In case people are wondering where others are. 10ish hikers in town. Blister, Packrat, Salamander, Alden, Chuck Wagon, GI Jane and dog, Simply Seeking, Laurel and 2 bikers that are hiker trash as well Leprachaun and Laura. The first 4 of us are heading out today into the Colorado snow, the others are here for awhile for various reasons. Greg and Homebrew should be walking into town in the next day or so. Happy Trails all.
Blister
How are you all doing with the snow? I know some are waiting for it to melt, but I think I heard that you all continued into the bog. Are you bypassing the Weminuche?
Ginny
There is snow - just as I suspected. Anyways i did the section into Pagosa basically solo as did packrat. Slow going with the postholing of course. Snow shoes arn’t gonna help with “rotting” snow. Stayed a few nights in Pagosa and gonna set out sat am. Salamander and Alden left a couple of days ago. Tell people to bring along extra food and take it slow, steady and carefully. I’m off to the Malt Shop!
Blister
Same report as Blister and others ahead of us. Adam, Sidewinder, Kalyn and hiked from Cumbres pass to Wolf crk pass from the 25th to the 29th. miles were slow 11 miles from Dipping Lake to Blue Lake took all day, camped early that day because we were worn out. The next day on the way up to Gunsight Pass we backtracked down the ridge and cut down to the Conejos river and walked FR 247 to the Platoro reservoir. Then Followed forest roads for an easy (dry) hike to Wolf Crk pass. You obviously will need Delorme maps or better to figure the route out. (it would take longer if you stayed on the CDT.)
Anyway, Like Blister mentioned, bring extra food from Chama and take your time. The snow sucked but it was also fun being out there.
We are most likely heading out tomorrow for the Weminuche on the 31st with good maps.
More detail of the roads is at trailjournals.com/kaymat
Mat and Kalyn
Just to let folks know - we headed out from the Creede cut off (avoiding snow). Creede is an awesome town by the way!!! Trail conditions awesome and relativley dry up to Marshall Pass. The 7 miles to Monarch Pass, be prepared to be slowed down again. We took the Agate Trail to route 50 into Salida - easiest hitch so far! We were expecting 7ish days and did it in 4 1/2 - 5ish. Looking to take some time off to let the snow in the north melt a bit more - Heard about a hiker thing goin on in Leadville next weekend - anyone have any info???
Blister
Aldens report on the CDT L of this section was pretty much what we had in this section from 5/31 to 6/4. you could tell that the snow had melted some since he went through but, not a lot. The first 10 miles were slow, then it was not bad at all over south fork peak, but then the Northern slopes around mt Palomino were the worse post holing we have had in CO so far. Adam kalyn and I jumped off around east trout crk area and cut down to hgw 149. if you dropped off at east trout crk trail it would save you the nasty snow just after this cut off. we dropped down to 149 about 10 miles NB of creed. you can cross the analope park on private bridges to get over the swollen rio grande and trout crk. then a boreing but scenic 20ish mile road walk to spring crk pass.
mat and kalyn
If only Mat & Kalyn had stayed with me…
About a quarter mile after the left for lower ground, the snow got better. Much of it was avoidable but taking a less direct route or was solid enough to hold me (when I was there). The only sketchy section was just after the Knife Edge on the traverse to Trout Lake. After that, it was much better. I did miss the turn to Squaw Pass and headed way, way down to the lowlands before climbing back up to Weminuche Pass. Lots of mud and wet ground though replaced much of the deep postholing. Still I arrived at Spring Lake mid afternoon on the 6th, 7 days after I left Wolf Creek.
sidewinder
Hey all, Cochetopa Hills was nice: low elevation, practically no snow, the only thing that was tough was waiting out the thunder storms in the afternoon. No real snow (just short patches) all the way to until 7 miles before Monarch pass; even then it was not that bad, just thicker snow patches in the woods and a few snow walls on ridges to climb over…only lasted 2 miles then it was clear again into Monarch. We even did a 27 mile day!!! If anybody is interested, the alternate Ley describes up and over San Luis Peak is clear as well.
Mat & Kalyn