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| Hiking | 5.00 Miles |
1,000 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.00 Miles | | | |
| 1,000 ft AEG | | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | Last trip of the weekend and it was a good one. We made a creative Loop, starting up High Peak Road. Aspens and Pines lined this road as it gently climbed in elevation. I think that a combination of sinus trouble and more than 24 hours of being at a pretty high elevation were starting to really take a toll on me and I wasn't feeling very on top of my game for this hike. So even though the ascent was very gradual, I was a real slug and having a pretty hard time. But, being stubborn and not wanting to give up, I tried to make Chad miserable by slowing slogging along.... 
After a bit, we left the road and went straight up a hill. At the top we were greeted by meadow upon meadow of Aspen and Pines. Very scenic area and with the afternoon Sunlight, the Aspens were all shimmering again....The Wind was still blowing at a pretty good clip and the tall grasses in the Meadows were rolling along in waves. Ran into burn areas as well, but the new growth of Aspens is coming in well.
Went down and caught up with the Road again and continued on, eventually hooking up with the Big Creek Trail. This Trail is just the opposite of the High Peak Road. Very few open, expansive areas, in fact, the Forest really closes in on you on the bottom third. A few disappointments on this Trail. Chad was very disheartened in the fact that the "Tree Tunnel" that the Trail used to go through, is gone. The Trees making up this Tunnel are now all deceased. Between the Fire nearby and the drought, you can really see where the trees are really looking very stressed in areas on this Hike. The other disappointment was the fact that Big Creek was completely dry. Not a drop of Water to be found. This seems to be the trend this month on the Mountain. Alot of the Creeks that I saw flowing last month are now bone dry. This should reverse itself when the Monsoon season hits, I hope this Mountain gets a good soaking this year....
Regardless of these setbacks, it was still a very cool Trail and the Wildflowers are just starting to pop on sections. Next month ought to bring an explosion of color. We ended the Big Creek Trail at the Swift Trail and followed the Swift Trail back up to the car. It was kind of ironic, even though we were following the Swift Trail east, which takes you down the Mountain, the entire section we walked was all uphill....
In spite of not feeling well on this Hike, I still enjoyed it and it was a great ending to a great weekend. Can't wait to come back and do some more....Thanks for your expert Guide Services Chad, they were as stellar as ever!!!  |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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Big Creek |
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| | | Along the Big Creek Trail #320A. | | _____________________
| Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!" |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
