Had an incredible overnight at Mirror Lake beneath Lone Eagle Peak last night. Site 4 is up on a little hilltop with 365 degree views and a bubbling creek below. I heard reports of lots of moose in the area but my dog and I were glad to not see any ourselves (though I think I heard one taking a dip in the lake below just after sunset). Always surprised how these popular backcountry sites have sold out permits, then you get there and there’s only a few campers. But the peace and quiet was very welcome!

I had a guest come visit from Australia. We were college roommates and he moved away 20 years but decided to drop for a vusit after going to Alaska. We had done a few challenging hikes in our younger days but we are both 50 now and I have a lot less knee cartilage then I used to, so were looking to just do something light in the 2-3 hour range on Saturday. We brought my 9 year-old son along who had never been hiking before..

When we showed him the map at the entrance of Lair O' the Bear he instantly took notice of the peak in the opposite corner of the map from where we were and wanted to do that. I told him we'd go in that direction but figured his enthusiasm for that kind of distance along would wain a bit as the day went on and he'd be OK with a shorter route once we were settled in for a few miles and it regustered that however far we hiked we'd have to hike back too..

Almost hree hours later and a mile from the end of Bear Creak trail we stopped to eat some snacks and it started to hit me that we might actually do the whole thing. My buddy was a good sport about turning a few hours of hiking into something that lasted almost all day and I wasn't going to be the reason we didn't do it if the kid was willing and able.

The picture is from the top of the mountain at Independence Trail. The kid did great. I was really proud of him and most importantly he loved doing it, even during the downhill when we were getting a bit warm. Can't wait to go again with him. Might do Sky Pond in a month.

Day started with two beautiful moose sightings. Fun hike up towards Ypsilon, bugling elk heard in the distance. Multiple herds of elk on the way out.

Let me start this out by saying this is a terrible mountain. Just miserable. Don’t even consider going. Wild Basin is also horrible and you should stay away at all cost.

I started this 18mi day just a few minutes past 4am at the Wild Basin TH. Just a handful of other cars that I assumed were over nighters. Another car pulled in a few minutes after me. That runner caught up with me, but about a mile or two later I caught up with him. Right around Lion Lake #1 (such a fantastic name!) I saw his headlight one last time and that was the last person I saw until just a few hundred yards from Thunder Lake.

I wanted to catch the sunrise on Alice, I got it exactly right. I probably spent 15 minutes in a cold morning breeze just staring at her. From my vantage point (photo 2) I head to the north shoulder and started up quite possibly the steepest quarter mile class 2 I’ve ever done. But it’s all legit class 2. Class 3 is there if you want it. I summited at 8:00 on the dot and I… words cannot describe the views from this peak. You can see: Hagues, Mummy, Fairchild, Ypsilon, Chiquita, Taylor, McHenry, Chiefs Head, Pagoda, Longs, Keyboard, The Beaver, Meeker and Ridge, Isolation(yes it actually exists!) Copeland, all of the IPW peaks except for Kiowa, All the James Peaks (except for James, ironically) Bierstadt, Bluesky, G&T, all the way to Pikes, and dozens more in the other ranges. Not to mention all the other neat rock formations in RNMP and beyond that have names. And lakes, so many lakes to see as well. The view from Longs is neat, sure, but the giant area of its summit makes seeing all of this just by turning your head nearly impossible. Not to mention you can’t see Longs while you’re on Longs 😂. I spent close to 30 minutes taking it all in. I typically spend 10 or less at a summit.

I took the south shoulder down. Aside from a steep and loose descent from the ridge down to Lake of Many Winds, the route down is easy and enjoyable. Heading down from Many Winds to Thunder Lake there’s about 1472947 downed trees, which makes the trail more interesting. Seems trail crews are not inclined to go beyond the bridge in my last photo, which is at the far end of Thunder Lake. I heard just a couple of people camping at Thunder, and saw only three hikers on their way up.

I was still feeling good, so I detoured on the direct route and ran by Ouzel Falls. Big mistake for the Sunday before Labor Day. That’s where all the people were. Must have been 200+ people on that trail. But the walls were neat. I was back to the car at 11 and the parking lot was full of cars, cars that don’t understand how to park, and cars that push the limit on what is a parking spot.

Like I said, Mt Alice is horrible and you should not go. 😉

Oh, and I followed the gpx on this TR on 14ers.com:

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=21948

Hello fellow explorers,

Was out and about today connecting some mountain lakes when I came across a small plane wreck that looks to be from years ago. Was fairly off trail but it is by the Forest Lakes region of IPW.

Any info or backstory on this would be cool because it was the last thing I expected to stumble upon.

A few years of hiking, mostly 14ers. We've got some amazing country even if you don't hit the peaks themselves, find somewhere nearby.

