Backpacking Lower Sand Creek Lake

 Zach and I had been planning a backpacking trip for September to the Wind Rivers.  Due to a miscommunication on how much time I was able to take off, we ended up changing the location to Music Pass area in the Sangre De Cristos.  We thought this would be a good uncrowded spot for Labor Day weekend.  This turned out to be an accurate assessment.  We were the only ones camped at the lake as far as we could tell.  On our way through Westcliffe, I was able to get a good panoramic shot of the whole range from a good vantage for a peak labels poster I've been wanting to make for a while:

Sangre de Cristo Range with Peak Labels - Prints available

close up

Descending from Music Pass

Tijeras Peak

Sunrise at Lower Sand Creek Lake

I really, really wanted to climb Milwaukee Peak that morning, but Cami didn't want me doing a class 3 climb solo.  That's because she loves me I guess.  Instead we had a nice oatmeal breakfast and enjoyed our leisurely stroll back to the trailhead.  We saw a huge herd of elk on our drive out.  I don't know why I always thought that elk don't jump fences.  I was proven wrong that day:

My 100th 13er/14er summit - Clinton/McNamee/Traver Peaks - July 2024

 Starting on Longs Peak in college, it's taken me about 20 years to reach 100 differently named summits of peaks over 13,000 ft.  The hiking partner that I've done the most mountains with is my good buddy Brad.  He and I went for a hazy day triple this time up by Breckenridge.  All the haziness was due to the wildfires  from Canada.  We hiked a few miles up to Wheeler lake.  From that point on, it was all off trail on tundra and talus.  The steep climb up Clinton was work, but the rest of the loop was pretty easy going. 

Mt. Democrat

Heading up Clinton

Quandary Peak from Clinton's summit

Looking down on Climax Mine from Clinton's summit

McNamee (right) and Trevor (left)

100th Summit - McNamee Peak

Traver Peak

Old junk left all over the place on these peaks from mining activity

Once we reached the summit of our third and final peak of the loop hike, I realized I forgot my camera on the McNamee peak's summit.  Doh!  Guess we have to repeat that one!  

There it is!

Not excited to hike to the top of Traver again for our 5th summit, we figured out a way to bail between the saddle between Traver and McNamee.  Then the long talus stroll back to Wheeler lake. 

Looking back

Wheeler Lake

Near the lake, there are some falls that we decided to call "Paradise Falls".  They may have an official name, but we don't care.  We will forever call them by our renamed name. 

First 13er for the Kids

Last weekend was the first 13er for the Spong and the Coffin kids.  We chose a relatively straightforward route up UN 13,541 that began nice and high on Independence Pass.  I was a little concerned when we arrived that the clouds were looking like they might rain.  We did get a little sprinkle, but it eventually burned off and made for a pleasant stroll.

Gloomy Castle Peak in the distance

To keep the little ones motivated along the hike, they conveniently found little "gems" along the trail.  The boys showed no sign of fatigue throughout the whole hike.  Once we reached a good spot not too far from the summit at around noon, we could see the clouds beginning to build upward and knew we could soon be in trouble with thunderstorms.  We decided to split up to a fast moving group that would summit and a slower moving group to stop here and then head back.  The ladies decided to stop and the boys went on. 

Girl Summit!

Grizzly Peak

La Plata

Twining Peak

We did get a little bit of tiny hail balls on the way down, but we were prepared to take cover in the bushes.  On the drive back along the road there was a marker pole that was sticking diagonally into the road.  We had to swerve into the oncoming lane in order to miss it.  Whew... close one!  Wait, a little while later we found T&D's sprinter van pulled over.  We stopped to find out what was going on.  Apparently, they didn't see that marker pole on their way down and it smashed their rear view mirror.  They figured out a way to tape it back on and had a good attitude about it.  

Overall it was a great hiking/camping trip with good friends and good food and good times.