cvn3B3h3oIO0scjB7BtAHqvW-lnu9YEEyhayBPL8z1cKv3lx0i-Zo_VOgWhMn_kc0-eNrXTOmSiOjavqXxYo995qV6fVligmO-IDYz3w/s1600/IMAG0188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFJLN__Vj9YpiJst5CzkTOjgfQC5Cu1cvn3B3h3oIO0scjB7BtAHqvW-lnu9YEEyhayBPL8z1cKv3lx0i-Zo_VOgWhMn_kc0-eNrXTOmSiOjavqXxYo995qV6fVligmO-IDYz3w/s320/IMAG0188.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof I was there</td></tr>
</tbody></table> On this day I not only saw the scramblers in the first photo, but also some roped climbers on my route. I stayed left of them and actually climbed below the rock that requires a "flying leap".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIPO71peW2BBjlWQi6GzJmggnmcqYbjog7FtcyV_5hEYVhO-QTzUUAGJ-zs6TYV2QH-eanvFCzrpzFE9lyhOzDhVQ1Sr6donJjUWI5XWC7d5qCKljKHnftVMgO9xkwIwLhbCBpQ/s1600/IMAG0194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIPO71peW2BBjlWQi6GzJmggnmcqYbjog7FtcyV_5hEYVhO-QTzUUAGJ-zs6TYV2QH-eanvFCzrpzFE9lyhOzDhVQ1Sr6donJjUWI5XWC7d5qCKljKHnftVMgO9xkwIwLhbCBpQ/s320/IMAG0194.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aesthetic Scramble</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>By staying low and left, I found an enjoyable line that I hadn't explored before. I also climbed higher than normal. The final pitch just to the north of the pullman car has an easy escape. But it isn't visible as you ascend, so it takes a bit of faith unless you remember the ending.Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-15806059526310525862011-07-27T22:38:00.000-07:002011-07-27T22:38:26.758-07:00El Camino Royale July 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Normally I prefer to try new trails and new routes. There is so much in Colorado to explore it would take several lifetimes to see it all. But one climb I return to again and again is the El Camino Royale. It is the perfect balance between accessibility, excitement, and fun! You can string together El Camino Royale, Royal Arch, Yodeling Moves, Lost Flatiron, and Fern Alley for a wonderful day of scrambling. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyr3JYtb2pKvitPwMSJ-iqcbnWepOAW3XH6izgw77UvIW2h5Lx4-7UvaSijmktqGgKFLo9iAiN6f5HEhhCeha_tWv1wSsL-iRrIhayx23C5oFuwlWjqIV_fycLfH32RbZHKtscA/s1600/IMAG0169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyr3JYtb2pKvitPwMSJ-iqcbnWepOAW3XH6izgw77UvIW2h5Lx4-7UvaSijmktqGgKFLo9iAiN6f5HEhhCeha_tWv1wSsL-iRrIhayx23C5oFuwlWjqIV_fycLfH32RbZHKtscA/s320/IMAG0169.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cactus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Here's a picture of the middle pitch on El Camino Royale. While you are heads down climbing, don't forget to look for cactus!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X8SEYWM4WbHgem0K4CHezZEjVmx9QaWcJHT1OklI0yhEm9GV83SXuUCeiQpOHtgXRgShZdeo7nTudzjuMpPg1X8Gz6pi4ug54tMhIUwiUc1KmDow5Y_EDx5UuHVLSWnA8oY9NQ/s1600/IMAG0170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X8SEYWM4WbHgem0K4CHezZEjVmx9QaWcJHT1OklI0yhEm9GV83SXuUCeiQpOHtgXRgShZdeo7nTudzjuMpPg1X8Gz6pi4ug54tMhIUwiUc1KmDow5Y_EDx5UuHVLSWnA8oY9NQ/s320/IMAG0170.jpg" width="191" /></a></div> The upper pitch was a bit shaded making for a nice bit of scrambling. There are many lines to take up ECR, but the middle shady was my choice today.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4w9F-Px0LSnqwn7QnnMcbRFU6G810K7NPlVpQWlgKvLqzSwV4J3GjMfZvgDV0qWKO1MLso2zWDxLsa62StVyGryKlOvlL9es_3AdXYLC0Z1a8x_L89lvj_vB1wvjpn6eByt87w/s1600/IMAG0171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4w9F-Px0LSnqwn7QnnMcbRFU6G810K7NPlVpQWlgKvLqzSwV4J3GjMfZvgDV0qWKO1MLso2zWDxLsa62StVyGryKlOvlL9es_3AdXYLC0Z1a8x_L89lvj_vB1wvjpn6eByt87w/s320/IMAG0171.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>The final pitch is a must do on most days. To give the folks at the Royal Arch a thrill seeing you at the apex is only right. But the downclimb is a bit more work than I want on some days and can eat up twenty minutes of time. If I'm in a hurry, I skip this pitch and head over to climb the Arch. I have also done the downclimb off the face of this top when I don't mind the exposure.<br />
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Great day in the flatirons!Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-74079610427734227072010-12-18T08:34:00.000-08:002010-12-18T08:34:52.722-08:00Pyramid Peak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT76jPS-7J0NO8MBOZ93giTMt4hqt7gRCNPd123viPpB1tgTlWUKL82OTbRlBB8w3a3ztWF6pjPQNLYGpMbHLsjhvjQkYz4QLrDbazt6yMS4Ef37izjkI0cnnnUv6WAJly6OS5g/s1600/DSCF0548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT76jPS-7J0NO8MBOZ93giTMt4hqt7gRCNPd123viPpB1tgTlWUKL82OTbRlBB8w3a3ztWF6pjPQNLYGpMbHLsjhvjQkYz4QLrDbazt6yMS4Ef37izjkI0cnnnUv6WAJly6OS5g/s320/DSCF0548.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Brian and I decided on a climb of Pyramid Peak on September 11, 2010. I had planned to climb it earlier in the summer, but hit a cow elk just outside of Leadville which ruined that weekend.<br />
