Colorado Winter Trip 2014

Denver-February 2014

This is our somewhat annual trip to Denver, to visit my brother David. This year all of my children came out as well as Sherri. The hook is to have fun in the snow. But the real reason is to enjoy some time with David. Having the kids with us just multiplied the fun.

We spent several days skiing or snowshoeing. But we also went bowling, saw a movie and hiked around Red Rocks. Most of the dates below have links to individual blog pages-just click on them.

Day	Place	Description	Type	Distance
Feb 15, 2014	Echo Lake	Easy walk in the snow  around a lake at 10,000'	Cross-Country Skiing Snowshoeing	2.03 miles
Feb 16, 2014	Butler Gulch	All out on the snow. We g above Henderson Mine enjoy the country under the Continental Divide.	Cross-Country Skiing Snowshoeing	4.03 miles
Feb 17, 2014		Stayed around Denver. Went bowling and ate at DiCiccio's. Then dropped Steven off at the airport.
Feb 18, 2014	Grizzly Gulch	Skiing towards the Continental Divide on the south side of I-70. Fun day. Lots of falls for me.	Cross-Country Skiing	3.76 miles
Feb 19, 2014	Moffat Tunnel	Nice afternoon snowshoe around a railroad tunnel-sort of like heaven.	Snowshoeing	2.57 miles
Feb 20, 2014	Old Squaw Pass Rd	Just a a short, cold walk up a road.	Snowshoeing	0.96 mile
Feb 21, 2014	Red Rocks	Just a nice time with my brother while we walk around the Red Rocks area.	Walking	Unknown

Clark's Nuthatch

Family Bowling

Rachel climbs

Family Munchies

Rachel, Andrea, Steven

February 21, 2014 - Around Red Rocks

Title: February 21, 2014 - Around Red Rocks

Trail head:

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking/Walking

Trail: Dinosaur Ridge

No mileages or time because I did not bring our GPS. But this was more of a ramble than a destination.

Description:

Red Rocks

Today is our last day in Denver. We leave on a 5pm flight back to Fresno. But before we do, David makes sure we are fed well starting with pancakes in the morning. Then it is off to to Morrison and Red Rocks. We came here for the first time last Monday. Today, we park at the bottom of the amphitheater and walk all the way up to the top. This will get you huffing and puffing for a while. But the view of both the plains beyond-looking towards Denver and the actual surrounding area is pretty nice. We watch various people running the stairs and others just enjoying the stroll. After a bit, we stroll the museum which shows the performers who have played Red Rocks.

Afterwards, David takes us on a short trip over to Dinosaur Ridge. We walk  walk the paved road--which has been closed to thru traffic. David gives explanations of what we are seeing-dinosaur tracks. I would think without David as a guide, I would not see the tracks. in some places, I think that someone just has a good imagination. But some of the rock indentations do looks like tracks, other places has the fossilized bone in them. Cool.

Ship Rock

On the way back around, we go up a trail to the top of the ridge-this is the Hogback. Not a bad huff and puff. Here we can look across to Red Rocks and see what is called Ship Rock. A bit windy, but not a bad way to end our trip.

Sherri, David and Gary

But wait, there is more. When we get back to the car, David takes us to a restaurant which he has wanted to try, El Senor Sol. Pretty decent Mexican food. Nice way to get fed up for a flight. David drops us off at DIA and after a 45 minute delay because of high winds, we are in the air and officially closing out our trip.

February 20, 2014 - Old Squaw Pass Road

Title: February 20, 2014 - Old Squaw Pass Road

Trail head:

Hike Info:

Type: Snow Shoeing

Trail: Old Squaw Pass Road

Destination:

Actual Destination:

Distance:  0.96 miles

Start Time: 9:59

End Time:  10:44

Travel Time: 0:56 (1.03 mph)

Moving Time: 0:32 (1.80  mph)

Elevation Rise: 270'

Maximum Elevation: 10,464'

Description:
It has gotten cold. At least by California wimpy standards. Where I thought we might be going today, maybe Peru Gulch,  around Breckenridge is 9 degrees, plus a wind chill. So the discussion is how to accommodate us. We decided to go up towards Evergreen area and see what we can find, rather than make a long drive and not leave the car.

