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| Hiking | 4.96 Miles |
763 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.96 Miles | 2 Hrs 11 Mns | | 2.27 mph |
| 763 ft AEG | | 20 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | Colorado Trip September 2022 - Day #4 (Hike #7)
Rainbow Trail Section #1336
Our Music Pass hike was far shorter than originally planned which left us with time and energy to burn so it was a good thing I had already scoped out the Rainbow Trail ahead of time.
Based on that, we knew any 'scenic views' would not be anything like Music Pass so we simply approached it was one to fill time and rack up a few more miles,
The trail begins with a short drop down to Grape Creek. It was not 'running' but there was a pool to avoid, which was easy enough 'walking-the-plank(s)' on the downstream side of the pool. Once across the creek the trail makes a quick 250' climb before leveling slightly as we pass through "Loco Park" with Middle Knob (10,185') and Loco Hill (9,852') to the west and east respectively. Loco Park is just one large open field but as the trail continues southward it is gradually hemmed in by trees on either side along with a number of easy ascents/descents.
On a climb after a drainage crossing we heard what at first thought was an elk calling for a mate... but within a split-second something seemed a bit off. And sure enough, a few minutes later we encountered a pair of black-powder hunters on the trail, and at least one other maybe a hundred feet below. It appeared they had a disagreement whether the two should drop down to the other, or vice-versa.
Just a side note here: Whatever they paid for their 'elk call' was wasted, as it sounded more like a duck call, and a nasal one at that.
Whatever, we continued on and passed by their tent camp adjacent to the trail a mile farther out. By now we realized the scenery wouldn't change much if we continued and so, faced with a steeper descent into the Cottonwood Creek drainage and a climb up the other side, plus the reverse on the return trip we decided to turn around and head back.
The last task for today would be to stop by the Lowe's in Westcliffe for groceries (no tools, just groceries) and gas up, as this would be the one-and-only time we'd pass through Westcliffe (or anyplace else to get gas until heading back to AZ three days from now. |
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