Mt. Chiquita Hike (08/31/2009)

This was a six-mile round trip from the Chapin Pass trail head. Chiquita tops out at 13,069 feet, about 2,050 feet above the trail head. We had a beautiful day which started with a sighting of these three deer on Fall River Road on our way to the trail head.

Looking down the Chapin Creek drainage. The long views were very hazy due to smoke from the California wildfires. Karen hoofing it up the mountain. Looking due west to the Alpine Visitor Center (just visible on the skyline right of the snowfield in the upper center of the photo).

Mrs. G.

The Master Slacker.

Lunch break at the Mt. Chapin/Mt. Chiquita saddle.

No switchbacks here, just straight up the tundra towards the summit. Well, one of the false summits anyway.

Rock cairn and summit rock wind shelter.

Marmot with a view.

Karen and I getting comfortable behind the wind shelter.

The view to Ypsilon Mtn. (left) and Mummy Mtn. sky-lined to the right.

Looking down to the north east, just a bit of Spectacle Lake is visible at center left. Ypsilon Lake in the center of the photo.

An interesting cairn under threatening skies; Karen trekking on through in the background.

Returning to tree line.

Lovely scenery on the way down.

Yet another self portrait using the extended, one arm camera shot method.

Karen looking back up at me on a steeper section of the trail.

It may still be August, but fall colors are already to be found on the ground.

Mountain Dog

Last Thursday (08/27/09) Karen and I hiked up Lilly Mountain. Since we were dog-sitting Sadie Rose (aka "Kid Vicious", aka "Killer") we decided she would much rather join us than stay in her kennel at the house. Boy, were we ever right! She had a blast charging up the mountain, chasing squirrels, birds, and chipmunks. She never slowed down on the four-mile round trip and acted like she could have gone on forever. Pretty impressive pumped-up high energy canine in a small package. We've enjoyed Lilly Mountain before, but this was an extra fun, memorable trip thanks to Sadie Rose.

PbVille '09

It was yet another great weekend at the Leadville 100 "Race Across The Sky" I did not run it this year, but went up to help out, pace, and spectate. It was an unusually warm, dry year. The heat caused a lot of stomach issues among the runners and resulted in many DNFs (did not finish, or distance not finished).

Below is a picture of Ron next to his 5th wheeler. My tent is just visible to the right behind the table and barbecue grill. What a great weekend to tent; warmer and dryer than I have ever seen it in Leadville. Ron and I had intended to climb Mt. Elbert, Colorado's highest peak, but instead volunteered to help mark the race course. We were responsible for marking the 10.5 miles between Twin Lakes and the turn around at Winfield. This is a beautiful stretch of course including 12,600 foot high Hope Pass. Here' a picture of me tying on some ribbon near the river crossing. Part of our duty was to scout out the area and find the most suitable place to cross the river. This can change year-to-year due to the different water levels and changing river channels.

Ron marking along the meadow crossing near Twin Lakes. This area is usually wet, with some water and nasty black-muck stretches that are more than ankle deep. This year it was just a wonderfully dry grasslands.

The main channel river crossing. In the background is the beginning of the 3000 ft. climb towards Hope Pass.

Ron and I were up for the 4am race start to see the runners off. Molly I posing for a shot.

Molly and Chris.

Karen and Pat.

Bob and Scott.

Ken Chlouber, age 70, preparing to go for the 100 miles again!

Norma and Ron.

Beauty and the Bob.

The crowd at the finish line with just over a minute to go. We were all madly cheering for a woman coming up the boulevard as the clock ran down. Unfortunately, after 30 hours of valiant effort, she came in just over a minute after the gun! There always some real drama and excitement at this finish line towards the end of the race.

Ken cheering on the runners and preparing to fire the shotgun to signal the official end of the race.

Medical aid to a finisher who was carried to the lawn after collapsing at the finish line.

And medical aid to another collapsed runner at the finish line.

The awards ceremony in the 6th street gym.

Alan and Mike. These two Estes Park guys finished in around twenty-three and a half hours to earn a big buckle. Wow, what a performance!

Hallett Peak (August 6th, 2009)

Last Thursday Karen and I hit the trail at 0430 at Bear Lake for our hike up to Hallett Peak. She had never been up there before, and the only time I have been on Hallett was in a heavy fog. I've always wanted to return to take in the view from the summit. We had great weather...though surprisingly cool and windy for an August hike.
Karen at the Bear Lake parking lot.

Sunrise on the Flattop Mountain Trail.

The true summit of Hallett lit up by the morning sun in the middle of the picture.

Great camouflage on this ptarmigan!

Pica gathering some food from the tundra.

One of many we saw on the hike.

Karen hoofing it up the Flattop Mountain trail with Notchtop visible on the right.

Nice view of another ptarmigan.

A pair of marmots.

View of Longs Peak to the south. Still some snow on the north face and in the lower reaches of the Trough.

These are, um, yellow trail flowers. Yeah, that's it, Colorado Yellow Trail Flowers.

Karen near the summit of Flattop with Hallett above her left shoulder.

Karen and I on the summit of Hallett Peak! We were thankful for the shelter of a makeshift rock wall up there to protect us from the wind.

I love this picture of a marmot posing in front of the mountains to the northwest.

We had a great view here looking down the grassy, eastern summit ridge of Hallett. The far end of this ridge drops of in a sheer cliff, which, when viewed from Bear Lake, appears to be the mountains summit.

We enjoyed great views westwards towards Grand Lake.

Karen heading back down towards Flattop Mountain and the trail back down to Bear Lake.

View down Tyndall Gorge, the area between Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak. Nymph, Dream and Emerald lakes are located in this drainage.

Hallett and Tyndall Glacier behind an exuberant Karen.

Karen enjoying a break at the Emerald Lake overlook. Longs in the background.

Me & Karen with Emerald Lake 1,250 vertical feet below us.

A dusky grouse we spotted back down below treeline.