|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 7.95 Miles |
3,469 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.95 Miles | 6 Hrs | | 1.84 mph |
| 3,469 ft AEG | 1 Hour 41 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | This was my first day at elevation, so I planned just an easy walk to Lower Cascade Falls with a bunch of attendees at the family reunion in Ouray. We scrambled all around the falls and explored the heck out the overlooking ledges. (Upon descending from them, I learned there was a fatal fall from my vantage point three days earlier). It didn't seem like enough adventure, so I broke off with Cousin G. for a little more. When we neared the Amphitheater Campground access, she dropped off, too, and I decided to go for the top.
It was a hot afternoon, and the elevation gain was relentless, but eventually I topped out and not long after reached the Upper Cascade Falls. The creek was running pretty good, and the crossing was a bit trickier than I expected. Safely on the other side, I proceeded to the ruins of the Chief Ouray Mine a little farther along the contour for a brief exploration of an old bunkhouse and a machine shed.
On the way back, I spied my brother-in-law John at the crossing, where he'd just discovered a leak in his water bottle. I didn't know that he was hiking that day, or I would have asked him to join for the ascent. We made the return trip together and took an alternate route for a little variety. As we went, we made plans to hike Mt. Sneffels a few days later. We finished the day with an ice coffee in town. |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
We had an opportunity to do this sweet canyon and we of course jumped all over it. The hike up was again a bit of a struggle up at elevation and loaded down with canyon gear, but I was glad when the climbing was over and we started to gear up. 
The rock is this canyon was especially chossy making for loads of tough down climbing. The canyon really got amazing when we hit the first 200ft waterfall. 
It was pretty cool to see Ouray down off in the distance and realize that the HUGE drop is not too far off... A few more sweet rappels and we reached the top of the 300ft Cascade Falls. 
I actually have a few 300ft rappels under my belt so I wasn't that nervous yet this was the first one that was a waterfall. 
Such an amazing way to finish off such a superb canyon! 
