This is the first real vigorous hike of the trip, hiking the Yankee Boy Basin, about 20 minutes south of Ouray. After a long and slow rough rocky drive to the trailhead, the hike starts at 10,800’ elevation. This route hikes through incredible mountain scenery on all sides towards Mount Sneffels, a famous peak at 14,159’. I chose to skirt Mount Sneffels and not climb it because of pretty dangerous footing, steep exposure, and a real risk of rockslides (which I did hear). I continued past Mount Sneffels up the Blue Lakes pass, then down to the blue lakes. This leg shows the route from the lot up to Blue Lakes pass at 13,000’.
Hike Stats: 10.4 miles, 3,566’ elevation gain, 5hr 45 min active hiking. Peak altitude: 13,005’. Average heart rate over 5hr 45 min: 132 bpm.