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| Hiking | 2.80 Miles |
890 AEG |
| | Hiking | 2.80 Miles | | | |
| 890 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This Hike was on my Agenda from the Beginning...Not just because I love Water and Waterfalls, but also because I heard that there may be Mountain Goats up there....  I found it hard to believe that only 3 HAZers have done this Hike...Well, ok, maybe only one of them has actually HIKED it... 
I got there around 2:30 P.M. after dinking around Camp and in Telluride for awhile. I knew I would like the Afternoon Light better anyway...  I pretty much decided that I wasn't going to Drive the Road, as 1. It is Posted as a 4x4 so I didn't know what kind of Conditions to expect. 2. It was Late Spring with lots and lots of Water coming off the Mountains. 3. I need the Exercise anyway and even though it's Road Hiking, it's still a nice Jaunt with Stellar Views! My Decision not to try it with the Escape was an excellent Choice for ALL 3 Reasons! I parked at the "Official" TH/Overlook Area next to some weird Green Pools that probably had something to do with the Mine. As I headed on up, I was glad right away I didn't drive it. The first 1/4 or so Mile was the Steepest and it was paved with Loose Rock...Even if I had managed to get a Bite with non-Optimal Street Tires, I would have been afraid that I would have thrown a Rock and punctured something underneath...And then you have a Creek running over the Road...It was a little interesting crossing on Foot as the Stepping Stone Rocks were pretty much under Water and the Creek was wider than the Stones were long...I finally just opted to get one Foot Wet and made it across...It was about Ankle Deep at that Point...After that stretch though, the Road was pretty good, and a few people drove up it. I do know of a couple of Guys that would regret that Decision later... 
Bridal Veil Falls may have been the Main Event, but there were Waterfalls coming off the Cliffs everywhere and the Creeks/Rivers were literally raging down the Slopes...It was supposed to be in the 70's for a few days and you could tell the Snow Melt was ON! The Camera worked Overtime on this one, but I know none of you will be surprised.
I had considered going farther than just to the Top of the Falls...there was another Set of Falls further up the Road, and I also considered going up the Trail further, to possibly Silver or Blue Lakes, but the Environment became a Factor...I ran into a Fisherman who was on his way down and he stated that he couldn't even make it to Silver Lake before he was Postholing through the Snow...So that was out...I got to the Switchback where the Gate was located by the Top of the Falls and the House, and realized that I wouldn't be going up any further on the Road either...Not without Crampons, an Ice Axe, Poles and Gators! I sat down and took a break and when I did, two Hikers WITH Crampons, Ice Axes, Poles and Gators showed up on the Road above me...It was interesting watching them come down that last, large Drift to where I was... Apparently, they had started very very early and had Summited Ajax Peak which towered in the Distance over us...There was still a lot of Snow up there... Even one of them stated that although they made the Peak, "it wasn't quite ready yet, and it was a long day"
After my Break, I went through the Gate and checked out the House and the Top of the Falls...I decided not to continue any further as I had to Hike through some Slush just in the short Distance from the Gate to the House and I knew it would only get worse further up...So I turned around at that Point. As I Hiked down, I made a little Side Trip to check out a Mine that was up there and upon returning to the Road, there was a Truck Parked there with some Climbers getting ready to go...It's about 5:00 now and I've noticed that the Water Levels in the Creeks coming off the Mountains was rising some and more Waterfalls were magically appearing...The Climbers were getting ready to do The Telluride Via Ferrata...You're not Climbing Up...You're Clipped to a Cable and you're Traversing a Ledge that at times is no wider than one of your Feet... I asked them how they Traversed through the Waterfalls that were presently pouring off up there, and they stated that "you just find a way"... I will tag their Route for you on one of my Photos...It's pretty Interesting...
I continued on down, and when I got to the Creek Crossing again, the Water was now up to over the Knees. Double glad that I didn't drive my Vehicle, did I say that already??? And I would be triple glad before I was done... In the time that I was up there, someone had brought a Plank and rigged the Crossing so you could walk across a tad bit upstream... Apparently, that was not all that was done since I had gone up... I get a little further down and start finding Rocks in the Road that weren't there when I went up and then a giant Excavated Hole with a Water Line at the bottom that looked to be newly Repaired. They had actually constructed a little Trail through the Trench, so you had to go in the Trench and out the other side to continue. And then, not only were there Rocks on the Road, there were Boulders...and to top it off, there was also a small River running down the Road...None of this was here when I went up...Mother Nature had been very busy in the last few hours... I felt bad for the Climbers...They were not going to get their Truck back down on this Day, the Road was now impassable by Vehicle... 
Got back down to my Vehicle and headed on out. Although I had hoped for some Mountain Goats up there, there were none to be found, but I enjoyed another Photoshoot with some Elk again as I left Town...Probably the same Herd as the day before, just in a different Meadow...
Great little Hike! I could do this one every time I'm there! The Scenery is just gorgeous and there are some pretty cool Destinations beyond the Falls that I would really like to see as well...I would definitely recommend this one if you haven't done it!
Just a Post Note...before you hit the Base of the Falls, there looked to be a Platform with Steps that you could go up, but it was Barricaded Off with a No Entry Sign...Not sure if this is something Seasonal or if that probable Viewing Platform is Closed Permanently.... |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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| 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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