Hike the Peak

Gunnison KOA
Gunnison, CO
July 11, 2016

At the top of our list of things to do while in this area was hiking to the summit of Mt. Crested Butte.  I was thrilled to learn that we could take the Silver Queen lift to the entrance of the summit trail hike. 



So now, I get to check two things off the bucket list...our first chair lift ride and the summit of Mt. Crested Butte. 

Scott and Chris, avid skiers in Park City, UT, showed us the way.

The ride up and down was a hoot, but I didn't get many pictures.  There was a definite chill in the wind on both rides.  


















If you choose not to take the lift, you can walk the first six miles on a service road to get to this point.  

The 3.5 mile round trip hike was described as a family hike and yes, we did see several children who must have been mountain goats in an earlier life. 

The trail is well marked and easy at first except for the steep climb.  


Signs all along the way describing the wildflowers and wildlife made for convenient stops to breath deep and continue on. 

 After a steep climb we came to a fork in the trail...

we turned right toward the peak.  A nice descent into a small valley was easy.   We enjoyed watching  marmots  play. 

The next sign pointed us in the right direction...

from here the scrambling...umm...I mean fun began !

From here the trail became a lot steeper and rockier.  The rocks were stable for the most part, but deep crevices made it hard to find good footing.
The up wasn't so bad and coming down was mostly on my rump !  




What an incredible view... truly a 360 degree panorama.

Right from the get-go I was in alpine heaven.  There is something magical about the wildflowers and wildlife that thrive at these altitudes.  Even with its harsh, cold, windy weather and step rocky slopes, plants and animals find a way to grow.  The growing season for plants is only 50 to 60 days. 


Mountain Dryad also known as alpine rose...

Moss Campion are anchored by a deep taproot.  Each plant can live over 100 years...amazing!

 Alpine Sunflowers are easy to recognize being the largest yellow flowers found in the alpine habitat.  Stems are short with oversized flowers that always face the rising sun.

 It's not easy to pick a favorite, but I have to say Sky Pilot sure caught my eye.  The nectar robbing activity of ants can seriously diminish seed pollination so the plant has adapted by making its own stinky, sticky ant repellent.  Bees will still pollinate, but ants keep their distance.

Until next time, happy days and...

HAPPY TRAILS !

 Wildflower information from Wild About Wildflowers by Katherine Darrow

Crystal Mill

Gunnison KOA
Gunnison, CO
July 10, 2016

What a treat to go exploring on some difficult 4X4 trails with Scott and Chris.  Our goal was to traverse the narrow rocky road above  Crystal Canyon and the mountain scenery bordering the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.  We clocked almost 40 miles of sheer beauty, scary fun, and even some history.  

We connected to Devil's Punchbowl ( Charles Wells Guide ) via Slate River Road just north of Crested Butte.  The Punchbowl gets its difficult rating because of an extremely narrow rocky ledge that ascends/descends the near vertical wall of Crystal Canyon.  


In some places, its a drive along a cliff wall up to 300 feet.

Dangerous backing would be required to pass.

Looking down on Crystal River and the roaring water...the canyon is actually deeper that the picture shows. 

There is no good way to get an up-close picture of the dramatic waterfall and deep pool of water that gives this trail its name.  This photo was taken from a narrow bridge as we crossed the river.    

I love old mining towns and we just happened to pass right thru one...Crystal City.  It was originally incorporated in 1880 with a high population of 300-400 people who mostly supported the miners.  By the 1920s it was all but a ghost town.  Today, a few families reside there in the summer. Crystal never has had electricity. 

I had read that the most photographed historic sight in the state of Colorado and ranked top 5 in the nation is the old Crystal Mill.  



I am so intrigued by places like this.  It's amazing how it has stood the test of time and weather.  



The mill was built in 1893.  It harnessed the river to power air compressor housed inside.   

 Early engineers built a dam across the river which funneled the water down the vertical penstock (ladder-like structure) onto a horizontal wheel which drove an axle in the the penstock.  The penstock powered the air compressor.  The compressor ran drills used to bore holes in the mine walls for the placement of dynamite.  

Today the housing is held together with cables.  The mill closed in 1917. Efforts to preserve this piece of history have been aided by Gunnison and Aspen Historical Societies.  

 It's precarious "perch" on an outcropping of rock just above the Crystal River...

 



Broken boards are remnants from the stamp mill used to reduce and process silver ore.

Lunch was enjoyed in a quiet alcove with a roaring view of Crystal River. 







 After nearly 11 miles following Crystal River, we made a left hand turn on Lead King Basin Trail (Charles Wells Guide).  It is also rated difficult because of a narrow rocky shelf road where backing up to pass is necessary for oncoming vehicles.   

What a beautiful drive along the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.  

 A breathtaking reprieve...

...before the narrow rocky shelf road as we entered the basin.

From here we eventually found our way back to Washington Gulch Road and headed home.  

There was one other waterfall where we stopped for pictures.  Until next time, happy days and...

Thanks for the photo Scott.

HAPPY TRAILS !

Up next...Hike the Peak