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| Hiking | 8.41 Miles |
1,542 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.41 Miles | 5 Hrs 19 Mns | | 2.03 mph |
| 1,542 ft AEG | 1 Hour 10 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | After a good nite's sleep and a breakfast prepared by Whispers Ranch owner, we loaded up and headed out on this below 30 degree morning. (FYI the Whispers Ranch BnB is for sale.) My immediate goal for the morning was a 32 degree start and that's what we got. It was a beautiful blue sky day starting from Parker Lake and heading back to our shuttle point on FR 4749. It was also a crispy morning so gloves were worn for the first couple miles as we meandered down to below the lake with great views in front of us.
We crossed the drainage that comes out of the lake and there was a little running water there. A few of us took off a layer here as I was under the impression we had a steady up for 4 miles. You cross the dry creek a number of times before you tackle the big hill that goes on for awhile. Once we had more or less got to the top of the hill and for the lack of any rocks to sit on, the trail is where we had our lunch break. We had great views to the south in the sun so we sat a little longer than we normally do.
And now to finish up the hill and hike level for awhile until you're presented with bigger hills every which way. We tried to guess where we might go and I said up and around to the left and luckily, that was it. We reached the saddle and started the somewhat slippery hike down into Collins Canyon until we were stopped by a Steward Task... a downed tree. It was old and the wood was hard but as usual, Shawn, with minuscule help from us cut the tree with the end result being a tree bench.
Next up was getting out of this canyon which took us slightly west and then north again before we got on the old FR 4749 near Fritz Tank that took us back up on a ridge with those wonderful views on each side again. While walking on this old road, it was clear it was a little scary in places (if you were driving); especially if you had to turn around past the ridge. We arrived back safely and were ready to get back and pick up the other vehicle we had left at the southern trailhead.
Thus, a full completion of a passage in one weekend. We're always glad when we get a chance to do that.
Part 1 from Parker Lake TH to Trap Tank [ youtube video ]
Part 2 from Trap Tank to Collins Canyon including sawing a tree to make a bench [ youtube video ]
Part 3 from Collins Canyon to FR 4749 [ youtube video ] |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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