Trip #109 (40): Colorado Trip #2: Hiking: Escaping Heat
Fort Union, Maxwell Wildlife Area, NM; Mueller SP, Rocky Mountain NP, Frisco, Leadville; Hopewell Lake, NM
Monday, July 27
Headed out on I-25 with the plan to
finally visit Fort Union. It’s the last of some rainy days of monsoon season
so it was a very comfortable low 70's visit. On the road to the fort area Santa Fe Trail ruts are still visible, so
cool. Covid still freaking everyone out so only the bookstore was open, but we were
free to walk around this cool old fort, with its crumbling adobe walls,
watching park workers rearrange deck chairs on the titanic (imagine trying to
patch these crumbled walls over and over, but they do). Very interesting
history, this is what’s left of 3 versions of the same fort starting about 1850.
Decommissioned 1891. Continued on, also finally seeing Wagon Mound, just a land
formation landmark for the Santa Fe Trail travelers. Stayed the first night at Maxwell Wildlife Area, being the only ones there. Still rainy
so walked around just a little but aside from birds we did see a herd of elk in
the distance, then the skies opened up.
Tuesday, July 28
Drove on to Mueller State Park in
Colorado, outside Colorado Springs. With more rain it was 59 degrees in Divide,
but warmed up some to 75 after that. We were way up at the north end of the
campground, site #123, an excellent, roomy pull through, even off the road a
bit. Stormy skies, but make a trip down to the visitor center, which was closed
of course, we just missed it at 4pm. So we did a short hike, straight up, to an
overlook, about 1 mile. First hike
in a while, this got us warmed up.
Wednesday, July 29
After the oatmeal disaster, went out on
a trail off the campground, beautiful sunny day, 71 degrees but dang, sure is warmer in
the sun, steep walk but open views of Pikes Peak, did 2.25 miles. After lunch
went out again after visiting the visitor center and asked for a shady hike, he
suggested the (another) Overlook Trail
so we did that, another nice one for 1.5
miles. Got back in time for more rain.
Thursday, July 30
Today we moved on to RMNP but first drove
up I-25 to Castle Rock to meet Bob & Debby at Red Robin for lunch. Had a
good visit, next time it will be in Santa Fe or Castle Pines. Took a chance on
continuing on I-25 thru Denver to get to the park and tho busy it kept moving
so no delays. Some light rain as we entered Estes Park, as it always is, and
man, was that place packed: Sidewalks full of masked people, not sure I even
want to window shop here (turns out I won’t, much to Bill’s relief). We are camped on East
side, Moraine CG #B210, another good site and a water spigot across the road! Lots of tenters around and a hill behind us so walked up to check it
out and it’s a beautiful green meadow with a river running thru it, not a bad
view. The elk like it. Had a big lunch so soup for dinner, whisky peaches (ala
Debby and a Colorado distillery store by a gas station), and Dr. Quinn for
dinner. Roughing it for the next 3 days, no elec.
Friday, July 31
Hiked Cub Trail (we’ve done this one before but it was close, as I said
the place is packed, town and park). 8
miles. Saw and filmed a moose enjoying the lake. Went to town just for
groceries (ok, really for ice cream to accompany those whisky peaches!)
Saturday, Aug 1
Hiked Glacier Basin, Sprague Lake to Bear
Lake and took the shuttle back. Got back in time for more rain. 3.5 miles. Later walked around two camp
loops with camp neighbor and her friend (Linda and Nancy) and her pug, Peppa.
Good to be around like-minds regarding “the plandemic”…
Sunday, Aug 2
Moving on to next stop, Frisco. But first we
have to exit to the west side of the park on the Alpine Road, oh Lordy,
was that high and narrow! Billy did good, but that meant he couldn’t look round
much. Not much for shoulders up there, as in none. Since it’s Sunday it wasn’t
too busy for the drive down to Frisco. Camped on Lake Dillon Loop C-33, water
and electric! Yay. Also on two busy roads and a bike trail, but not a quiet
spot, that is for sure. Went to town for dinner, decided on Cajun but they were
closed so went for Grecco, outdoor dining Italian. Cute little town, people all
over but not overly so, walked around town (in masks, ugh).
Monday, Aug. 3
Plan was to do a hike over in Silverthorne
past 10,000 condos, but of course there was no parking available at the Lily
Pad Trailhead, all full. This town is a zoo by the way: Frisco, Dillon,
Silverthorne, where ever one starts and one ends. So bummer. Went back to camp
and instead walked about 3 miles on
the bike trail toward the dam, got back in time for the afternoon rain. Off to
the Outlet Mall, the most oddly laid out outlet mall ever… just off the
interstate taking up three corners, both sides of the highway, weird. So got in more walking! Got a table
runner from Wm Sonoma “outlet”, yeah right. A bit warmer here, but since we are
in the middle of town we have a great signal. I bet I stayed up late streaming
a night or two… we have used up the mifi’s high end gigs already.
Tuesday, Aug. 4
Where to go next? It’s either going to be
Leadville, if we luck out, or Twin Lakes off Independence Pass, which ever
availability comes first. Leadville wins! Dragged around about 11:30 am and
found a great spot that was available. For one night. So we took it. Molly
Brown #14. Up here at 10,000 feet but not feeling it thankfully. Did a hike on
the ol’ poke a bike brake lever into your leg trail. No PTSD for Willy. Hiked 4 miles then took off for a drive later, scouting the other CGs for good lakeside spots as Bill has decided this is his
new favorite place. Toured the town and went to Safeway. exciting. But again, shopping in a mask is BS. I just can’t bear
hot weather shopping in a mask. Ugh. Nice out but on the warm side in
the sun. Great sunset, looks like someone’s wildfire smoke is in the area. CG
was packed BTW. Reservations required for the good ones.
Wednesday, Aug 5
Where to go next…. Antonito or further
south to Carson Forest off 285… Carson wins! Longer drive today on down to NM,
just about 2 hours from home but we've always wondered about camping in this area. Well,
guess what? It’s great. We took a turn west at Tres Piedres into the
forest to Hopewell Lake (more of a puddle cut), after having to drive on newly
chip sealed roads, but at least it was glued down. Anyway, after two drags thru
the CG and not finding much, we found an available walk-in site, another great one set back off the
dusty road. #9, again roughing it, but getting pretty good at electric and water
conservation, tho water is available here; no dump. Walked down the trail to
the lake, the CG is way above it. And for that matter, this camp is almost
10,000 feet up again. Just doesn’t feel like it, but the weather is fabulous,
tho warm in sun (don’t I always say that). I walked down the trail to the lake
to check it out, about a mile round trip. Very nice.
Thursday, Aug. 6
Bill went to fish about 8:30, I walked
down about 30 minutes later, and as expected, he was done. Very small lake and
seems no one was getting any action. So we went on a GREAT hike, Continental
Divide Hike they call it, doing about 6
miles round trip. Absolutely perfect weather, about 75, shady hike and a
cool breeze – I guess that’s what 10,000 feet does. Farther up the road we
found some dispersed camping in some beautiful areas, might try that next time,
but the trailer will take a beating on rough roads to get up there. Trailer leaking fresh water and heater won't fire. Time to head home for repairs
Friday, Aug. 7
Backtrack to 285 and head
south. Driving on Highway 64's rather clean new chip seal, our favorite. Hope it’s not a million degrees at home (it was).
Total Hiking Miles: 30.25, give or take!
RIP: Herman Cain, Willford Brimley
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