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I made sure I didn't roll thru Leadville at dusk to avoid the wildlife and spent the night in the Maroon Bells day parking lot. The overnight parking was full, but nobody bothered me since I slept in the cab.<br />
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Brian arrived from New Castle and we headed up the trail past Maroon Lake. The start of the trail to Pryamid is easy to miss, but we caught it and hiked the switchbacks to the boulder field. The climb up across the boulder field is a bit tedious as the Peak looms over you.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNyd75-UIkwn4Rq3dGoRQ5EZ-99qdyzevN2vhnO_bdbYmzoUVbmzfHFLkWiNuIj_lbUV_EW2gPKysUVogqP5AOedzq05XekomSLphM6cJBtjuZZ7U1l7mp1xI5jF_QlYUSbh51w/s1600/DSCF0551.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNyd75-UIkwn4Rq3dGoRQ5EZ-99qdyzevN2vhnO_bdbYmzoUVbmzfHFLkWiNuIj_lbUV_EW2gPKysUVogqP5AOedzq05XekomSLphM6cJBtjuZZ7U1l7mp1xI5jF_QlYUSbh51w/s320/DSCF0551.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
If the boulder field is tedious, it is not as bad as the slog up to the pass. This section was steep and slippery.<br />
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We were greeted at the pass by a small herd of mountain goats. Finally the climb starts to get fun. We found the gap where you have to jump over about a three foot opening. Then we shinnied our way across the cliff traverse. This was an interesting section, but not too exposed.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T03FZhiZqZ1rQyM6IrtAqxPv0KIFkDnS4U3UhOelmevi2X1JRPoqHhBmhrR30LO8QQXQcQjIXZaYYVhieINEi5763qQBKge9pUFA_UVTrm_fHs0L3So-Lki_yLUIu5IX0thsDw/s1600/DSCF0589.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T03FZhiZqZ1rQyM6IrtAqxPv0KIFkDnS4U3UhOelmevi2X1JRPoqHhBmhrR30LO8QQXQcQjIXZaYYVhieINEi5763qQBKge9pUFA_UVTrm_fHs0L3So-Lki_yLUIu5IX0thsDw/s320/DSCF0589.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
As the terrain gets steeper the rock gets smoother. This is rated class 4, but I didn't feel it was any trickier than a lot of class 3 I've been on. I guess I'm getting some comfort on this level of rock after much climbing in the Flatirons. A couple of climbers past us on this section and one kicked a rock down on us. It was easy to dodge and he apologized at the top.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zaqSqqcm1XhPveRc7cUj762p1LRaLCtK_kxkDS3MwqPVI8ko2CDFuPjZ2b7zpqqSOeaO7z7MJ-t8HEvKfpn7USusrPG4NHXbL3mX-fSGNzfo5Zq3JW9fDf8zDLG47ECiGZSc6Q/s1600/DSCF0604.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zaqSqqcm1XhPveRc7cUj762p1LRaLCtK_kxkDS3MwqPVI8ko2CDFuPjZ2b7zpqqSOeaO7z7MJ-t8HEvKfpn7USusrPG4NHXbL3mX-fSGNzfo5Zq3JW9fDf8zDLG47ECiGZSc6Q/s320/DSCF0604.JPG" width="320" /></a>Later that month I learned that Don (peakcowboy) had died on Kit Carson. He had wanted us to join him on Snowmass the same weekend we climbed Pyramid.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD199InorCVMucKtcTskU1zwwgtNgPa57cfgjFh2cDh6oKkaSIQMZ6ix_uQQEwA_fWZhsEpd_QZIjKtgceD3_YiYdAyEq78sAc6D91yO9EAnr4Ys4Mf5J5FNP8X9YlHAT7pj22ew/s1600/DSCF0571.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD199InorCVMucKtcTskU1zwwgtNgPa57cfgjFh2cDh6oKkaSIQMZ6ix_uQQEwA_fWZhsEpd_QZIjKtgceD3_YiYdAyEq78sAc6D91yO9EAnr4Ys4Mf5J5FNP8X9YlHAT7pj22ew/s320/DSCF0571.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I only made the summit of three 14ers this year, but next year I plan to finish the Elks. I will also attempt Sneffels, Wetterhorn, and the Wilsons.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRPpAmLa3r8aie9nSEgbgBYcKPpRcBbu7wfQoA_mwimwuCgfDikJbQ393N-ommsx4D_e26UMQI5f3uw_JMFcZ7agH0gdoEkukaIUG45ASLj2hVpBn6bez8t-ne2-FNK_jWU049A/s1600/DSCF0575.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRPpAmLa3r8aie9nSEgbgBYcKPpRcBbu7wfQoA_mwimwuCgfDikJbQ393N-ommsx4D_e26UMQI5f3uw_JMFcZ7agH0gdoEkukaIUG45ASLj2hVpBn6bez8t-ne2-FNK_jWU049A/s320/DSCF0575.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteQVI__YAtcqZ5ay32fvkw7avWocjcXcg8aii3K-oVJO5Uj405dQQM0mrjH908pllyEr6nX9hvyZgqzBVnnsKOv5EuxOR8iXTOKfVoJPspLZJZE92MjCgui7n35UrmB0oQPzjUQ/s1600/DSCF0608.