Escalante, Utah Plus Cisco the Ghost Town

 I had the opportunity to travel to my favorite spot in Utah during early February...the town of Escalante and the surrounding Staircase. I stayed at a top-notch glamping site called Escalante Grande Resort, and I sampled some local Mexican food at Chihuahua Garcia Mexican Grill. Both establishments were well worth it...friendly, good quality, and generally gave you a taste of the local experience...plus colorful sunsets and deer-filled morning sunrises. The primary goal of my visit was to have an adventure in the local canyons and surrounding mesas. That goal was achieved. Just a generally relaxing, rejuvenating, wild Utah experience. Escalante never disappoints.

After my time in Escalante, I drove back to Colorado, eastbound on I-70. I stopped at a ghost town near the Utah/Colorado border called Cisco. The place seemed mostly deserted, though there were signs of some locals/artists eeking out an existence. Really a sureal place that was peaceful and lonely at the same time. A fun quick little side trip for anyone who has some time to kill. 

Google map of Escalante Grand Resort.

Google map of Chihuahua Garcia Mexican Grill.

Google map of Cisco, Utah. 

 

Browns Canyon National Monument // Turret Trail // Buena Vista, Colorado

 I escaped the Leadville ice sheet for half a day, driving south to the lower and much warmer terrain of Buena Vista. From there I crossed the Arkansas River and hiked the Turret Trail in Browns Canyon National Monument. The environment felt more similar to parts of desert Arizona, which I appreciated, as it was a big change from the cold snowy conditions I've experienced the last two months in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. No big surprises on this trail--just a simple trek across rocky terrain, some canyons, and occasional grassland. It's probably a hot hike during the summer, so a warm sunny windless winter day might be ideal for a deep exploration of this national monument. Oh, and a winter hike will also yield a fantastic background of snow-covered 14,000 foot peaks set against semi-arid boulders, mesas, and cliffs.

Google map of Browns Canyon National Monument.

 

Cougar Ridge // Minturn, Colorado

 I broke trail through knee deep snow three miles up Cougar Ridge during late January, eventually reaching a point 1000 feet above Minturn, CO. I followed numerous animal tracks on the way up, likely being elk, though one set might have been a mountain lion. Sun shining through the forest and onto the fresh snowy forest floor created a surreal atmosphere. And I thoroughly enjoyed basking in bright sunshine at my cliff-top perch, looking down onto highway 24 below, and westward across the Sawatch Range.

Map of Minturn, CO and the Cougar Ridge trail located to the east.

 

Mount Sherman Fail Plus Camp Hale Makeup Hike // Colorado

 I exited the east side of Leadville just as the sun was illuminating the western horizon during a late January day, drove up a snowy county road as far as possible, then parked a few miles downhill from Mount Sherman. I began hiking toward the mountain, looking for a trail that cut across its lower western slope. I spotted the trail, but in order to reach it, had to wade through hip deep snow. I vetoed that idea, knowing the mountain would likely still be there later this year when the snow melts away and gives access to the trail I desired. As a consolation prize, I drove north of Leadville to the old WWII Camp Hale, an army camp that trained soldiers to wage alpine warfare. I hiked across the flat valley that once housed 15,000 soldiers. It was brilliantly sunny, and warmed the still air as sun reflected off of fresh white snow. I reached a trail that spurred uphill, and I followed for several miles until reaching a thick forest. I wanted to stay in the warm sun, so I turned around at the forest and hiked back to my truck. Another great day in the mountains.

Google map location of Camp Hale.

 

Quandary Peak // New Years Eve 14'er // Colorado

 I picked an easy access 14'er to ascend on New Years Eve, Quandary Peak, which is also perhaps the easiest of all the Colorado 14'ers to summit. Besides a few chilly gusts, the weather was generally pretty pleasant going up and down the mountain. And the hike went about as one would expect, simple and straight-forward...plus the snow was firm so no post-holing. I started around sunrise and was back down to my truck in time for midday lunch. I wish every 14'er were like that.

Google map of Quandary Peak is here.

 

Mount Princeton // Christmas Eve 14'er // Colorado

 Great December weather and an ongoing snow drought favored a successful winter 14'er ascent, and I picked Mount Princeton for my target. The adventure started off with me missing the 2WD parking lot, I don't know how, but I cruised on by and started ascending a steep 4WD road in my truck. The snow got deeper the higher I went up, and the road became more and more sketchy, which made me realize that I was going to get stuck if I didn't find a place to turn around. Luckily a ledge appeared on this mountain road and I had just enough room to turn around and go back down. Now parked at the 2WD lot, I started hiking up hill–around 3 miles to the radio towers, and several more miles to a trail that led to a never-ending field of boulders and talus. I picked my way through the rocks, skidding occasionally on ice covered snow–eventually bypassing the official trail that ascends up to a ridge, which was a mistake, as I encountered a slope that turned to pure dirt and loose rock. I had to cling to the side of the mountain, controlling my breathing so I could think my way through this obstacle, and eventually found just enough hand and foot-holds to avoid sliding down the mountain and crawl upwards to safer terrain.

After a bit I joined the ridgeline trail, and from there it was just a slog to the summit. Despite the low snow pack, the surrounding mountains were still sufficiently plastered to make for some enjoyable sight seeing while I celebrated my climb with a summit beverage. Then as usual, the hike back down began. Given it was winter, the forest soon became pitch black by 5 pm. I calmly scanned the trees and brush for signs of menacing creatures–none were encountered. And just before 7pm I was back in my truck and on the way home. I definitely noticed that sleeping at 10,000 feet every night has improved my endurance and lung capacity while climbing Princeton. Acclimatization really does work. 

Google map of the Mount Princeton.

Buffalo Mountain // Silverthorne, Colorado

 I came up a few hundred feet shy of summiting Buffalo Mountain, partially due to fast approaching hazardous weather, and partially due to fear of triggering an avalanche, as small slabs would slide off beneath my feet on the steeply slopped eastern face. Otherwise, the skin trail has become hard-packed by boots below treeline and thus was an easy hike to the windy upper mountain. In hindsight, maybe the avy danger wasn't too bad, but high winds and advancing snow showers forced me down regardless. A future summit awaits when weather turns more pleasant.

Buffalo Mountain is located here in Google Maps.