What we’re about
Summit 13ers and 14ers in all seasons, couloir climbs, rock scrambles, backpacking, snowshoeing, lake hikes! Join us for a variety of activities, for beginners through experienced. Most of these will occur at a slow to moderate pace, usually 1-2 mph avg. Let's get out there and enjoy our Colorado lifestyle!
I encourage people to get together outside of the planned events. If you're interested in an activity that's not posted, please post a comment in the Home comments section instead of the individual events.
If you would like to lead some activities please message Stephanie Irwin.
Upcoming events (4)
See all- Lost Creek Wilderness Two Night BackpackGoose Creek Trailhead, Deckers, CO
Gorgeous backpack through Lost Creek Wilderness' beautiful southeast section. Around 23-25 miles total, averaging 3000 feet of elevation gain per day.
Pace: Expect an 2mph up and 3mph down, with packs. This is an above-moderate pace with packs, so make sure you're confident in your ability to sustain it.
Food: BYO, and one item to share for dessert Saturday evening. Specifically something to put on s'mores. I'm going to bring marshmallows and graham crackers. If someone can bring gluten free marshmallows/graham crackers too that would be awesome. Bear bins are unnecessary, though we'll want to reduce food access for mice and other such critters by hanging food bags. I'll bring my ursack which has a bit of extra room.
Route: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/goose-creek-mccurdy-lake-park-and-hankins-pass-trails-loop?p=-1&sh=8rrvmh
Friday Evening: We'll head counterclockwise up goose creek and camp the first night along the water. I'll be heading up earlier in the day to get a campsite. Since there is no phone reception in the canyon, I'll add a GPS location for the intended site before we leave, as well as a backup meeting spot if that site is taken already.
Saturday: Get up and hike north up Goose Creek, west along Refrigerator Canyon, then south up toward the pass. This'll be a big, and gorgeous, day.
Sunday: Hike over the pass and back down to the cars. Mostly downhill.
Gear: I'm assuming you've backpacked before and know what gear to bring. If you haven't backpacked, but have the gear and are able to sustain the pace all day with 30+ pounds of weight, that likely works too. Drop me a message. If you're looking for a gear list, here's a good one that includes a video describing its sections.
Parking/Carpooling: Trailhead parking is limited and this is Memorial Day weekend. Carpooling is ideal. I'm going to head up before noon to get our first night camping spots. Please message if interested in carpooling with me. For those leaving later, a handy carpooling spot is the 285 PnR. Limited trailhead parking is available at the Goose Creek Trailhead.
- Wind River Range 6 Day BackpackBig Sandy Trailhead, Boulder, WY
Dates and Itinerary are confirmed! If you are interested in this backpack please add your name to the waitlist and complete this short form. The group is limited to 8 people. This trip is not first come first served. I'll choose people who I know or who I believe will form a compatible and cohesive group.
One of the most beautiful and wild mountain ranges I have experienced, the Wind River Range in Wyoming will Blow. Your. Mind. This backpack is not for beginners! We will be hiking about 8 miles per day, and will be bushwhacking through some of it. There may be some minor class 2 scrambling with full backpacks. But Oh! So Fun!
Weather in the Winds at this time of year is variable. It could be sunny and warm, thunderstorms with rain, snowy, or some of each. You need to be able to backpack in all conditions to be moved to the attending list. This isn't a speedy backpack, but you need to be competent to maintain a reasonable steady pace. And to be familiar with your gear! There may be black bears, so we will need to use precautions with food storage. Although this isn't usually grizzly territory, they are known to be present in the more northern regions of the Winds so bear spray isn't a terrible idea. No permits are required as we will stay out of Indian Reservation territory.
Here is the itinerary I have sketched out so far, with an extra day for travel. It's early and this is subject to change!
- Day 0 Wed Aug 28th – Drive to Big Sandy Trailhead and car camp
- Day 1 – Hike from Trailhead to Cirque of the Towers - 8.8 miles; +1900 ft / - 563 ft ; highest elevation ~ 10,600 ft; camp elevation 10,400 ft
- Day 2 – Our toughest day: Hike with some scrambly bushwhack to South Fork Lakes, with short side trip to Bear Lake; 7.9 miles; +2139 ft / -2037 ft; highest elevation 11,860 ft; camp elevation; 10,570 ft
- Day 3 - South Fork Lakes to Baptiste Lake outlet; 8.6 mi; +1663 ft / -1363 ft; highest elevation 10,870 ft; camp 10,870 ft
- Day 4 – Baptiste to East Fork Valley, with some easy bushwhack; 7.2 mi; +1583 ft / -1850 ft; highest elevation 11,180 ft; camp 10,600 ft
- Day 5 – East Fork Valley with some bushwhack to Dad’s Lake 8.2 mi; +1012 ft / -1861 ft; highest elevation 10,077 ft; camp 9752 ft
- Day 6 Tues Sep 3 – Hike out 5.4 mi; +310 ft / - 968 ft; meal in Rock Springs, drive home
Stats were obtained through CalTopo mapping and are probably close, but not necessarily accurate.
Totals:
Miles – about 46 miles
Total Elevation Gain – about 8,607 ft
Woo! - RMNP Glacier Basin Camping - 2 Hikes - 16 LakesGlacier Basin Campground, Colorado, CO
Camping Friday and Saturday night in RMNP near Bear Lake. I'll add more details once I have them.
Signing up: Add yourself to the waitlist. I'll move folks from the waitlist to going after I confirm additional details and receive a venmo payment to cover the portion of the campsite cost.
Friday: Arrive any time after 1pm. Set up camp. Enjoy food, laughs, company.
Saturday: Hike 8 lakes, including more remote ones like Green, Blue, Frozen, Solitude, and Shelf lakes (route here).
Sunday: Pack up, hike 8 more beautiful lakes, including Loomis, Spruce, Fern, Odessa, Ptarmigan, Helene, Two Rivers, and Bear (route here), and finish the weekend with a late lunch at Smokin' Dave's.
RMNP permits: I believe are unnecessary as long as you have the camping reservation number. I'll find out more details on that.
Cost: There will be a small campsite fee per person to cover the cost of the permit. It should be between $10 and $20 for the weekend.
Parking: There will be around 4 parking spots in front of the campsite, with overflow parking further away. Carpooling is encouraged.
Food: TBD