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteQVI__YAtcqZ5ay32fvkw7avWocjcXcg8aii3K-oVJO5Uj405dQQM0mrjH908pllyEr6nX9hvyZgqzBVnnsKOv5EuxOR8iXTOKfVoJPspLZJZE92MjCgui7n35UrmB0oQPzjUQ/s320/DSCF0608.JPG" width="320" /></a>Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-16776595600579431562010-08-07T21:55:00.000-07:002010-08-07T21:55:38.603-07:00Flatiron Fun 2010<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGKyqZAQuyNFjmGiVcsFEs144HaMutGA9sx_DpH-CWAgf6pluK-Zs3KRzFFylHu_ln2RnVeJwGdnpwZQBEpgvpCFRA2Cu_SqPO4OGUAlnIrkWOuf-P2mknmYtSq0io12NAMVVgg/s1600/2010-08-01+09.09.58_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGKyqZAQuyNFjmGiVcsFEs144HaMutGA9sx_DpH-CWAgf6pluK-Zs3KRzFFylHu_ln2RnVeJwGdnpwZQBEpgvpCFRA2Cu_SqPO4OGUAlnIrkWOuf-P2mknmYtSq0io12NAMVVgg/s320/2010-08-01+09.09.58_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Camino Royale</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Went climbing in the Flatirons for the first time this summer on July 18, 2010. Here's my favorite combination: El Camino Royale, Royal Arch, Hammerhead, Last Flatironette, and Fern Alley. I thought I had the approach to El Camino Royale memorized from NCAR to the Mesa Trail, but I missed the start. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZV8h5oSkPN-CHR2bBGNKM8jDPwD9qJ1trQ1k9QUciM6qvR6_DjfpvcAAmB3qbCE6NDx4jH4MRiweivxC02IuR5IkdNIVxlyONyiCmNxCnHFDqSMUdv2pcWjI7RYeXR9k1U8zHrA/s1600/2010-08-01+09.32.26_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZV8h5oSkPN-CHR2bBGNKM8jDPwD9qJ1trQ1k9QUciM6qvR6_DjfpvcAAmB3qbCE6NDx4jH4MRiweivxC02IuR5IkdNIVxlyONyiCmNxCnHFDqSMUdv2pcWjI7RYeXR9k1U8zHrA/s320/2010-08-01+09.32.26_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Arch Scrambler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3bJAfDQfzuTqxL2z8VcCzCHtEjN0CbBxL9Til6OTlcgWR7rcXLNrYehlDfcIwsMyEOemI8dAMnxVphdPt0dxfzOdrwnGrI9pNRmtK8ArLj20m6Wedaj40VtkrCFk-VO-fGJ2dg/s1600/2010-07-25+13.38.05_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3bJAfDQfzuTqxL2z8VcCzCHtEjN0CbBxL9Til6OTlcgWR7rcXLNrYehlDfcIwsMyEOemI8dAMnxVphdPt0dxfzOdrwnGrI9pNRmtK8ArLj20m6Wedaj40VtkrCFk-VO-fGJ2dg/s320/2010-07-25+13.38.05_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down Yodeling Moves</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I was a little rusty on Yodeling Moves and got more confident on the Last Flatironette. I also missed Fern Alley on this go. I forgot that it is below the top of the Last. I decided to descend the Tangen Tunnel Route. I tip-toed around the poison ivy, and found my way down through the tunnel, but didn't find the wedding ring I lost last year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3eTikKiY5HvPN95f3L8PA6iHTCQnnR1n4YPGLx43-bU_KHSoem2MPftgWnppGUcrXhXnGsgBW-IcCprrgngDQTF5bMvwZY6VUA57n9BrwhcSyIycKyaQfUXHH_jdrt4lAdZtwg/s1600/2010-07-25+15.21.55_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3eTikKiY5HvPN95f3L8PA6iHTCQnnR1n4YPGLx43-bU_KHSoem2MPftgWnppGUcrXhXnGsgBW-IcCprrgngDQTF5bMvwZY6VUA57n9BrwhcSyIycKyaQfUXHH_jdrt4lAdZtwg/s320/2010-07-25+15.21.55_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tangen Towers Problem</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The next weekend I couldn't break free of work long enough to make it to Aspen, so back again to the Flatirons. This time I didn't miss El Camino Royale and I even remembered not to stray too far left where I got in a pickle last year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sjx0gpNfzjkozSeY43e-k5fsvDmS1_7PMK6VwWDdNuMG2KBE9Uw6HzNjyp8JBFB4TOpw5PqGB_CAsT7i7iewTvhxvzgdttX2vMCcTqCbfZWt1Lhpa-JdKacs9p9nxHH2_x6F9A/s1600/2010-07-25+14.05.26_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sjx0gpNfzjkozSeY43e-k5fsvDmS1_7PMK6VwWDdNuMG2KBE9Uw6HzNjyp8JBFB4TOpw5PqGB_CAsT7i7iewTvhxvzgdttX2vMCcTqCbfZWt1Lhpa-JdKacs9p9nxHH2_x6F9A/s320/2010-07-25+14.05.26_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Flatironette</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The start of the scramble up the royal arch is a bit of a puzzle, but it gets easier. Next came the Hammerhead. Their are two crux moves on yodeling moves. The one just below the arch is a bit too smooth.<br />
