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| Litttle Molas Lake to Animas River, CO | |
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| | Litttle Molas Lake to Animas River, CO | | | |
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Litttle Molas Lake to Animas River, CO
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| Hiking | 10.00 Miles |
2,050 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.00 Miles | 5 Hrs | | 2.00 mph |
| 2,050 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | The plan was to ride my bike along the Colorado Trail from Little Molas Lake, west toward Jura Knob and perhaps to Coal Bank Pass. Well, the weather was nasty and I hate riding my bike on trails. I had forgotten that. Unlike on road, things seem to get sat on and nearly crushed that just shouldn't be.
So, after looking at the map, I opted to hike the CO Trail east from Little Molas Lake down to the Animas River, with the hope of spotting the train in it's natural habitat. The hike was pretty good, the weather was more like monsoon season even if it was from a late, late season low of sub-tropical origin, and temperatures were a lot nicer than up high in the tundra with cold cloudy conditions. There were a few passing showers with lightning, but I wasn't on a peak for a change. It was pleasant right below 9,000' in the river canyon, and I saw 3 trains.
The first one passed far below as I was still 500 feet or so above descending into the canyon. Despite the sign about trespassing, I walked the rail line about 1/4 mile passed the trail crossing and sat down near the river to eat lunch. The second one surprised me as it went past, as I could barely hear it with river which drowned out most sounds. The last one was a total surprise as I didn't know they ran 3 trains a day, but it is summer and a Saturday. I was about to leave and was standing on the foot bridge watching the water flow when I turned around and seconds later a 3rd train popped out from behind the trees along the river. This one blew it's whistle, I assume for me. Yeah, I'm that important.
I really thought this hike had more AEG, but with the parking area at 10,900' and the river at 8890', I probably only got about 2,050' due to ups and downs. Someone said it was 5 miles to the river, and that felt correct. Still, probably from some muscle soreness from the previous day and the altitude, I was a little fatigued and that can make things feel harder. The trains passed by the bridge at 1408, 1450, and 1525, if you want to see them returning from Silverton to Durango. If you hike this and want to see them, being at the river before 2 PM probably guarantees it. Also, you can check the station in Durango to see how many trains are running that day, so you aren't shocked and awed by one of the iron horses running down their road in the river canyon. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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