David and Gary

Cold Californian's

Well, we got to Elk Meadow Preserve and there was cold,there was wind, but no snow. So David drives on and up. That up would be towards Mt Evans. So up we go. This is the same road as we went on Saturday up to Echo Lake. But instead of coming from Idaho Springs, we come from the Evergreen side. 

Now we not only get cold and wind, but we have snow. David finds the trail-head for the Old Squaw Pass Trail. It is around 10 degrees, and there is the wind chill which goes along with the 20-30 mph wind.  It looked like it was an old access road, as it followed a power line. We did pretty good. But after about 30 minutes, and a half of a mile, we decided that we were a bit cold. So we turned around. We were mostly in trees, just enjoying the time. But we did hear reports that further on there were great views of the Arapahoe Basin.

We returned to the car the same way we came up, only in about 20 minutes time. We drove on, past Echo Lake. The snow was swirling around, creating ghost spirit dancing along the road.fun being the passenger and David driving. As we descended, the temperature warmed up-both outside and in David's Subaru. We welcome the warmer inside. In Idaho Springs, we decide to get a bite to eat at Tommyknockers-a bar and grill. Good food, but service is slow. But we are not in much of a rush. Then to top off a relaxing day, it is off to the movies-Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

February 19, 2014 - Moffitt Tunnel

Title: February 19, 2014 - Moffat Tunnel

Trail head: East Portal

Hike Info:

Type:  Snow Shoeing

Trail:  Moffat Tunnel/South Boulder Creek, No 900

Destination: None

Distance:  2.57 miles

Start Time:  12:24

End Time:   15:01

Travel Time: 2:37 (0.98 mph)

Moving Time: 1:44 (1.49 mph)

Elevation Rise:  302'

Maximum Elevation: 9,636'

Moffat Tunnel enterance

Description:
Today we lost Andrea and Rachel. Lost as in they left on a jet plane, don't know when they will be back again. But definitely not for this trip. So David, Sherri and I went out to Nederland area and snowshoe'd around Moffat Tunnel. I have been up here several times. With my fascination with trains, it is always exciting, at least for me, to see a train going under the Continental Divide. We eat our lunch before starting out.

We started from the east part of the Tunnel. This is the a East Portal Trail head. Started going up the South Boulder Trail, which goes on the north side of the tunnel entrance. Snow is pretty nice. Packed, just a little wind with a bright blue sky and only a few clouds. Probably the best weather for snow play which I have seen up here, ever.

Snow jumping-snowshoe style

Once we get around to the backside of the tunnel entrance, we stop to put on gaiters. But that also gives time for David and I to explore the creek beside us. With gaiters on, we shanghai Sherri and take off from the packed trail to the creek bottom. There is some tracks down there, so we follow them. These tracks meander from one side of the creek to the other, going up into the trees and shrubs, back to the more open, but rocky creek bottom. Great fun. So silent, except for the crunching of our snowshoes. Snow not trodden, so virgin, unspoiled.

After taking a break, we go up a bank. David scares up a couple young ladies-they let out a shriek. But we had known they were up there both from their voices and seeing movement. Friendly enough once they recover from being startled.

Gary

Gary and Sherri

David and Sherri

Snow pond

Onward we go. We come to this one snow covered rock, where there are rabbit tracks on top of it. About 15' down it are more tracks, where the rabbit jumped. Amazing. We get to this one constrained place, where the creek has cut through and we are forced to ascend up a steep 15' bank. David cuts some steps. But Sherri has a bit of a go with it. After talking a bit, we decide to continue up the bank and we shortly hit the trail.

