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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:29:16 PM EDT
Yesterday afternoon, my son and I returned from a 3-day camping trip to Lost Creek Wilderness here in Colorado.
This was his first multi-day camping trip with any sort of weight in his pack. Without further ado... Lost Creek is on the edge of the massive Hayman Burn area. The amount of destruction from 2003 is still astounding. 
there was actually a fire burning on Tuesday. You can see the smoke on the horizon (right side) here: 
Here's our route. You drive about 45 offroad from Deckers, CO to get to the trail head. We camped at the bottom end of the blue line. The "bunkhouse" and "shafthouse" are the ruins of a 19-teens attempt to damn the creek and create a reservoir. 
Heading in: (the start of the trail heads down hill to the left, and it eventually hooks back to right down to that patch of evergreens. 
As you enter the creek bottom, you're hiking right alongside the Goose Creek, but after a ways the trail splits away from the creek and you have amazing views of rock formations. (this is all Pikes Peak Granite) 
Our destination is basically right behind the pine tree above my son's head: 
From the destination looking back south: 
We camped at the spot that Lost Creek emerges from underground and becomes Goose Creek: 
Eating breakfast in a little speck of sunlight. (It was low 30s overnight) 
Headed out: 
We had a blast and he was a trooper... zero complaining. A friend of his was going to join us, but his dad decided that it was too big of a challenge after we scouted the hike in a few weeks ago. Consequently, my son feels especially accomplished. |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:31:03 PM EDT
[#1]
Very very cool. I'm sure he will remember that for a long time.
Details on your hammocks? I don't recognize the one on the left. |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:33:06 PM EDT
[#2]
Your son will cherish those memories. Well done Dad.
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:33:16 PM EDT
[#3]
Any chance you can list gear for your boy's setup? I am looking at trying to get my girls (7&10) out on the trail and have no idea where to start.
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:35:07 PM EDT
[#4]
Awesome!!! This makes me happy!
I am 38 and still go backpacking with my dad! 
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:35:08 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Very very cool. I'm sure he will remember that for a long time. Details on your hammocks? I don't recognize the one on the left. Mine is a Warbonnet Blackbird, but it's hidden by the Hammock Gear Incubator bottom quilt there. My son's on the right is an Eno hung with Kammock Python Straps. |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:38:13 PM EDT
[#6]
Read this thinking I was gonna have to ask where the hammocks were. Good Job OP. Love my Blackbird. Best camping investment ever.
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:38:58 PM EDT
[#7]
Awesome. Those orange patches of trees are really interesting in some of the far away shots. Any idea what kind they are? Birch amongst a bunch of evergreens?
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:39:10 PM EDT
[#8]
Awesome! Shouldn't staff change your name to COGator though?
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:42:05 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Awesome. Those orange patches of trees are really interesting in some of the far away shots. Any idea what kind they are? Birch amongst a bunch of evergreens? Little patches of Aspen that are still hanging on to their leaves |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:44:31 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Any chance you can list gear for your boy's setup? I am looking at trying to get my girls (7&10) out on the trail and have no idea where to start. Other than his pack, nothing special. It's the REI-brand 40-liter pack that I think they've discontinued. He hikes in running shoes because his feet are on the wide side and the selection of kids' boots is limited. One thing that he uses that he and all of his friends LOVES is this http://www.selkbagusa.com/5G-Kids.aspx |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 3:59:44 PM EDT
[#11]
meant to mention a few things: food, water, weaponry.
Weaponry was my S&W 386 PD with seven rounds of Hornady Critical Defense Food: Trail food was almond M&Ms, Lara Bars (key lime flavor rocks) and beef jerky Dinner first night: ramen noodles w spicy thai tuna (Bumblebee from a foil packet) Breakfast: Mountain House dehydrated Biscuits & Gravy is AMAZING (plus a pot of tea made with Irish Breakfast tea + mint tea) Lunch: Banana + Nutella + peanut butter in tortillas Dinner: Stove top stuffing + chicken chunks from a foil pouch. Breakfast: granola + dried blueberries + powdered whole milk rehydrated in a ziploc bag (same tea) Lunch: ramen + beef jerkey + dried chopped leeks Water: Each of us carried 2 liters in 1-liter Nalgenes. We both drank from my son's bottles first to gradually lighten his load. Additional water was purified with a Platypus gravity system. Between the Nalgenes and the Platypus bladders, I can transport 6 liters of clean water + 2 liters of untreated water at a time Cooking: mostly boiling water on a Jetboil Sumo stove. |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:07:59 PM EDT
[#12]
Looks like a great time. Awesome pics man.
Let's go in the spring and catch fish.
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:08:25 PM EDT
[#13]
Parenting---you are doing it right!
ETA: I had to look at some more maps but I did that hike with the wife a few years back. Great hike. |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:11:19 PM EDT
[#14]
My family took a trip to Colorado when we found out my dad had cancer.
