The flight offered a nice preview of the type of terrain I’ll be hiking in Southwest Colorado.
Over 2 million years, erosion carved the 1800’ of vertical cliff from the rim. The park is named for John Gunnison, who discovered the gorge in 1850 when seeking a Pacific railroad passage.
I reached the park just 90 minutes after landing in Montrose. Over three hours, I hiked several trails and drove the rim road to see the overlooks. At 8200’ elevation and with not too much climbing, I seldom felt the altitude.
Today’s hiking summary:
4.67 miles / 1h 58m / 1000‘ gain
The day finished with a two hour drive through Gunnison to Crested Butte, CO.
Today was the first significant hike, to the top peak of Mount Crested Butte ski resort. The peak is a steep rock scramble high above the tree line.
I took the Red Lady Express lift from the base at 9380’ up to 10335’. From there it was a steady climb of switchbacks through meadows and steep ski runs before reaching the scramble. The rock climbing got steadily steeper. I nearly turned back as the height was getting a little scary but I carried on to the top at 12162’. After a hike back down to the base, I was rewarded with a Death By Chocolate milkshake!
Today’s stats:
12.1 miles, 1861’ elevation gain, 2800’ descent, 4h 20m of hiking
It was a great day mountain biking at Crested Butte. The Red Lady Express lift takes you and your bike up for two to three mile downhill runs back to the base. Routes vary from pure downhill to meadow crossings and cross-country. Some athletic folks also bike from the bottom up. The runs vary from easy to intermediate to extreme. I graduated from easy to intermediate today.
Today’s biking stats: 21 miles biked over 6 hours.
The Hot Springs Inn is just outside of Ouray. The drive in was incredibly scenic, and as it turns out, even much better is yet to come in Ouray and beyond.
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.
The hike continues from the pass at 13,000’ down to 11,500’ to the Blue Lakes. The route down was steep and rocky. As beautiful as the lakes was a beautiful chipmunk (there’s lots around). After reaching the lake, it was a long hike back up the pass and back down to the trailhead.
Entering Ouray - just a preview of views to come of Ouray…
Ice Lake Basin is a very popular hike from near Silverton, CO to numerous lakes. Parts were very steep and strenuous, climbing from 9,843’ up to 12,595’.
Hike Stats: 9.4 mile, 3,071’ elevation gain, 4hr 18m hike time. Peak height 12,595’.
Today’s hike was a steep jaunt from the hotel in Ouray up to Sister Peak and Twin Peak. The route took the Silvershield trail up and the Twin Peaks / Oak Creek trails back down into Ouray. This hike offered beautiful views of the surrounding mountains of Ouray. It was also very steep - an average climb of 17% and a maximum recorded climb of 46% towards the top - that’s 46 feet climbed for every 100 feet forward. Thankfully the peak elevation was a relatively low 10,748’ and I feel pretty acclimated to the altitude.
Today’s hike stats:
8.7 miles, 3346’ elevation gain, 5h 02m, peak elevation 10748’
Ouray has a well known Hot Spring. Next door is a very friendly Fellin Park with a well stocked koi pond..
Today it’s another steep and strenuous hike, this time from Telluride. Ballard Peak lies just outside of Telluride and rises up to 12,812’. The hike starts on the very popular (and much easier) Bear Creek trail before veering off left. It’s a relatively short hike with a lot of gain.
A bit over half-way up I thought I had the peak in sight but, sure enough, it was much higher. Ultimately I pushed on to within about 200’ of the peak. After overcoming a particularly steep bit, the trail disappeared in an area of vertical rock and scree. I continued to the point where it no longer felt safe and I wisely turned back. I didn’t get the 360’ views from the top but have no regrets.
Today’s stats:
8.3 miles, 3704’ elevation gain, 4h 57m, peak height 12612’.
Telluride is a vibrant ski and all-season town. Telluride offers the only fully free gondola transportation in the U.S.
Ouray is named after Chief Ouray of the Ute tribe, circa 1870. Ouray became a mining town, primarily for lead. Today’s hike was to the Chief Ouray Mine along with a side trip on the Portland Trail. It was another hot and sunny day for a steep hike. The hike offers great views into Ouray and of the surrounding mountains. The hike was continuously steep - a steady 15 degrees to 25 degrees in pitch, but no crazy steep sections. Because it’s been dry, the various waterfalls along the route were a bit low in volume.
Today’s stats: 9.2 miles, 4h 28m, 3018’ elevation gain