Sky and Snow

After hitting the trail, go about a third of a mile before hitting a trail junction. It is after 3:00pm. So we decide to turn around and head back. Travel is much faster coming down on a packed path. We get to the tunnel, where we take off a little from the trail. Sherri breaks trail for fifteen minutes or so, then we return to the trail. Shortly afterwards, we reach the car.

The Brothers

Aspen

A man talks with David and tells us there is an old railroad bed someplace around here, bug not sure where. We go off to Broomfield and celebrate our day with a stop at Buca di Beppo. The rest of the evening is watching pictures and talking.

February 18, 2014 - Grizzly Gultch

 Title: February 18, 2014 - Grizzly Gulch

Trail head:

Hike Info:

Type:  Cross-Country Skiing

Trail: Grizzly Gulch

Destination:  Grizzly Gulch

Distance:  3.76 miles

Start Time: 9:44am

End Time: 12:47

Travel Time: 3:03 (1.23 mph)

Moving Time: 1:49 (2.07 mph)

Elevation Rise: 975'

Maximum Elevation: 10,684'

Description:
Rachel and Sherri are staying at David's place today while the rest of us go skiing at Peru Gulch. On our way up to Eisenhower Tunnel, we started seeing high winds warnings. So we discussed if we really wanted to go there or not. Peru Gulch has a tendency to be windy on the best of days. So we decided to go to Grizzly Gulch, a little bit west of Silver Plum.

Andrea and David on trail

Torrey's Peak

First bit of excitement is a van stuck in the snow when we drove up. It shortly got pulled out. There is some wind, which is driving down the temperature some. But the sun is shining, making the 39 degrees feeling good. Andrea and I use skins-which will cause me some grief later, but David goes with bare bottoms on his skis.
We go up a snow covered road. For the first quarter of mile, it is pretty mild rise. But then, the skins really become useful. Besides a bit of huffing and puffing, we enjoy the sights, including Grays Peak, Torreys Peak and Mount Edwards. The road gets steeper, but pretty doable. A little after a mile in, we come to a split. To the left is the trail to Grays Peak; to the right goes up to Grizzly Gulch.

Dad is down

We decide on the right, up Grizzly Gulch. There is a road, but it is under a series of drifts. Instead of a broad trail, it is just a couple ski tracks. In here my skins came off, again-I had tripped a couple times already. So off they come. Let's see if I can do the climb David is talking about. We cross a creek and then start up towards the Gulch. Pretty steep, at least for me.

Grizzly Gulch

We follow the trail, past a cabin-who goes here? Does not look like it gets habituated in the winter. We move beyond this, rising up. Sort of fun. We stop for lunch. After talking, we decided to turn around and go back.

David

Andrea

Instead of having to trudge up, doing a reverse snowplow or side-stepping up, we go down the tracks, which some what resembles a luge run, at least to me.  Down I go, but only down to one knee and only  once in this stretch. Amazing. Even take the down to cross the creek without falling.  But the fun does not end there. We hit the road and go down it. As David says, it us like a series of escalators. We go down, and then level out. I sort of snowplow down, then  hit the side of the rode where the snow is a bit thicker and I go slower. But I still fall down twice.  But not badly.  

Return Trip

What a wonderful trip today. Lots of eye candy. It was a good day. Enjoyed being with my daughter and brother.

February 16, 2014 - Butler Gulch

Title: February 16, 2014 - Butler Gulch

Trail head: Henderson Mine

Hike Info:

Type:  Cross-Country Skiing/Snow Shoeing

Trail:   Butler Gulch

Destination:  Butler Gulch

Distance:  4.03 miles*

Start Time: 11:43am

End Time:  2:45pm

 Travel Time: 3:01  (1.34 mph)

Moving Time: 1:59 (2.03 mph)

Elevation Rise: 706'

Maximum Elevation: 10,998'

Steven, Andrea and David

Description:
We were a bit slow in getting up and going. David made waffles for us. Like usual, pretty good. While the others were getting ready, Andrea Steven and I went to get Steven added to the car rental agreement. But we went throughout Lakewood trying to find an open Enterprise place. First two places were closed on Sundays. The third one the GPS suggested was no longer there. So we took off and met the other at Starbucks in Dumont.

