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| 7/3/01 A day hike from Stevens Gulch Trailhead to Loveland Pass over Grays and Torreys Peaks (14,270' and 14,267') and Grizzly Peak. My first day hiking in sandals. I'd become disenchanted with my boots: too heavy and not very comfortable. In the summer I am usually a bit of a river rat and run around mostly in river sandals. Heck, I'd hiked down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up in a day in them, so why not try them on top of the Colorado Rockies? Cruised on out to Loveland Pass with a big smile! Now that's more like it! 7/4/01 Was joined by Leah for the holiday in Georgetown. Watched the parade and did a little fishin'. Bided our time in the afternoon, waiting for a break in the thunder storms. Headed up Mount Evans (14,264') from Guanella Pass around 4 pm. Took a break near tree line to set up camp. Made the summit at dusk and hunkered down amid migrating moths on a southerly breeze. Watched fireworks all up and down the front range and foothills, maybe 50 shows in all. The most impressive show was God's, lighting up thunderheads in every direction with crimson flashes of lightning. The highest shots from Idaho Springs and Georgetown popped up and surprised us a few times. It looked as if Black Hawk may have blown up entirely! Fun skipping by moon and starlight back to camp. 7/5/01 A leasurely morning and hike back to Guanella Pass. 7/10/01 Back on the trail again at Stevens Gulch. Headed east just shy of the summit of Grays Peak, over Edwards Peak (13,850'), Argentine Pass (13,132'), and Argentine Peak (13,738'). Continued along the Continental Divide until the weather began to fall in and dropped east in to a basin to camp near the Brittania Mine. Hard to find decent looking water--extensive contamination from mining activity and mineralization. 7/11/01 A long, high day along The Divide amongst ptarmigan and mountain goats. Ranged across the tundra, occasionally following old mining trails and jeep roads. Made camp just the other side of Georgia Pass. 7/12/01 Huffed up an endless boulder field to summit Mount Gugot (13,370'), along an exposed ridge and down to French Pass. Up and over the southern shoulder of Bald Mountain and down to Boreas Pass. Along the Hoosier Ridge and west to upper Pennsylvania Creek Basin to camp. 7/13/01 Back up on the Hoosier Ridge and south. Dropped my pack and ran up Mt. Silverheels (13,950'). Ran down. Picked up my pack and was chased by a thunderstorm all the way to Hoosier Pass. A day later getting out than I'd planned. I'm down to a few cracker crumbs and a nugget of cheese. Daily early arrival of thunderstorms made it difficult to make good time. Hitched a ride out to Breckenridge in the rain. |
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