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To start the Last Flatiron look to the left of the tree at the base and go up the ledge. You can climb the tree, but the ledge is more fun. Let the exposure on the top exhilarate you.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7hiOTo7jmTUkNqLEB35FIUGl5wSC0UOxpJXKOAPU39vMZDcAQ91H1mAOL9W1LDyCkYI-y4QFJ_PkzZiGa_0Cpn2XNI49_ocNSMyPGU0RR_oe9pKOcjBrEbu8o7jNuXQqk8ODYQ/s1600/2010-07-25+14.00.25_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7hiOTo7jmTUkNqLEB35FIUGl5wSC0UOxpJXKOAPU39vMZDcAQ91H1mAOL9W1LDyCkYI-y4QFJ_PkzZiGa_0Cpn2XNI49_ocNSMyPGU0RR_oe9pKOcjBrEbu8o7jNuXQqk8ODYQ/s320/2010-07-25+14.00.25_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scrambler</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The start of Fern Alley is just below the Last Flatironette. Fern alley's lemon squeezers are not for the portly climber, but are quite fun. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj-wwzP6BpxrkO1XVs_WRuWnqnnIoai2r-vpB9PUJqEIsGXsb0w_9Qy5fgCeYtI9n8IvWkrxAjTaX1xuBpiKQa2q0znJj3EkZDizsv2ckFzygy90tXB24OFa2jtye9cRc4fXOsQ/s1600/2010-08-01+10.52.37_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj-wwzP6BpxrkO1XVs_WRuWnqnnIoai2r-vpB9PUJqEIsGXsb0w_9Qy5fgCeYtI9n8IvWkrxAjTaX1xuBpiKQa2q0znJj3EkZDizsv2ckFzygy90tXB24OFa2jtye9cRc4fXOsQ/s320/2010-08-01+10.52.37_Boulder_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fern Alley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-39544075846418891362010-08-07T20:39:00.000-07:002010-08-07T20:39:03.991-07:00Ali-Ali and the Raven Ridge<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzctTsPV1QTeG4dMh8u7g1RnUhwApdGNTYM_d7fesu-Rhz42P2Tz2NumDukX4fgEwy3znlyWdA2esenbXEBgdLrbTAsQP_J2fXAXwo1W_qsoLVX_NzemNGA-S3sT3QYkozYhj7Q/s1600/2010-07-18+10.27.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzctTsPV1QTeG4dMh8u7g1RnUhwApdGNTYM_d7fesu-Rhz42P2Tz2NumDukX4fgEwy3znlyWdA2esenbXEBgdLrbTAsQP_J2fXAXwo1W_qsoLVX_NzemNGA-S3sT3QYkozYhj7Q/s320/2010-07-18+10.27.13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt Holy Cross</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Matt and I biked some new trails at the lunch loop in Grand Junction: ali-ali and the raven ridge. Larry caught up to us after descending the Ribbon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysSpp7zd2GvbDEUd7RKsOsOvPiBI-j_QAnGIdQ1LHlepXt3YOIUr8RdY5qbQNTd4InzKG9drvY8Vf3vRove1W_Fai0cNy9SbSwXYoiY1L2Z3An7kQ_kwtJl4pA81MQZ-ervZpLg/s1600/2010-07-18+10.34.08_Grand+Junction_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysSpp7zd2GvbDEUd7RKsOsOvPiBI-j_QAnGIdQ1LHlepXt3YOIUr8RdY5qbQNTd4InzKG9drvY8Vf3vRove1W_Fai0cNy9SbSwXYoiY1L2Z3An7kQ_kwtJl4pA81MQZ-ervZpLg/s320/2010-07-18+10.34.08_Grand+Junction_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick scramble</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
We then took on the Holy Cross trail once again. Larry has mastered this most difficult trail, but I crashed twice. I was also a bit timid after rolling my ATV last month. I'm just now healing up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JVLCDJBZcilO57pIqiOdPT_eSjhP5ON2MomH5SYHKx_0hvE8nGSgNZHMt1cfgBB0u2itmi0lml7xl9oKMIpxmRxnZA2OtnxpKWT6ioab7yXuSGg5QAUg9aNAyLIE5uRwBA1c6Q/s1600/2010-07-18+10.56.10_Grand+Junction_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JVLCDJBZcilO57pIqiOdPT_eSjhP5ON2MomH5SYHKx_0hvE8nGSgNZHMt1cfgBB0u2itmi0lml7xl9oKMIpxmRxnZA2OtnxpKWT6ioab7yXuSGg5QAUg9aNAyLIE5uRwBA1c6Q/s320/2010-07-18+10.56.10_Grand+Junction_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry cleans the cross</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Matt did an excellent job on Larry's old but sweet Marin. It is cool that every time I head to GJ they have built more trails out there. Next time, maybe Miramonte.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFScwGwihTMMvVKZDEBRkNOPQhH9Ip9VTTr-ADFDUrA6RYgpd_5VrUHfb-uZrzsF1NwMUw9cJwQl-KauLG0BrHEeY3lHGEOKQJYbZO5Pa9iNbuUSuWZupCS_CI22KJYuuflhUE0A/s1600/2010-07-18+10.56.17_Grand+Junction_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFScwGwihTMMvVKZDEBRkNOPQhH9Ip9VTTr-ADFDUrA6RYgpd_5VrUHfb-uZrzsF1NwMUw9cJwQl-KauLG0BrHEeY3lHGEOKQJYbZO5Pa9iNbuUSuWZupCS_CI22KJYuuflhUE0A/s320/2010-07-18+10.56.17_Grand+Junction_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ledge to big?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-44806368560085854932010-08-07T20:12:00.000-07:002010-08-07T20:12:29.071-07:00Castle and Conundrum<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgTqfZsBgqEjmNPs8Mh4XEDFKFVvyJb3m-T_WTH-oiAI-313qnmoicbsmx5Kai4JsQhof-0yd9ZC5cOy-SCFLAyYom9cPQcxwCokeVPqlRL99V50uo7bLhHbmQOZiPSY31I-Dzg/s1600/2010-07-03+08.33.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgTqfZsBgqEjmNPs8Mh4XEDFKFVvyJb3m-T_WTH-oiAI-313qnmoicbsmx5Kai4JsQhof-0yd9ZC5cOy-SCFLAyYom9cPQcxwCokeVPqlRL99V50uo7bLhHbmQOZiPSY31I-Dzg/s320/2010-07-03+08.33.54.