From there, we headed off to Henderson Mine, up Highway 40. Weather not bad-sun shining, but a bit windy. There are clouds gathering. But we take off about noon. David, Andrea and Steven on ski's; Sherri, Rachel, and I are on snowshoes. We parked at the lower lot and walk up to the upper lot, about a quarter mile or so. The skiers ski it up. There is now a light snow which falls somewhat periodically-I suspect it may be snow blown off of trees and ridges.

Red Mountain

The snow is packed and we do pretty good. The first bit is along the Jones Pass Road, until it headed up, westward. We take the left road, going southward. This quickly leads us across Clear Creek, where the road stops and the trail starts. We are able to see some of Colorado eye candy to the east of us-Red Mountain shows itself to us. Also you can see that California is not the only state impacted with less water this year.  At this point, we enter this path through the forest. It climbs up amongst the the pines and firs, with the snow still laying in the trees. 

I walk with Rachel and Sherri, at a slower pace than the skiers. We enjoy the air, the snow, the exercise. That is until Rachel's hips start to bother her. She continues on. She has her lunch of almond butter and jam. Feels better, but hip still bothers. So Sherri and her turn around, this is close to two mile along the trail, most of the way along a Meadow, beside the trail.

Sherri and Rachel

I continue on up the trail until I find David, Andrea, and Steven. They have been doing runs down a slope at the end of Butler Gulch. We have our sandwiches and then start back. The skiers enjoy the downhill and I have a good pace going on my snowshoes  We get down it pretty good.

The end of the day is pizza at BeauJo's in Idaho Springs. Then back to Denver. We top off the day by watching the The Life of Pi.

David, Steven, Andrea, and Gary

February 15, 2014 - Echo Lake

Title: February 15, 2014 - Echo Lake

Trail head: Echo Lake Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Snow Shoeing, Cross-Country Skiing

Trail: Echo Lake loop, CO

Distance:  2.03

Start Time: 3:30

End Time:  5:44

Travel Time: 3:14 (0.63 mph)

Moving Time: 1:09 (1.76 mph)

Elevation Rise: 388

Maximum Elevation:  10,727'

Description:
The California group: Gary, Sherri, Andrea, Steven, and Rachel, flew into Denver in the morning and got to my brother David's a little after noon. After a bite of lunch we all took off, except for Rachel, to REI to rent skis for Steven. Then David drove us up to Idaho Springs where we took off on the road to Mt Evans. Going up about eleven miles we came to the Echo Lake turnout.

Unlike California, there was snow on the ground. The loop around the lake was pretty well packed, making for easy snowshoeing and skiing. Andrea, Steven, and David ski'd while Sherri and I tagged along and snowshoe'd. The temperature is in the mid-30's, but when we are not in the trees, there is a wind blowing, chilling us.  But as we move, we warm up.

We wandered around the shore for a ways. Nice easy time. David takes us back always towards the Chicago Creek area-not far that way. The skiers in the group take a few runs while Sherri and I trudge up to where they are then go down. In the packed snow, we do pretty good, but when we go off into the powder, I sink to my knees, even in a big set of snowshoes. But still a lot of fun.

We continue on around the lake to the closed for the season Echo Lake Lodge. We stand around for a few minutes, in the wind, and then decide we have had a good time today so it probably is better to go back. So we make good time going back around the lake to the car.

When we get back, I do about 10 minutes on Steven's skies. Fun. I got the first butt-plant of the group. Get back to Denver and David fixes us fish taco's. We watch the Olympics-I nod off during the commercials. Good first day. But no pictures. All of us forgot our cameras. But in a way, that is good. It is fun just being in the snow for its own, rather than always looking around for a shot.