Colorado Trail Series

Colorado Trail Series

Day 3 - Part 1
Celebration Lake to Lunch at the saddle below Section Point

Hiked: 4 miles
Lunch: 11,810 elevation

Day 3 was a short day, only about 6.5 miles to our planned camp just below Blackhawk Pass.  So we lingered in camp and enjoyed a hot breakfast before setting out on the trail.  We hiked a bit slower and Jim took more pictures.  Hence, Day 3 is broken into two parts in order to share so many photos.
  I should also mention that the trail stays above 11,500 feet the entire day. 
Got Oxygen?!

(As always click to enlarge photos - it's worth it!)
 

Of course, we rested often and in the shade when available.

Looking forward to the south at Hermosa Peak - 12,579ft.
The trail would skirt the west side leading us around and not over (thank goodness) this mountain.

 

More heart shaped rocks!
Love abound on this trail.

 This is the trail around Hermosa Peak (left).

Weaving in and out of trees as we were at the top reaches of the treeline.

 

You have to enlarge this photo.
Like I mentioned before, you must follow the posts along the trail.
Although, sometimes there are trail guides to chirp encouragements to you along the way.

 Sitting on a bleak windblown saddle below Section Point, we ate lunch.  However, looking back to the north at the mountains we had just passed yesterday so many miles away was satisfyingly beautiful.

 

Check Back for Day 3 - Part 2

Coming Soon!

 

ColoradoTrail Series

Colorado Trail Series
 Day 2

First camp to Celebration Lake (almost)
 

Hiked:12.75 miles

Camp: 11,090 elevation

(As always click to enlarge pictures - it's worth it!)

 

Starting out on Day 2 and looking back toward the valley we slept in the night before.  The trail is well used and easy to follow.

But, when in doubt look for posts or triangle CT markers or both.

 



It's nice that most of the intersections have good signage.

 

Love was everywhere along the trail.

 

 (may have to enlarge to see Pika sitting on the rock)

 

After our first big climb over Rolling Pass (12,520), we descended and were greeted by a Pika.  She was totally friendly and came running up for snacks.  However, we do not feed wild life and so she proceeded to try to chew on my shoe.  

 

 

Views at every turn.

 

 Near the head waters of Cascade creek.

 

 

The last decent toward Celebration Lake.

Frost had already come in the mountains as you can see the colors changing.

 

 

Dusk was coming fast.

I hustled to find a campsite and get dinner going before night fall.

 

Deer came into our camp all night long.

Like the Pika, they too were probably looking for hand outs.

 

Day 2 was a long haul.  There was a steep climb in the morning over Rollings Pass and another long drawn out climb up from Cascade creek (5 + miles).  I don't do well with climbs.  I'm just slow.  Jim doesn't do well with descents.  His knees don't like them.  So with today's ups and downs we were both exhausted.  The trail approaching Celebration Lake joins up with an abandoned jeep trail, then a recreational dirt road, then back to the woods, then back to a road..... and so forth.  With the light fading and the need set up camp, to find and filter water and cook and eat, I rushed ahead and found what I thought was the lake.  Jim set camp while I filtered water from one of the few pockets in a dry marshy area.  Considering the drought of the summer, we thought perhaps the lake was drying up.  Neither of us had ever been there so we didn't know what to expect. 

 

Completely exhausted we fell into our tent as the night fell around us.  As we drifted off to sleep we heard a dog barking in the distance.  Really?! I thought we escaped that!  As we would discover the next morning we had stopped about a quarter of a mile short of Celebration Lake.  Which was full of water.  However, there was also a family in a Jeep with a barking dog.  So it was a blessing in disguise that we camped where we did or otherwise the dogs might have met it's fate a bit early.  (Yes, I was that cranky about the barking.)

 

Sleep where you can!

 

......stay tuned for Day 3