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dalton below Castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Dalton and I left town on Friday afternoon and camped on the Aspen side of Independence Pass. A cop came by and told us we weren't supposed to camp along the road, but as long as we were gone by early morning we could stay.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNupClrRd22PH-mWamnT4OeUG_07nO6M294GRbkTYwv08-DBOfBlowq_2DH3KNkPBZinF9zSmPnEk9PvZWDmWfHV2wlBAW9RSHQ6S_7tjWXoN_QbVHKjc7PM95S7ZasLMTo8n7Wg/s1600/2010-07-03+09.30.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNupClrRd22PH-mWamnT4OeUG_07nO6M294GRbkTYwv08-DBOfBlowq_2DH3KNkPBZinF9zSmPnEk9PvZWDmWfHV2wlBAW9RSHQ6S_7tjWXoN_QbVHKjc7PM95S7ZasLMTo8n7Wg/s320/2010-07-03+09.30.49.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glissade from ridge to lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We crossed the creek and parked at a nice camp site below the two water falls. We started the tedious hike up the road. The creek was flowing down the road at one point. Just past the end of the road we engaged a fun snow climb. Crampons weren't needed, but we had to kick steps a couple of times.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk1CjsNCZuKhkdYySxEpihpuop_66sF55GyX4IvMYknZvOsmmA0DiG6vbgjTyHLunPudbf-ZJHi06eQLYCyEIL6JEGf-zZ7du4RnwsCe0fO24wl6XVTubuLizNOL0-KAhtQm3OQ/s1600/2010-07-03+09.53.53_Aspen_Colorado_US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk1CjsNCZuKhkdYySxEpihpuop_66sF55GyX4IvMYknZvOsmmA0DiG6vbgjTyHLunPudbf-ZJHi06eQLYCyEIL6JEGf-zZ7du4RnwsCe0fO24wl6XVTubuLizNOL0-KAhtQm3OQ/s320/2010-07-03+09.53.53_Aspen_Colorado_US.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dalton Class 4</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
As you enter the basin we encountered the nasty switchbacks up to ridge. The rock is loose and the way a bit steep. Once on the ridge it was a more enjoyable with Class 2+ goings. We strayed of the ridge proper, so Dalton found a Class 4 arete and I went up a nasty loose gully. We gained the summit and had it to ourselves for quite awhile.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHvl-ATfqZuAVqoum2dm44BpojaUGXWS3VFG7CcAzHHRgfQbR850DnLpp7T2AQGMficu7TShrQsusR_UJ7y5pOUCKk_u4m9ywJ2i_hHxne82_h7FQabFxHfKLD6xKtdKvYU2-oQ/s1600/2010-07-03+12.33.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHvl-ATfqZuAVqoum2dm44BpojaUGXWS3VFG7CcAzHHRgfQbR850DnLpp7T2AQGMficu7TShrQsusR_UJ7y5pOUCKk_u4m9ywJ2i_hHxne82_h7FQabFxHfKLD6xKtdKvYU2-oQ/s320/2010-07-03+12.33.44.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glissade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We decided to bag Conundrum too, so we started to cross the connecting ridge. The ridge turned out to be very windy and cold. After hopping rocks to get to the Conundrum summit, we turned back to get to the large snowfield on the Gary Roach approach.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPTvMfQnKjCuZnQkA0BlHj1utrbztF-mz5G7oR7YRIuIfHIAozAbejkuQLEmZHY0EA7-GYhQfcPHpL7ZG1pmWKpOAZzCK08OlH3Vm8Bo2vGPb93PVqTXiIms3ar2zVnP2YuqVCQ/s1600/2010-07-03+12.49.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPTvMfQnKjCuZnQkA0BlHj1utrbztF-mz5G7oR7YRIuIfHIAozAbejkuQLEmZHY0EA7-GYhQfcPHpL7ZG1pmWKpOAZzCK08OlH3Vm8Bo2vGPb93PVqTXiIms3ar2zVnP2YuqVCQ/s320/2010-07-03+12.49.14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dalton on lower glissade</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The glissade started off a bit through the rocks. We tried to keep enough snow under us to surf over the rock field. The glissade below was a swift slope of fun. This mountain has more glissade available after you cross the lake basin. Very fun glissading down to the road. There were people sliding without ice axe or even poles, but luckily nobody got hurt. Of course after my Sherman encounter, I always take an axe.<br />
<br />
After slogging back down the road, we took a nap at our nice camp. That night I won the hot dog eating contest. We didn't want to leave any food out, since there were bears in the area. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rV_NRHfnZ-OU52pffWPwA4ksbTTd0EqRdPxVhIUrvB4azlFkkX_AhnUnKvOylPojQKD-563LuEGmQjvBeb4YYp65QVwBKNtfG37__DzE0-wEuTDwJYuAlDWFDQj39800gdsWwg/s1600/2010-07-05+07.35.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rV_NRHfnZ-OU52pffWPwA4ksbTTd0EqRdPxVhIUrvB4azlFkkX_AhnUnKvOylPojQKD-563LuEGmQjvBeb4YYp65QVwBKNtfG37__DzE0-wEuTDwJYuAlDWFDQj39800gdsWwg/s320/2010-07-05+07.35.38.