Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Red Deer, Sawtooth, Algonquin, and Coney Island from Beaver Reservoir TH.

There is something to be said for sitting down and reviewing summer hike photos three months later.  I think this is the last of my overdue trip reports.  Though these peaks are all summitted from the same trail head, the days described took place about a month apart, on August 15th and September 21st this year.  Thus, they are described as two separate outings in this TR, though they could easily be grouped together.  Also described is my Boulder County and Indian Peaks Wilderness finisher, both fun lists to pursue.
I'd never been to the trail head before, but it was pretty easy to find.  It's on the Peak to Peak Highway between Route 7 and Ward, though closer to Ward.  The street sign is for County Road 96, and you should see a sign for the Tahosa Boy Scout Camp.  It's on the west side of Peak to Peak.
Drive along the dirt road, and go about halfway around the reservoir to find a small parking area on your right, a little past the wide concrete paved area.  There is some additional parking just a short way up the dirt road, and it looks like most vehicles should be able to make it though I didn't try in my normal car.  Note that the reservoir itself (and immediately surrounding land) is private property, and signed as such.
The first few miles of hiking aren't the most mentally stimulating, on the 4WD Coney Creek Road.  But soon enough (on the way up, it feels like it takes forever on the way down) you'll reach the Coney Creek TH.  Stick to the boardwalk on your left to cross the wide creek.  Things are a little confusing here, as the area is pretty open.  Continue ahead and to the left to find the trail. 
Early morning and the promise of a fun day ahead.
And a fun day it would be, as I was in Indian Peaks where dogs are allowed and my best dog friend was along with me.  His is a story of triumph, as he was such a scared dog when we got him.  I distinctly remember them telling us he might never be able to go on a hike.  But he's showed them!
You can just barely see Sawtooth Mountain poking up beyond the trees here.
We passed the Coney Lake trail pretty early on, and continued on the Beaver Creek trail to the Buchanan Pass trail.
Beauty!
As we got to treeline, movement seemed a bit more difficult to me, though it didn't seem like Gunner was slowing down at all.  
Looking back down into the valley.
I could hear the wind roaring above, so we stopped for a snack and water break on the east side of the Continental Divide.
Gunner looking extremely happy!
We crested the divide and it was windy and therefore a good bit cooler.  I put on my wind/rain jacket, and figured out a way to tie/zip my fleece hoodie onto Gunner as he now looked a bit less happy.  We headed north and got to the summit of Red Deer Mountain quickly.
Looking around from the summit, where there is a nice depression to allow some time out of the wind.
Dog impressively back lit on the summit of Red Deer Mountain, 12391 feet.
My buddy!
We looked over to Sawtooth Mountain.  From points west, its easy to see how it got that name, but from here it looked like just a lump on the tundra.
Sawtooth Mountain on the left, with Algonquin and others behind.
It was a little bit of talus to the top, but it comes easily enough for a dog.  I felt like I was sucking wind. 
Audubon and Paiute in the background with Algonquin ahead.  That grassy ramp cutting left was my planned descent route. 
Still happy on Sawtooth.
Algonquin is the highest of these three at 12574, and it's also a bit of distance out.  It's primarily tundra between the two, but turns back to straight talus at the summit.
Algonquin and even better views of other Indian Peaks.
I had warmed up significantly, so I took the hoodie off Gunner who seemed as happy as ever to be there.  We ran out of water up here, or rather he ran out of water and then I gave him my last, knowing we'd find an ample supply upon descent.
The route I picked was fine for human travel, but not the best for dogs.  As I'd discover a few weeks later, it probably would've been better if I'd let him off leash to pick his own way.  I know he'll stay with and follow me anywhere, and this loose talusy descent proved that.
We were around 11000 feet and the best option would've probably been to descend to Coney Lake, but I still had it in my mind that we'd do Coney Island to finish off the area.  So we headed north and up the gully, stopping at the small body of water below Sawtooth to rehydrate and have some snacks.  We feed him twice a day normally, on these big hike days he also gets a third meal interspersed throughout the day with some special treats mixed into his normal diet. 
Gunner looking regal.
Sawtooth impressive from the pond.
