Beckwith Pass/Three Lakes Loop Hike

Gunnison KOA
Gunnison, CO
July 23, 2016

 Joe and I headed out with Ronnie and Carol to Lost Lake Campground where the trailhead for Three Lakes Loop was located.  Lost Lake CG is located on Kebler Pass Road which is a left turn this side of Crested Butte.  It's a drive through a historic neighborhood of hodge podge homes...some really nice, some really cute, and some really run down.   

Other than a quick stop at the Visitor Center, we have not made any stops in Crested Butte.  It is always busy and congested. 



We traveled about 17 miles on Kebler Pass...a gorgeous drive through aspen forests, evergreens, and slopes of wildflowers before we made the left hand turn to Lost Lake CG.

Our hike started at the lower parking lot.  


We did a counter clockwise loop that began on the Beckwith Pass Trail which climbs up to a junction with Three Lakes Trail. 



I enjoyed the beauty and fragrance of the abundant wild roses.

 Lake 1 of 3 was Lost Lake Slough along Middle Creek.  It is much prettier and bigger than Lost Lake. 

At the first juncture we turned left and took the side trip to the 2nd of 3 lakes... Dollar Lake.

 The smells, sights, sounds and feel of the forest...makes my heart happy !

Showy Fleabane grow in large clumps from sagebrush hills to subalpine meadows.

 The last section of the loop was easy as we passed The Falls and headed down toward Lost Lake...lake 3 of 3.

Of course no hike here is complete without a creek crossing.  Here Middle Creek flows into Lost Lake. 



  

 All in all, this was a great 4.5 mile loop with lots to see, lots of shade, and lots of fun.

As we headed home on Kebler Pass, I noticed what looked like coneflowers in large bunches along the road that had already bloomed. This brought back memories of the sticks and bricks and my gardens.  Joe pulled over and I quickly got a picture.  To my surprise as I was looking in Wild About Wildflowers  I found what I had photographed.  

This is a Rayless Coneflower and what you see is what you get.  It never had petals.  These purply-brown cones of disc flowers bloom late in the summer. The guide even stated that they are abundant on the west side of Kebler Pass. 

 Our time is winding down here in Gunnison.  Today was packing up day and we hit the road early in the morning heading south to Tucson.  I still have a few more posts to do from Gunnison so will finish up when we are settled in.  

So, until next time happy trails !

Street art in Crested Butte

West Maroon/Hasley Pass Hike

Gunnison KOA
Gunnison, CO
July 18, 2016

Hasley Pass is a great hike that takes you off the beaten path and offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the Elk Mountains.  But to get to the trail we first had to traverse the very popular West Maroon Trail for just under 2 miles.  (West Maroon trail is a 12 mile hike to Aspen.)  

Hasley Pass is rated as a moderate 5.5 mile loop with an elevation gain of 1,816 feet.  Max elevation is 12,120 feet.  

West Maroon trail had the prettiest display of wildflowers we have seen here. 

The narrow trail was waist high on both sides with lupine, columbine, osha, sunflowers, and many others. 
The Columbine were especially pretty.







 At just under 2 miles, we went left at the fork.  From here, the slope kicks in for a steep climb to the alpine basin. 

 The pass offers striking views.

Hasley Basin and the 14,000 foot peak of Snowmass Mt. in perfect harmony.  

Shortly after I took this photo...

Yikes...notice the dark clouds !

 ...we came to a small creek and the trail disappeared.  Our directions said to watch for a shallow gully to follow and that the trail would emerge and connect back to the main trail.  

Well, as you might have guessed, that didn't happen.  We were lost with dark skies and thunder looming.  Joe surveyed the area and we slowly made our way down heading in the right direction.  In hindsight, we should have turned around and returned using the trail we had just hiked.  But all along, we kept thinking we could see the trail and every time it turned out to be a dud. 

We carefully  trudged our way down steep sloping  meadows, over/through fast running creeks, and the forest thick with downed trees all the while batting at the flies attacking us. 

This is just one of the false alarms.  In-between the meadow and forest is a fast running  wide creek we had to cross.  This trail went nowhere.  











The forest was dark as we climbed over, under, and around the huge fallen dead trees. 


This is the only picture I took before I got spooked. I realized we were in bear country !





Finally we saw a cabin hidden in the trees.

 We followed the driveway to the main road, turned left and walked another 1.5 miles to the parking lot for the trailhead. 
WHEW...what an adventure !

Scarlet Paintbrush

Tall Chiming Bells  

Aspen Sunflowers

 Until next time, happy days and...

HAPPY TRAILS !

Hike to Green Lake

Gunnison KOA
Gunnison, CO
July 15, 2016

If you are interested in a short hike with lots of punch, try the hike to Green Lake.  It is a 5.5 mile round trip in-out hike with an elevation gain of 1,365.  The trailhead is located on Kebler Pass Road.  Once you pass Irwin Lake/Campground there is a parking lot at the solar panel shed.   If you have a 4X4 vehicle you can continue driving .9 of a mile on the service road through private property.  Joe and I chose the latter option.  

Our hike began on the service road. 

The climb was steady as we snaked around the base of Ruby Range. 

Corydalis grow in thick bunches up to 5 feet tall.  The pink and white flowers smell sweet like lilacs.

We came to a sharp bend in the road and stopped to take  a break.  

 From here we made a steady climb on a more narrow trail.  


 Looking left we could see the road we had traversed (left top quadrant).

 It wasn't too long and the trail looked like this...

...then slippery and steep like this... 

...then scree...

...and finally like this. 

So far, this is my favorite hike here.  It certainly was not skimpy on spectacular vistas, the wildflowers were plentiful, and the destination was well worth the climb.  

One side of Green Lake was lined with wildflowers.  I walked a narrow path along the water.  Looking towards the lake...

 and away from the lake...

The water was crystal clear and very cold.  I love my new waterproof Merrell hiking boots !







 Two sides of the lake was scree.  A very steep side that I did not choose to conquer this day,










 but the opposing side was flat and easy to traverse...

...with hidden gems.

 The back side was steep and defined by snow.

 How cool to see ski tracks.

 So many colors in the rainbow and I believe I saw them all in the variety of wildflowers...

 My favorite for the day, Canary Violet.  A first sighting of this beauty. 

It was a glorious day.  A hike Joe and I highly recommend. 

 Until next time, happy days and...







happy...



HAPPY TRAILS!

Wildflower information from Wild About Wildflowers by Katherine Darrow