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory Maroon Bell Shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sunday we took a trip up to Marble then took a nice long soak in the Penny Hot Springs. Dalton had a great time trying to get his rock wall just right to get the hotness dialed in. That night Dalton got sick on a mushroom burger at Little Annies. The next morning we had planned to climb Pyramid, but decided to just go to Maroon Lake to take a look at the Bells after he had a long night of puking.Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-4621815091439905742010-05-09T17:47:00.000-07:002010-05-09T17:47:36.470-07:00Rainbow Falls ATVWe made a trip up to Rampart Range only to find the trails closed. The ranger there was very pleasant and professional. He gave us a map and told us that the Rainbow Falls area outside of Woodland Park was open for riding. We decided to make the trip.<br />
<br />
We took a quick loop around what I think was trail 348. This trail has a nice technical section to challenge your skills whether ATVing or Jeeping.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM576-Yd0lrPGkzo1yWZo5DhtCHLwhAUUMBNcsbTAo8_-jvFuv0gqQ1FeLLNutTU75TmsRBFy8qnselDT0ejuBFgyTpeAM0roPT-BYKldn6uHjb-HoEl1uDXcd6pZNzcks78XMQQ/s1600/2010-05-08+13.32.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM576-Yd0lrPGkzo1yWZo5DhtCHLwhAUUMBNcsbTAo8_-jvFuv0gqQ1FeLLNutTU75TmsRBFy8qnselDT0ejuBFgyTpeAM0roPT-BYKldn6uHjb-HoEl1uDXcd6pZNzcks78XMQQ/s320/2010-05-08+13.32.59.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We then took the ATV only trail 633 which has a fun little rock to climb (more later). See picture.<br />
<br />
This lead to trail 631 which was the most interesting of the day for me. The trail winds through tight trees and is a joy to ride.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaYYZjGkgujldlKRje1GVf4trWfohJQjStwlsSPpm2aKFwvOUQ-_NPouskJbZdWz6d1gw8FYL1pJw_4SZNMRTmwID4XdyxShkt1xmIvQcebyJFyHndZuV0cDRntWU9gUj2IBKwg/s1600/2010-05-08+14.14.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaYYZjGkgujldlKRje1GVf4trWfohJQjStwlsSPpm2aKFwvOUQ-_NPouskJbZdWz6d1gw8FYL1pJw_4SZNMRTmwID4XdyxShkt1xmIvQcebyJFyHndZuV0cDRntWU9gUj2IBKwg/s320/2010-05-08+14.14.58.jpg" /></a></div>Next was 633 more fun in the woods. We came to a hill climb which I was the first up, then Matt<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKznkskhIC2-Ym5YqimVIHW1dLAZlF7IlMZ9VWFvr4n95DBhFBZdxbomUhaprd1rU4j5Y5esfIyHyyb2G1FJiTW5WtN4vP1a4kZMZ95rvmKh3-qRFmZF53a8UwKHhiWOMGxqMxw/s1600/2010-05-08+14.55.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKznkskhIC2-Ym5YqimVIHW1dLAZlF7IlMZ9VWFvr4n95DBhFBZdxbomUhaprd1rU4j5Y5esfIyHyyb2G1FJiTW5WtN4vP1a4kZMZ95rvmKh3-qRFmZF53a8UwKHhiWOMGxqMxw/s320/2010-05-08+14.55.57.jpg" /></a></div>We came back to our rock and three of us made it, but John didn't. He wrecked his bosses ATV! He then wrecked it again in a rutted down hill on trail 634.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwQ4tp2-mPZCcempA1Dlw3VEgGKJTaEv2yTij36bRKIq9gTvCcKLfIgvQzmQku11OO0NbsBcfHgYX7uBAguHclXrWXFwdEbFmw_9A5dPrcgugLwQFpgswVnwbPNnt6EVNvKGvEw/s1600/2010-05-08+15.32.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwQ4tp2-mPZCcempA1Dlw3VEgGKJTaEv2yTij36bRKIq9gTvCcKLfIgvQzmQku11OO0NbsBcfHgYX7uBAguHclXrWXFwdEbFmw_9A5dPrcgugLwQFpgswVnwbPNnt6EVNvKGvEw/s320/2010-05-08+15.32.14.jpg" /></a></div>Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-37831242579263410642010-05-09T09:35:00.000-07:002010-05-09T09:35:49.879-07:00Spring Mountaineering Wish ListAfter a few weeks on the ATV, it is time to leave the motorized sports for a while because it is backcountry ski season here in Colorado! Here's my wish list for this year... no way to complete it, but let's see if I can do at least four:<br />
<br />
Mt. Sherman - I would like to get a 14er descent in, so I thought this or Quandary would be an easy option.<br />
<br />
From the Front Rage Descents book:<br />
<br />
1. Quandary Peak: p 176, Intermediate, 5 miles :) :) :)<br />
2. Mt Guyot: Advanced p 172, 5 miles :) :)<br />
3. Pawnee Peak, SE Slope: Intermediate p 85 7.5 miles :) :) :)<br />
4. Kelso: p 149, Advanced, 2.5 miles :) :) :)<br />
5. James Peak: p 132, Intermediate, 8 miles :) :)<br />
6. Skyscraper Peak: Intermediate p 116, 6 miles :)<br />
<br />
I bought a new book "<a href="http://www.peterbronski.com/Writing/PowderGhostTowns.html">Powder Ghost Towns</a>" about abandoned ski areas. Here's three from the book:<br />
<br />
1. St. Mary's Glacier - p 51, 1 mile Intermediate :) :)<br />
2. Jones Pass - p 63, 2.8 miles Intermediate :) :) :)<br />