I looked wistfully at Coney Island.  Yes I wanted to do it today, but I had to be back at a certain time for a meeting.  The weather prediction had now gotten to the possible bad part of the day, though things still looked good where I was.  Coney Island was only 500ish vertical feet, but it looked like loose talus the entire way.  
Loose, though not that much up.
And I felt a little guilty for making Gunner descend the loose stuff already.  Though I knew he'd follow me willingly, I didn't feel like going up this slope was a good idea.  So we headed back.
Still above tree line, the scenery in this area was awesome. 
Gunner agreed.
It was pretty easy to find a way down back to the trail here.  For awhile it seemed like we were following a very old human trail.  A few animal trails had us cross the creek and pick the official trail back up.
Of course, we had to stop at Coney Creek to eat some water and hang out a bit before heading down. The road felt like it took forever to get down, but we got back to the car soon enough.  Gunner will normally get in and pace around, circling a few times before he finds his spot.  This time he got in, immediately laid down, and did not move the entire way home.  I looked at my GPS tracker to find that we'd done a little over 19 miles and a little less than 5000 feet of elevation gain.  No wonder!
My buddy.
After some rest and other hiking adventures, we headed back to the same place a month later with an easier and shorter day planned.  I'd made a pretty big push in August and September, and here I was, about to finish Boulder County and Indian Peaks on the same day.  
I'm looking at Gunner sleeping on the couch next to me as I write this.  He's a pretty amazing dog.  He's been a great hiking buddy over the years, though with all the time spent in RMNP, he hasn't always been allowed to come along.  I feel bad about that, particularly in light of the death of our other dog earlier this year.  So now my goal is to make his time as high quality as possible.  
He's been with me more than any other being on Boulder County peaks, so it seemed appropriate that he'd be my only companion for the day. 
Beaver Reservoir at sunrise. 
The approach is exactly the same for the most part.
Another break at Coney Creek to eat some water.
Peaks in the distance.
I made one navigational error.  It looks like you should leave the trail to start up Coney Islands long east ridge before you cross the creek, but it will be much easier to stay on the trail for a few minutes longer, cross the creek, and then head up.  There isn't really a much of a creek, but the trail is wet, and you'll be in a small clearing.  Some bushwhacking awaits.
Dog looking pensive. 
I knew he enjoyed hiking, but I never knew how much of a mountain goat he was until today.  We stopped in a slightly sheltered talusy area for a quick snack, and he was doing something like this.  Well, he was only two feet off the ground, but he had his front two paws pushed into the side of a large rock, and one of his back paws doing the opposite with his fourth leg just hanging there.  Impressive.
Treeline is reached, but there's still some scrubby stuff and plenty o' talus.  We continued on as the day got windier.
Nearing the summit.
Back down to the valley.
 
Sawtooth from near the summit. 
Finally I could tell we were almost there.  I got the camera ready.
At the summit with the talus slope we'd descended a month prior on the lower left. 
 
Dog at the top.  We didn't stay long due to the wind.
On the summit, my 87th of 87 Boulder County peaks, and 37th of 37 Indian Peaks Wilderness peaks.  I was pretty happy, and said a few words to remember my dog Jersey, who had done the second most Boulder County peaks of any being with me.  In his memory.
To get down we headed back a short distance the way we'd come, and then descended directly north.  I let him off leash to do this, and found he was quite capable at picking his own way safely, though he always stayed within ten or so feet of me.  After a short leap from boulder to boulder near the bottom I heard him yelp.  I checked his paws to find he had an injury and was bleeding a little.  Fortunately, his ability to walk did not seem to be effected at all, and when we got home and I cleaned his paws, I did not find any wound.
Looking as happy as can be.
This is the official Buchanan Pass trail head, at the end of Coney Creek Road.  We started back, and the road didn't feel any shorter this time.
But of course, we had to stop for a quick dip in and drink from Coney Creek.  
We got back to the car and he did his normal routine to settle in, then stuck his head out of the window for the first part of the ride home.  He curled up on the passenger seat, and laid his head on my lap until we got home.  