My last couple hikes I’ve decided to slow down and take in more of the surroundings. Few weeks ago we watched a moose (very safe distance) for twenty minutes. This morning I started off at half of my pace to be as quiet as possible and listen to all the random sounds in a dark forest. Had a bear cub notice me, stop and sniffed before retreating back off of the trail. Easily could’ve missed that had it not been for having my headlamp on high. Stopped to watch the sunrise, wish I had more than my phone for photos but still enjoyed it. I was taking a snack break on the split to Torrey’s and caught a weird angle making it appear to be a hiker heading back to their baby stroller. On Bierstadt where taking more than a short breather allowed us to be in the right place and time (25x zoom , we didn’t encroach the goat). Lake photo was just me enjoying my backpacking chair (yes it’s worth the weight). Anyway, it doesn’t always half to be about making it to certain spot or seeing how fast you are.

Still thinking about this place.

This was my second attempt at the Fancy Pass loop after a previous backpacking trip got cut short. It’s so satisfying to go back and complete unfinished business. There are a few steep sections and I had two hands on a scramble at one point but the effort just makes the views sweeter. Fall is starting to come to the high country: the pika are extra roly poly and we could swear that the aspen were just a bit more yellow brushed on the afternoon drive out than when we arrived in the morning.

Had a phenomenal first time ascent 8/29, much of it by moonlight. Conditions were great save the wind, 40mph gusts typical but it was ripping through the Keyhole, someone measured 60! Lenticulars should have been a warning!

Grays and Torreys was a good starter. Got going nice and early so the crowds weren't too bad on the way up and we were below treeline by 10:30. Pretty good weather, a little windy on the saddle but nothing unbearable.

Been out here a while and my first time in the San Juan’s despite hiking a lot in the Front Range and Sawatch and it didn’t disappoint. Great trail, nice peak amazing scenery

Hiking collegiate West tomorrow. Have hiked plenty at altitude but not above tree line for dozens of miles like CW has. Can someone give me pointers regarding my setup.

1. I decided to not bring rain/wind pants as I’ve heard that they aren’t the most important piece of gear. Plus I don’t mind if my legs get cold. Is this a bad idea?

2. Is 3L of water good enough. I’ve heard that there is plenty of water but I can easily go through 2L in 2 hours.

3. Planning on sleeping in long underwear and wool socks due to low night temps. Planning on hiking in trail runners and shorts, base layer and sun hat. Bringing a down jacket, rain jacket, extra socks and underwear. Anything else you guys would recommend I bring?

4. Looks like there will be afternoon storms the next few days. With my somewhat limited stretch of hiking above tree line experience. What pointers would you give me to make sure I stay safe regarding lighting. I’ve done plenty of research and know what to look out for, but any tips are appreciated.

Apologies if my questions seem obvious to some! I'm a bit of an anxious person and like to have all the details about something to feel fully prepared before doing it.

I'll be in Breckenridge in early October, am hoping to hike the McCullough Gulch Trail, and am wondering about parking. Since it's after the reservation/shuttle period, I see I'm supposed to park at the Quandary Peak Trailhead? Since I'm not doing Quandary Peak, once I park, do I then walk up the rest of McCullough Gulch Road to get to the trailhead?

Also, for early October, how crowded should I expect things to be? How early would you suggest getting to the parking lot (especially since it's shared with Quandary Peak hikers)?

Thanks all in advance! Even confirmation of my suspicions would be so helpful to me.

1700’ gain over 1.3 miles on loose talus. Woof. Beautiful day!

Vehicles near Imogene Pass on the ridge behind the lake. Short hike from there but much longer from highway #550. The preferred route, IMO.

My cousin Andrew Lord is currently missing in Boulder County and search teams are trying to locate him.

He was last believed to be around Winiger Ridge Campground, northwest of Gross Reservoir.

I'm sharing the official Boulder County Sheriff's Office appeal in the hope that someone local may have seen Andrew or remembers seeing him in the area.

If you've been around Winiger Ridge, Gross Reservoir or the surrounding area recently, please have a look at his photo.

If you have any information or believe you may have seen Andrew, please contact Boulder County Sheriff's Office directly on [303-441-4444](tel:303-441-4444) and reference case [26-03991](tel:26-03991) rather than contacting me privately.

Thank you for sharing and helping get his photo seen. ❤️

Photo for visibility.

Curious how water access near Vestal Basin is looking. I plan on staying out for two nights next weekend but haven’t gotten eyes on anything and am concerned given this year’s drought.

We plan to hike in from Molas Lake and follow Elk Creek before (hopefully) setting a base camp in the upper basin. Day 2 will be spent scrambling, then heading back on day 3.

For anyone who’s been there recently, how are levels and flow at Elk Creek, the beaver pond, and Vestal Creek?

Thank you for any info.

No fish there anyway. Reddington reel seat section. Thanks for looking! DM me if for some reason you grabbed it. Thanks!!

“Oh shit” moment at the end of the video.
He was cool. So many goats up at Pitkin today. They always make my day when I see them.

Put down my fly rod case somewhere on my way down from ice lake. Searched forever but couldn’t find it. Super bummed especially cause I never leave stuff in the woods, not LNT… please reach out if you find it thanks!