3. Climax - p 189, .75 miles Easy :) :) (For a really easy approach and gentle descents)Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-11328591690485577002010-05-06T06:34:00.000-07:002010-05-06T06:34:08.730-07:00Riding Rampart Range<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dalton joined James, Matt, and I for another early spring trip to ride ATV's at Rampart Range. Last time the snow drifts were a bit much and we got stuck many times.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpKWLyb91yVnK79cr0WtU8FwnlOtyFHX-A2Z_cFNszWJ0k5RbMg1RkOS5Q-YDv2D7n_6ZKvT1sFz5CpWn0RtWej804-2MNo8XDKIx6NKaCSBzxuyoHw1csjhYHlEfOIk3hmPLrg/s1600/2010-05-01+11.48.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpKWLyb91yVnK79cr0WtU8FwnlOtyFHX-A2Z_cFNszWJ0k5RbMg1RkOS5Q-YDv2D7n_6ZKvT1sFz5CpWn0RtWej804-2MNo8XDKIx6NKaCSBzxuyoHw1csjhYHlEfOIk3hmPLrg/s320/2010-05-01+11.48.39.jpg" /></a></div><br />
At first my old Yamaha 400 had trouble with the snow drifts. The drifts were smaller and no trouble for the newer machines, but we had just a bit of trouble with the old girl.<br />
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We started down trail 673, but after removing many downed trees from the trail we came upon a large pine that was not removable. We decided to turn around.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAAKeqEijxPEWDoP6nHptsukionVhMfjRYog2I_lqrN8CDodFSBhRu_d1PfG0OluIK0-Yv_0Whx5pPc4oDg8hHB7NNZtmqr4lyt4dfhYm16R-wNgFOqWu6WSs5k02ddo0BlAbpw/s1600/2010-05-01+16.26.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAAKeqEijxPEWDoP6nHptsukionVhMfjRYog2I_lqrN8CDodFSBhRu_d1PfG0OluIK0-Yv_0Whx5pPc4oDg8hHB7NNZtmqr4lyt4dfhYm16R-wNgFOqWu6WSs5k02ddo0BlAbpw/s320/2010-05-01+16.26.32.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Next we went on the Overlook trail and got further than last time. Last time the snow drift just past the creek turned us around. This time there was less snow, but as the trail comes back around and crosses the creek again we encountered a crossing that had been washed out. The snow drift on the opposite bank was a further complication. Again we had to head back the way we came.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQa4_5mzQig9li2IT3WYJgz33jdB4UvSi2KKNftpI73xdgUNKIz5wx_cJDX1FY0FpAwODxRLzORWW-3JnRQqkovawRPyZhqpvkCfRpzia_6ItgAbrfHwodWHzbtFP0XP0ZU-hTQ/s1600/2010-05-01+15.00.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQa4_5mzQig9li2IT3WYJgz33jdB4UvSi2KKNftpI73xdgUNKIz5wx_cJDX1FY0FpAwODxRLzORWW-3JnRQqkovawRPyZhqpvkCfRpzia_6ItgAbrfHwodWHzbtFP0XP0ZU-hTQ/s320/2010-05-01+15.00.38.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We then chose to try Scotty's. Scotty's is a very fun trail with many whoop-te-dos, and burns. We finally found the section that gives Scotty a black diamond. This large sloping rock was a bit too steep for us to go down. Next time we hope to come up it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xXGFUMrj3pPKSnlcYj9Wu_ElCgeUeiF_D6521T9YsreRRzaQhR4w_t9wH8wWBRbr8KrIw9k2WHpTPhLJsGBKZ043NajQMe0aM31bg5Hvc-pEdXK1vr4tXFX4Z7sZrVtCHOhrIQ/s1600/2010-05-01+16.12.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xXGFUMrj3pPKSnlcYj9Wu_ElCgeUeiF_D6521T9YsreRRzaQhR4w_t9wH8wWBRbr8KrIw9k2WHpTPhLJsGBKZ043NajQMe0aM31bg5Hvc-pEdXK1vr4tXFX4Z7sZrVtCHOhrIQ/s320/2010-05-01+16.12.55.jpg" /></a></div>Another great day at Rampart.Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-33100345310448850252010-03-28T21:07:00.000-07:002010-03-28T21:11:51.526-07:00Stones River Greenway Trail of Nashville<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJRECGoAo7vhwZLvjcXF5I-mzBrMY1f1-y-I2PD1rcRciBv_s5bAoFeTacGhqMkuj06WhqJphq_bfjDTfzaC3-kDUCu1CFcYpeaIbznYLrLnAm-s8Hls5y7gw6cqQaLOiANuAyQ/s1600/DSCF0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJRECGoAo7vhwZLvjcXF5I-mzBrMY1f1-y-I2PD1rcRciBv_s5bAoFeTacGhqMkuj06WhqJphq_bfjDTfzaC3-kDUCu1CFcYpeaIbznYLrLnAm-s8Hls5y7gw6cqQaLOiANuAyQ/s320/DSCF0300.JPG" /></a></div>Michelle and I took a much needed Valentine weekend to Nashville. We are both country music fans and wanted to get to the Grand Ol Opry at least once in our lives. This is an outdoorsy blog, so I will spare you the tourist stuff until the end. First I will document my trail run at Stones River Greenway.<br />
