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| Hiking | 3.88 Miles |
1,145 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.88 Miles | 2 Hrs 24 Mns | | 2.18 mph |
| 1,145 ft AEG | 37 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Escudilla Trail hike. With the rain last night, I wondered how wet it would be. Not bad at all, even the dirt road in was only damp. Started at 6:30am so I'd avoid any storms. Figure I'd be safe until about noon, but I don't want to take a chance on getting caught on the mountain in a thunderstorm.
Wildlife...saw 3 wild turkeys run across the road on the way in, 4-6 elk on the edge of the bowl on top of the mountain, several deer, and a couple grouse. Wish I could've gotten photo of all of them, but it's hard to capture a moving target.
The trail itself is not that hard. Well-marked, a gradual uphill climb. You start in aspens for about the first 3/4 mile to mile, then break out of the trees near the edge of the bowl near the top. My "high point" was at 10,742' about 1.5 miles in. This is where I saw several elk and a couple deer. The difficulty is the elevation. Starting at 9,600', you gradually climb. I made quite a few stops on the way up to catch my breath. It ain't a race, it's there for enjoyment. Once you drop into the bowl, you see a number of burned-out trees from previous fires (I think 1951 and 2011). Going through a meadow, you'll climb to the old fire lookout/observation tower. I turned back after 1.94 miles, figuring I wouldn't see any more from the base of the tower than I'd already seen.
I'd really looked forward to this hike with anticipation, and I wasn't disappointed. Both with the scenery and the sense of accomplishment for finishing. I didn't know how I'd perform at 10,000'+. The altitude will get you, even if you're in good shape. Between the scenery, the wildlife, and views, it's a great hike. Just be prepared for any storms that might blow in. I had rain gear, water, Gatorade and granola bars just in case.
Finished at 9am. I ran into another man and his daughter near the trailhead as I was finishing. They were the only people I saw. Just the way I like it.  |
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