Unforgettable and breathtaking trip. Make many memories with your kid. Dads don't last forever 
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:13:29 PM EDT
[#15]
Good job Dad and beautiful country!!
When you walk through the areas that burned 12 years ago, does it still smell smoky? y'all meet anyone else on the trail? |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:14:53 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Parenting---you are doing it right! ETA: I had to look at some more maps but I did that hike with the wife a few years back. Great hike. probably should have provided a google map for context: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1728311,-105.3798958,15z |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:18:30 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Good job Dad and beautiful country!! When you walk through the areas that burned 12 years ago, does it still smell smoky? y'all meet anyone else on the trail? no... no smoke smell. But as we hiked out through the burned area (where we really were for maybe 25 mins) I did wonder when it stopped smelling smoky. Saw one guy coming out as we were hiking in. He had a day pack and a dog so I don't think he was camping. As we were hiking out, we saw an older couple with 4 dogs. They were out for a day hike too, carrying a SLR and a light tripod. 2 cars + mine at the parking trailhead |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:20:36 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Awesome!!! This makes me happy!
I am 38 and still go backpacking with my dad!
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/14736241787_62f9b2a29d_b.jpg that will be me in 30 years! |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:24:07 PM EDT
[#19]
I've been there a few years back. Camped in that exact spot! A very neat hike. Did you guys make it up to the abandoned machinery on the mountain above the creek? McCurdy Mtn / Bison Mtn are another really good hike. The view from the peak of Bison is fantastic!
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:25:22 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Awesome. Those orange patches of trees are really interesting in some of the far away shots. Any idea what kind they are? Birch amongst a bunch of evergreens? Aspens I'll bet. |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:30:40 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I've been there a few years back. Camped in that exact spot! A very neat hike. Did you guys make it up to the abandoned machinery on the mountain above the creek? McCurdy Mtn / Bison Mtn are another really good hike. The view from the peak of Bison is fantastic! heck, we bushwhacked over the top of the creek area rather than take the trail around to the machinery. it was pretty dicey... I actually marked some waypoints on GPS so I could get back through the boulders. in the spring, we're going to boulder though the area north of the machinery you want to be freaked out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZCN1wJHO4M |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:33:38 PM EDT
[#22]
Did you let them know you found the creek?
Beautiful, even with the devastation. I love my Appalachian mountains but you guys have some nice stuff out there. |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 4:46:36 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Did you let them know you found the creek? Beautiful, even with the devastation. I love my Appalachian mountains but you guys have some nice stuff out there. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Did you let them know you found the creek? Beautiful, even with the devastation. I love my Appalachian mountains but you guys have some nice stuff out there. this guy beat me to it, and Darwin handed out the prize: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/recovery-efforts-halted-teacher-s-body-remains-in-wilderness County Coroner Dave Kintz Jr. said the body was found in the Lost Creek Cave System. Although rescuers couldn't recover the body, they were able to reach a part of it with a long pole and surgical instruments attached, Kintz told the Fairplay Flume. |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 9:16:23 PM EDT
[#24]
Bump for the prime time viewers
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Posted: 10/16/2015 9:27:25 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Your son will cherish those memories. Well done Dad. absolutely
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Posted: 10/16/2015 9:32:01 PM EDT
[#26]
Where's the fishing rods? That upper portion is loaded with brookies.
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Posted: 10/16/2015 10:33:26 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Where's the fishing rods? That upper portion is loaded with brookies. Yeah it was.... Good sized ones too. I'll definitely bring a rod next time. |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 10:40:14 PM EDT
[#28]
Know the area very, very well. Right out of high school I worked for the Forest Service for three years in the Buffalo Creek/Indian Creek/Devils Head area doing timber stand improvement, beetle kill mitigation and trail work. The burned areas are the result of the Hayman fire.
Gorgeous country within an hour and a half of the metro area. Building great memories you are, my dad and I used to frequent Goose Creek. The smoke you saw was a small fire on the hogback near 470 and Bowles. I grew up near Bowles and Sheridan (BowMar South). From Kipling west Bowles was a two lane dirt road. We used to ride our bikes to the end of Bowles which was right before the hogback, lift our bikes over the fence and leave them there. We would hike up over the hogback and camp for the weekend. The bikes were always there when we came down off the hill. Good times |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 11:03:17 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Know the area very, very well. Right out of high school I worked for the Forest Service for three years in the Buffalo Creek/Indian Creek/Devils Head area doing timber stand improvement, beetle kill mitigation and trail work. The burned areas are the result of the Hayman fire. Gorgeous country within an hour and a half of the metro area. Building great memories you are, my dad and I used to frequent Goose Creek. The smoke you saw was a small fire on the hogback near 470 and Bowles. I grew up near Bowles and Sheridan (BowMar South). From Kipling west Bowles was a two lane dirt road. We used to ride our bikes to the end of Bowles which was right before the hogback, lift our bikes over the fence and leave them there. We would hike up over the hogback and camp for the weekend. The bikes were always there when we came down off the hill. Good times Turns out it was actually a controlled burn in the Trout Creek area. Can't imagine Bowles as a dirt road! |
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Posted: 10/16/2015 11:31:15 PM EDT
[#30]
That is awesome.