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<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/stones-river-greenway-fitness-trail-hermitage">Stones River Greenway</a> is a nice paved trail that follows the Stones River down from Percy Priest Lake. The scenery is cool as you wind your way through the trees. Parts of the trail get interesting when you make your way onto a canti-levered bridge system. I had taken the wrong spur trail which lead past some nice old buildings. This added a couple of miles to my planned 6 mile out and back. Just past the Kohl's parking lot you cross the Stones River on an old structure bridge. At this point two gals past me on the run. On the return portion we came to a lengthy hill. I could here the girls behind me saying they wanted to beat me up the hill. Well this Colorado trail runner is not going to let a couple of Tennessee runners beat me on a hill, no matter how out of shape I feel.<br />
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Back at the trail head I spotted some guys bouldering just across the river close to I-40. This got my desire up to try a little scrambling while I was in Nashville. Although I have no other Nashville climbing areas to compare it to, this is a nice place to climb. <br />
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Most of my time in Nashville was spent pursuing country music. Michelle and I seen Dierks Bentley, Montgomery Gentry, Diamond Rio and many others at the Grand Ol Opry. The next two nights we headed downtown to the honky-tonks to listen to some hungry artists. The atmosphere in Tootsie's Orchid Lounge was much livelier than any other bar. The line dancing and huge stage at Wildhorse Saloon was not my style.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4301hvkz0jCr28gce3wArnDK7O4oE7faUKAER1hHswhokNvJpQmCECIdmTgTSi5JDpjBZiinbN0dqDW9cnUmdpfln_cVBbVNvRS39qu1x8oM609xz5PGO4BXFapaz0Ihxb9XzMw/s1600/DSCF0286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4301hvkz0jCr28gce3wArnDK7O4oE7faUKAER1hHswhokNvJpQmCECIdmTgTSi5JDpjBZiinbN0dqDW9cnUmdpfln_cVBbVNvRS39qu1x8oM609xz5PGO4BXFapaz0Ihxb9XzMw/s320/DSCF0286.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I hit two breweries in Nashville: Blackstone and Big River. I also visited my first liquor store that did not sell beer. We visited the Belle Meade plantation. Oh yeah and we went to Willie Nelson's museum.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7ngMD1A3ZdnQB7fVoyy37WfcJOIrCzo2BobJnHncLJdJLKKctDN2RBQb2hSBuufCbGfZGaWiHsBKjybnpKYYDMQsUQq319yJvzy2xB2bA7BHIOmw0vx0PRHqxWJxFF01bYk5sw/s1600/DSCF0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7ngMD1A3ZdnQB7fVoyy37WfcJOIrCzo2BobJnHncLJdJLKKctDN2RBQb2hSBuufCbGfZGaWiHsBKjybnpKYYDMQsUQq319yJvzy2xB2bA7BHIOmw0vx0PRHqxWJxFF01bYk5sw/s320/DSCF0270.JPG" /></a></div>Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14197713.post-57412811803287307862010-03-28T20:47:00.000-07:002010-03-28T20:48:24.896-07:00Mount Falcon Trail Run<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjathWSgpBGbRvMHCvseVgJV9iwFhCNgy4gF2le7sGbSdftJhGAVaIK6deDUT0eUv9fXfKjU1KjGUt8UGIu2H7zLvKNHFq2eNq8afzMEg5BQZGv3P37OZSZRW9yHGU2jm6mqIvfRw/s1600/IMG00529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjathWSgpBGbRvMHCvseVgJV9iwFhCNgy4gF2le7sGbSdftJhGAVaIK6deDUT0eUv9fXfKjU1KjGUt8UGIu2H7zLvKNHFq2eNq8afzMEg5BQZGv3P37OZSZRW9yHGU2jm6mqIvfRw/s320/IMG00529.jpg" /></a></div>I'm training for a half-marathon in St. George in late April. My training schedule called for a six mile tempo run, but I was tired of running the trails close to home. I decided to see how much snow was on <a href="http://www.jeffco.us/openspace/openspace_T56_R16.htm">Mount Falcon</a>. My plan was to take the Parmalee loop, then out and back on the Two Dog trail.<br />
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There is still plenty of snow on Mount Falcon, but most of the paths are packed. I did have to post hole a bit on a short section of the Meadow trail. Other places were melted off and quite soggy. There were some folks in snow shoes, but I found the trail running to be fun. You do have to watch your footing a bit.<br />
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The views of Denver were cool from the Two Dog trail, but a bit hazy. From here you also get great views of Mount Evans and Red Rocks. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPxiVkXlSJ60VWyvLqAnJevDH7Sl64Mk-Phn5B6uEfb1ClE7glZA1q1qS61OwueioMy5r5MyUSbMH5iOaYyFVM8B-KKnUGEtITLZxg62g66nA5pqpYmH0NWksFdoMR1dbtg-4HA/s1600/IMG00526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPxiVkXlSJ60VWyvLqAnJevDH7Sl64Mk-Phn5B6uEfb1ClE7glZA1q1qS61OwueioMy5r5MyUSbMH5iOaYyFVM8B-KKnUGEtITLZxg62g66nA5pqpYmH0NWksFdoMR1dbtg-4HA/s320/IMG00526.jpg" /></a></div>Don Lymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024771939181284875noreply@blogger.com0