This is a story of triumph and of a lasting friendship, yet another forged in the mountains.  I think back to the day we met Gunner at the Boulder Humane Society.  He was so scared he wouldn't even come out of the room he was in to meet us.  I had to pick him up and carry him to the car because he would not budge.  We often talk about the warning given that he would never be a dog to take on hikes.
It didn't take long for him to come around.  Peanut butter, love, and a little time was all that was needed.  Now he is an exceptionally loyal dog.  He would follow me to the ends of the earth.  As my wife noted one night when I came home from work as she was feeding him, he loves me more than food, as he left his dinner to come greet me.  I know Jersey liked us alot, and loved us in his way.  When Gunner looks at me I see something beyond love in his eyes.
It was awesome to share these two days with him.  It was great to have him along for this major list finisher, even though he has no concept of what that means.  I felt extremely happy to stand on the summit of Coney Island, to think back on all the early morning wake ups, the sunrises, the miles out and back and the feet up and down.  
These were two fun days, and certainly within the capability of the intrepid explorer to do in a day.  After all, you do pass back by Coney Island on the way down from Algonquin, or it could be done in the opposite direction.  From research and the experience of others, the north face of Coney Island seems like the best approach either up or down to add on, with cliffs to the west and south.  The north side is steep and loose in places, but not cliffy.  Great fun for humans and canines alike, though make sure your pup is part mountain goat!
Link to hike map and GPX on Caltopo.
Day 1:
Red Deer Mountain, 12391 feet: 7.5 miles, 3241 foot gain.  Second class.  Strenuous-.
Sawtooth Mountain, 12304 feet: 8.6 miles, 3154 foot gain.  Second class.  Strenuous-.
Algonquin, 12574 feet: 10.3 miles, 3424 foot gain.  Second class.  Strenuous.
As a whole, this day covered 19.3 miles with 4128 feet of elevation gain in up to second class terrain.  Strenuous.
Day 2:
Coney Island, 11580 feet: 6.5 miles, 2430 foot gain.  Second class.  Moderate+.
As a whole, this day covered 13.5 miles with 2661 feet of elevation gain in up to second class terrain.  Moderate+.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Mount Audubon to Shoshoni Peak Traverse.

I'm sitting to write about this day a few months later now.  Hopefully the memory hasn't gotten too fuzzy!
Dan and I attempted Mount Audubon in January, and got pretty close to the summit before deciding to turn back.  It was windy as heck, and I think we were both feeling pretty miserable as we made the seemingly never ending climb.  The thing that finally decided us was that the wind was lifting up and randomly launching slabs of snow into the air.  We were heading directly into the wind, to it was easy to assume we might become a victim of one of these missiles.  
Since we started from the winter closure, it was a fairly long walk back to the car, at least in the stiff boots I was wearing.  I vowed to return in better weather, and once summer came, I was ready to go.  This excellent trip report on 14ers gave some great beta on the route, with the technical and route finding crux being the link between Paiute Peak and Mount Toll.  I saved a photo of his gps track and the photo of the weakness on my phone to have as reference.  
What a difference it made starting at the Mitchell Lake TH vs the winter parking!  My track from the winter shows it took us nearly two hours just to get to the Mitchell Lake Th in the winter.  I started up the Audubon trail at a good pace- my plan was to run as much as possible on this fun loop.  And fun it was, just by planning.  I'd visit two thirteeners and three peaks in the 12900's, plus unranked peaks "Notabon" and "Pawshoni".  I was really psyched!
Sunrise from the trail.  The trail starts from around 10500, so it wasn't long before treeline was reached and passed.  
I stuck to the trail until I neared Notabon, when I left to talus hop the remainder of the way to the summit.  It might've been better to stay on the trail longer for easier movement, but then again it moves away from this summit, so the distance to be traveled will increase.
Points north from Notabon, 12706 feet.
Looking to Mount Audubon and Paiute Peak from Notabon.  It was pretty easy movement to rejoin the trail and head to the summit.  There were several social trails as elevation was gained, each leaving and then rejoining the main trail in various places.  And then...
 
A rather broad and flat summit is reached.  I was also using Derek's times in his trip report to pace myself.  This loop took him nine hours, so I was thinking maybe eight.  We were right on track at this point.
A glimpse to Mount Toll, which looked improbable. 