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Posted: 10/17/2015 6:08:10 AM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Other than his pack, nothing special. It's the REI-brand 40-liter pack that I think they've discontinued. He hikes in running shoes because his feet are on the wide side and the selection of kids' boots is limited. One thing that he uses that he and all of his friends LOVES is this http://www.selkbagusa.com/5G-Kids.aspx Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Any chance you can list gear for your boy's setup? I am looking at trying to get my girls (7&10) out on the trail and have no idea where to start. Other than his pack, nothing special. It's the REI-brand 40-liter pack that I think they've discontinued. He hikes in running shoes because his feet are on the wide side and the selection of kids' boots is limited. One thing that he uses that he and all of his friends LOVES is this http://www.selkbagusa.com/5G-Kids.aspx Whoa, that looks perfect for deer stand as well. Thanks man |
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Posted: 10/17/2015 1:39:18 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Whoa, that looks perfect for deer stand as well. Thanks man Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Any chance you can list gear for your boy's setup? I am looking at trying to get my girls (7&10) out on the trail and have no idea where to start. Other than his pack, nothing special. It's the REI-brand 40-liter pack that I think they've discontinued. He hikes in running shoes because his feet are on the wide side and the selection of kids' boots is limited. One thing that he uses that he and all of his friends LOVES is this http://www.selkbagusa.com/5G-Kids.aspx Whoa, that looks perfect for deer stand as well. Thanks man It's pretty noisy... Might bet better in a blind. |
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Posted: 10/17/2015 7:53:36 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
It's pretty noisy... Might bet better in a blind. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Any chance you can list gear for your boy's setup? I am looking at trying to get my girls (7&10) out on the trail and have no idea where to start. Other than his pack, nothing special. It's the REI-brand 40-liter pack that I think they've discontinued. He hikes in running shoes because his feet are on the wide side and the selection of kids' boots is limited. One thing that he uses that he and all of his friends LOVES is this http://www.selkbagusa.com/5G-Kids.aspx Whoa, that looks perfect for deer stand as well. Thanks man It's pretty noisy... Might bet better in a blind. Noted |
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Posted: 10/18/2015 8:44:10 AM EDT
[#34]
Way to go man!
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Posted: 10/18/2015 3:21:50 PM EDT
[#35]
I'm envious. I can smell it. I have a place near Tarryall that I don't get to visit that often anymore, but it calls to me. The Lost Creek Wilderness terrain looks similar. Good times.
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Posted: 10/18/2015 3:23:10 PM EDT
[#36]
some amazing pictures!
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Posted: 10/18/2015 3:25:10 PM EDT
[#37]
Very cool. My youngest is 21 and still loves to hit some trail with me.
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Posted: 10/18/2015 3:30:47 PM EDT
[#38]
Neat trip. Any elk sign?
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Posted: 10/18/2015 3:46:39 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Neat trip. Any elk sign? Saw one pile of droppings just off the trail... Not particularly fresh |
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Posted: 10/18/2015 3:59:23 PM EDT
[#40]
Thank you kind sir!
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Posted: 10/18/2015 4:02:08 PM EDT
[#41]
Great stuff!
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Posted: 10/18/2015 4:17:25 PM EDT
[#42]
how long was the hike
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Posted: 10/18/2015 4:36:26 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
how long was the hike 4.3 actual miles covered from the trailhead to our campsite, per my GPS |
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Posted: 10/18/2015 6:42:58 PM EDT
[#44]
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Posted: 10/18/2015 7:52:47 PM EDT
[#45]
Great pictures!
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Posted: 10/18/2015 8:12:30 PM EDT
[#46]
Thanks for the pictures! I was in Scouting in Wyoming and Colorado as a youth. Perhaps I missed it, were you packing firearms or spray for wolves or other wildlife?
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Posted: 10/18/2015 8:24:44 PM EDT
[#47]
How old is your son? With respect to my son, this summer is the first time that I actually thought "he's about ready for a hike".
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Posted: 10/18/2015 8:29:46 PM EDT
[#48]
Great photos! Very nice.
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Posted: 10/18/2015 8:41:40 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Thanks for the pictures! I was in Scouting in Wyoming and Colorado as a youth. Perhaps I missed it, were you packing firearms or spray for wolves or other wildlife? S&W 386 PD |
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Posted: 10/18/2015 8:46:44 PM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
How old is your son? With respect to my son, this summer is the first time that I actually thought "he's about ready for a hike". Turned 9 in August, but he's pretty mature for his age as the arfcommers that have met him will attest to. We've done multiple-night trips before, and hiked before, but this was the first time we combined multiple nights along with hiking. |
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