Exploring around Leadville

[Mad Maxx]

Hey everyone,

Although the big-name high altitude trails around Leadville won't be passable for a while, there are plenty of lower trails closer to town to explore.

A lot of them seem to just have occasional pretty easily passable patches of snow as I experienced in my solo wheeling around here earlier tonight.

I've done quite a bit of exploring myself but there's more trails that are just a little bit too far or gnarly for me to explore by myself since I stick to easy and close trails when I'm by myself.

Anyways, if anyone would care to join me sometime for some exploring, it can be a lot of fun to have no set course here given how many little trails there are, many with great scenery - valleys, creeks, old mining structures, etc. From what I've explored it's mostly easy trails, the fun for me is in the exploration.

Pretty much all of the trails have several campsites, too.

I might be moving down to Denver later this summer and want to take advantage of the trails around here while I can easily do so - I've discovered so much more being able to wheel here every day, and would be happy to show y'all around what I've found and explore what I haven't yet. Even if I do move down to Denver I'll probably be making a bunch of trips here because of all the scenery and trails.

Anyways, consider this post good for whenever based on when folks show interest - it could be this weekend or whenever anyone wants to come wheel up here.

[Jim]

Interested - Mosquito Pass is about the only one I have traveled around there. Toss some some trail names so I could do some research. I'm game to explore new trails.

[open_circuit]

Sounds like fun but it'll probably be 3 weeks before I can get down that way.

[Mad Maxx]

I don't have any trail names - these are just small trails frequented by locals and explorers you won't find write-ups for online. There are some county roads you can see outside of town on Google Maps, mostly but not exclusively east and southeast of town. There are many trails which aren't on maps which fork from the ones you do see on maps.

The best description I can give is that they're mostly easy but scenic with all the aforementioned features - valleys, creeks, old mining structures, etc.

Gretchen previously posted:

[Jim]

Mad Maxx previously posted:

[Mad Maxx]

Either day this weekend? I can post it up for tomorrow or whenever, but since I live up here I'll leave the time up to y'all since I know it's a long drive for you. What do you think?

Edit: Alternatively we can wait until Trent and more folks are available, but I'll wheel out here either/both times or whenever anyone wants to come up so it's up to y'all.

[Jim]

Sure - do a last minute for tomorrow.

10/10:30am?
Meet somewhere in or near Leadville?
It's a 3+ hour drive for me to Leadville - I can meet anywhere though.

[Mad Maxx]

The snow continues to melt, allowing access to more higher up areas.

https://i.imgur.com/a1eALWU.jpg

[Mad Maxx]

Pics from about a week ago - https://imgur.com/a/TissuUU

Pretty much everything seems passable now except maybe the high passes like Mosquito.

Sadly, a sign has been erected on the east side of town prohibiting sleeping in cars and camping in the "historic mining district". This area has plenty of the most scenic campsites in the area if not the country. I've asked on a locals group online why this is, and so far all I've got is bootlicker speculation along the lines of "Well there's old mine shafts up there someone could wander into and fall at night" despite me never seeing open mine shafts in my exploration, especially not near any campsites. The only mine shaft I've found is sealed with concrete and thick metal grating without any hinges to open it.

It continues to astound me how whenever I ask about this sort of thing where land gets more limited and restricted even though most of us cause no harm, all I get is responses defending what seems to be arbitrary, baseless restrictions. It's like they think that we must protect other adults from themselves by restricting their experience of nature and assuming that hazards exist that really don't and assuming that people are incapable of using flashlights while they apparently wander aimlessly at night. Wtf is with these people's imaginations?

Anyhow, I know of other campsites not in that area so don't let this deter any of you who want to come up to explore if you want to camp, it just means that many of the best and most scenic campsites may no longer legally be an option.