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| Hiking | 9.40 Miles |
1,650 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.40 Miles | | | |
| 1,650 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Bad start to the morning when at Ladybug Saddle on the drive up I stopped to read the info signs. Attempted to hop up a 2 foot rock wall and caught my toe. Crashed down hard on the wall bracing the impact with my elbow and forearm, it shot up my arm and I was 100% certain I had broke my arm. Jumped up to see my shoulder forward in an unnatural way, pushed in and lifted my arm to hear a pop and my shoulder was straight again. Damn it, I popped a vicodin and waited for it to kick in while contemplating ER or hiking. Vicodin kicked in and I chose hiking.
First up was High Peak Rd. My last visit I saw that my favorite aspen meadow had made it through the Frye Fire and I wanted to see it again. I arrived at the meadow to see it mostly autumn gold. I made a hammock camp and spent a few hours there ..... I could have stayed all day there, but Heliograph Peak was the goal of the day.
Next up Heliograph. Of all the trails that looked on heat & progression maps to have the least fire impact, I though this one may have fared well. I was dead wrong ..... except for the very top (peak) and a decent portion of the back trail, this loop IMO is destroyed. The peak was nice, but showed from 10,000 feet up the majority of the mountain top and I am now certain that except for the campgrounds ..... you will be hard pressed to find 1 acre of forest from Heliograph Peak to Riggs Lake that has not been impacted from the fire. I popped a second pain killer and completed the loop back down to Shannon CG, this campground looked good!
There was good - I saw an unbelievable amount of deer (maybe 20-25), a dozen Abert's & many big birds above.
Lots of contractors driving up & down the Swift Trail continuing repairs on the mountain.
Heliograph Peak & High Peak meadow were wonderful!
On the drive back down I was 50/50 on an ER visit before going home. I chose home, we'll see what tomorrow brings.
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Autumn Foliage Observation Moderate
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Route Editor
Route Scout
