DESTINATION Blaine Basin Tr#203 to Lower & Upr Basin 1 Photoset
2012-08-16 | |
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| Hiking | 8.19 Miles |
1,975 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.19 Miles | 6 Hrs 2 Mns | | 2.03 mph |
| 1,975 ft AEG | 2 Hrs Break | 20 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | After a few days of driving more than hiking this was to be a short drive (only 12 miles from the cabin) and a longer hike.
Right away it was a bit more than expected, as the GPS track we were following (I got on HAZ) led us cross-country with no hint of a trail. With so much deadfall, some being too large to climb over it wasn't long before we gave up on following the track and chose the easiest route in the general direction of the trail. But even the lesser of two evils was not the easiest going, so when we found some game trails along Wilson Creek we followed them until forced to climb up to what once was a road but now appeared to be a drainage canal. We followed it until a large washout where we were forced to climb again, this time reaching an existing ATV track. Finally! Something not so taxing.
We followed the track until it connected with Dallas Trail, which is what we should have taken in the first place. While it may be shorter as-the-crow-flies taking the route we did, it took much more time and energy than following the Dallas Trail from the Blue Lakes Trailhead. Live and learn.
Not long after we hit the Dallas Trail we saw a trail going off in the direction of a waterfall, and of course being curious, we took it. When we reached Wilson Creek I spotted a faint trail that I hoped would bring us up to the falls. While initially promising, it ended up leading away from the falls before dying off. Not willing to give up we headed in the direction of the most noise and eventually reached the creek just below the falls. We wanted to continue up closer to the falls but if we used up too much time on this side-trip we might not have the time or energy to complete our original objective. So we called time on the side-trip and set off on a bee-line cross-country back to the trail. Unlike the beginning of our hike, this area was very easy and we were soon back on the trail.
Just short of Blaine Basin we met the only other person we'd see all day, a solo gal who was from the area. Just a short chat and we continued to Blaine Basin. We took our lunch break once we reached the basin. While eating I couldn't help but be fascinated by the possibility that if I climbed up to the saddle below Mount Sneffels I'd be able to see the lower of Blue Lakes. So, while Tracey took a nap I'd set off on another side-trip. (I'll post a separate triplog for the climb)
Once my side-trip was done we set off on our return trip, which was uneventful except for encountering a garter snake across the trail. I must have been totally wiped out and walking in cruise-control-mode because I stepped right over it without knowing it was there. Usually I have the eagle-eye for snakes but this time Tracey brought it to my attention. A few photos and back in cruise-control to the Blue Lakes Trailhead.
I posted 50 photos on HAZ and the full set of 75 photos here:
http://changephoenix.com/jpserver/web/public/album.php?id=201
A 4-minute composite video of the highlights on our hike including the waterfall on Wilson Creek is here:
http://changephoenix.com/jpserver/web/public/file.php?id=211 |
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