Looking to Paiute Peak.  This approach is second class+, whatever that means.  Some scrambly bits here and there, which are easy to avoid.
On a more somber note, I took a minute to remember a friend of a friend who died from a fall in this area in July of 2015. 
 
I reached the summit of Paiute quickly enough.  There are two places that look like the high point, closer in this photo is the one which holds the register.  The farther out one looked higher from here, but this one looked higher from there.  Good to visit both to be sure.
The start of the traverse wasn't too bad, though even with knowing that this route goes, it didn't look like it would from here.  But looking back, you can see the weakness Derek talks about from quite a distance away.
To Toll.
At this point, it still looked impossible.  But look again, you can see the weakness from here. 
Back to Paiute and Audubon. 
Getting closer to the weakness, almost dead center in this photo.
I did find a fair number of cairns along the way, but it's easy to aim toward the weakness and traverse around, going up or down to avoid any difficulties.
I reached the rib of rock mentioned, and decided to stay on that up for as long as possible.  When it got too hard, I got into the left gully.  It looked loose, but by staying right next to the rib, I avoided most of the looser stuff and had a short jaunt to the top.  I popped out south of the summit, and simply followed the social trail to the top.
The view north from Mount Toll.
Up next was Pawnee Peak.  It looked like an easy traverse.
Back to Toll from the flats.
And it was easy to gain the summit of Pawnee, with minimal loose stuff along the way.
To "Pawshoni" and Shoshoni, and other points further south.
More talus is encountered before the summit of "Pawshoni", the unranked 12878 foot high point between (as you may have guessed) Pawnee and Shoshoni. 
The movement to Shoshoni was pretty easy, though the last bit to get to the summit was a little airy.
And, as many airy perches do, it provided a great view, here of Lake Isabelle and Long Lake.
Back north.  I was just over there!
And south to Apache Peak, my first snow climb.  Navajo Peak behind.
As described by Derek, I took the south east ridge down.  It's a fun route with some third class movement.  The most difficult point was transitioning from the ridge to the talus on your left.  It's hard to see when the ridge ends, so I had to regain a bit before finding a safe route down.
Looking back up- you can see where the ridge ends in short cliffs.  Once at the bottom, it was a simple few minutes on tundra to meet the Pawness Pass trail, and from there, motor on down.
The views improve in some ways.  I started seeing a few people who were kind enough to move out of the way for the runner.  It's still hard to think of myself that way!
And then the views get alot better.  
I was seeing more and more people, all of whom were friendly, and many of whom were kind enough to yield to me.  The trail widens a bit farther down.  I looked at my GPS tracker at Long Lake, and found I was still in the high sixes for time.  I did not expect to move that fast, and was thinking I'd walk the rest, but this spurred me on to actually run with the hope I'd be able to finish the loop in less than seven hours.  So I did, and hit the car to stop the clock at 6:58:40.  Got that sub seven hour finish!
This was an awesome loop, with fun movement and engaging route finding, and with starting at a trail head so high, most of the day happening above treeline, my favorite place to be.  I'd highly recommend it to anyone.  I just wish it could've been longer. 
Link to hike map/GPX on Caltopo.
Audubon to Shoshoni traverse:
Notabon, 12706 feet: 3.65 miles, 2199 foot gain.  Segment 1:20, total 1:20.
Mount Audubon, 13223 feet: 4.4 miles, 2716 foot gain.  Segment :28, total 1:48.
Paiute Peak, 13088 feet: 5.5 miles, 2581 foot gain.  Segment :50, total 2:38.
Mount Toll, 12979 feet: 6.5 miles, 2472 foot gain.  Segment 1:08, total 3:46.
Pawnee Peak, 12943 feet: 7.25 miles, 2436 foot gain.  Segment :35, total 4:21.
Pawshoni, 12878 feet: 8 miles, 2371 foot gain.  Segment :22, total 4:43.
Shoshoni Peak, 12967 feet: 8.7 miles, 2460 foot gain.  Segment :24, total 5:07.
End, 10507 feet: 14.37 miles, 0 foot gain.  Segment 1:52, total 6:59. 
In all, this day covered 14.37 miles with 4805 feet of elevation gain in up to third class terrain.  Strenuous.