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Thread: Some front range scenery (backpacking)

  1. #1
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    Default Some front range scenery (backpacking)



    Did a small backpack along the eastern-most section of the Colorado Trail. Technically the trail terminus is at the end of Waterton Canyon - the last 6 miles follow an old RR grade that is now a oft used walking/biking gravel pathway (and doubles as limited access road to the Strontia Springs Reservoir and dam). It is currently closed with C19 restrictions, but that wasn't a concern as we've walked and biked this before and its not all that great. So we took a 'bypass' route for those miles heading up from Roxborough SP past Carpenter Pk and then joined the CT just past Waterton canyon where the CT really begins as a hiking trail.

    Heading up the front range from Roxbourogh SP - if you look closely you can just make out the skyline of Denver in the background. The red rocks are the Fountain Formation - same as at Red Rocks amphitheater a bit to the north and some of what is in Garden of the Gods to the south a ways:


    Jen at the top of Carpenter Pk (a somewhat non-descript little bump along the front range ridge).


    As many of you know, the Rampart range is most uniquely characterized by the prominent loose, red gravel (known as grus) of the Pikes Peak/South Platte Granite. Its often a hot, dusty, dry range that isn't high enough to get much snow, and surface water tends to percolate down through the permeable gravel. Often the area doesn't have much lush vegetation...so we were surprised to find amazing lush meadows and old homestead pastures after passing carpenter peak.


    After camping the night at Bear Creek - we experienced the more traditional dry conditions expected in the Rampart/South Platte region, but had excellent views of the Mt Evans massive most of the day.


    And one last view of the Strontia Springs Reservoir and dam....most people never see this reservoir and there is no public access to it. You can hike down a mile or two from the west along the old RR grade from from the S Platte river road, but access on to the reservoir is not permitted. The section of river flowing into the res is good whitewater, but you have to carry your kayak back out along the old RR grade. There was also great whitewater that is now buried under the res...some old guidebooks and stories about people 'poaching' it the last couple years as the dam was being built to get claim as the last person to run it.


    I love to travel to amazing places, but sometimes it good to remember that Colo has some amazing stuff literally in our backyard...We started this trip literally 30 min from our house in urban Denver.
    ___________
    James Orofino
    1970 CJ5
    1958 Willys Wagon

  2. The Following 5 Members Say Thanks to FINOCJ For This Post:

    Brian (May 27th, 2020),Java (June 1st, 2020),open_circuit (May 27th, 2020),speedkills (July 23rd, 2020),Tom (May 27th, 2020)

  3. #2
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    Default Re: Some front range scenery (backpacking)



    Great scenery. That first pic is fantastic.

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    FINOCJ (May 27th, 2020)

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    Default Re: Some front range scenery (backpacking)



    Jim previously posted:
    "Great scenery. That first pic is fantastic."

    all photo credits go to Jen (except the one of her on Carpenter Peak)
    ___________
    James Orofino
    1970 CJ5
    1958 Willys Wagon

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    Default Re: Some front range scenery (backpacking)



    Been having to keep to the "shirt pocket" trails this spring. Went on one a couple of weeks ago and passed one person in the parking lot as we left, no other people or cars in sight. Drove past a couple of other trailheads on the way out that were packed with vehicles. Still nice to be able to get away from almost all.

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    Default Re: Some front range scenery (backpacking)



    Did another section of the Colorado Trail...Did about 25 miles over 3d/2nights from near Copper Mt ski area to Tennessee Pass. Started at about 9700' at Copper and went over two 12,000' passes (Serle and Kokomo) before descending to 9200' at Camp Hale (training base for WWII 10th Mt division) and then climbing up to 10,400' to the final end at top of Tennessee Pass near Leadville, CO.

    Heading up Guller Creek from Copper Mt


    Some of the avalanche damage from last season's historic avalanche cycle


    Looking back down Guller Creek on the morning of day 2 - the shadowed ride is the northern end of the Tenmile range - Breck ski area (Peak 6) is just on the other side. Longs Peak (well known 14er in RMNP) is in the far background.


    Heading up to Serle Pass


    Looking north towards the Gore range from Serle Pass


    Jen at Kokomo Pass - she wasn't so excited after 3000' of descent over the next few miles


    Heading down from Kokomo Pass looking west towards Mt Holy Cross wilderness


    Some old coke ovens near Tennessee Pass - I don't the history of these specifically, but typically, the coke made in such ovens were used for smelting ore, or in the case of many places in Colo, initially smelting and concentrating the ore to reduce rail shipping volume/costs before going to the final smelting process further away.
    ___________
    James Orofino
    1970 CJ5
    1958 Willys Wagon

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  9. #6
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    Default Re: Some front range scenery (backpacking)



    Nice scenery - thx!

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    FINOCJ (July 22nd, 2020)

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