Posted: 11/11/2008 6:13:34 AM EDT
(looking NNW from 12k, upper Cow Creek drainage, Pt 12,148 (fin) upper left, center) Roughly the last two weeks in June, assuming normal snowmelt, maybe as late as the first two weeks in July if need be. Been looking to punch into a valley that probably nobody's ever been in before. Wetterhorn/Cow Creek topo No rope this time out, just more recon. Will spend about half the time at the end of the Cow Creek road, NW edge of map, about 8500', car camping with dayhikes or maybe an overnight, working upstream to see if the creekbed will allow for mule or burro gear transport. If a miracle occurs and we can get up to the junction of Cow Creek, Wildhorse Creek, and Wetterhorn Creek, I'd like to get some soil samples from each, maybe an overnight there. Options for the rest of the time include Wetterhorn Peak, (been up once would go again), Sneffels, (C3 south ridge looks fun) Ouray, Silverton, Lake City, possibly a gold bar hunt near Timber Ridge east of Silverton and Stony Pass. Open to other suggestions. I'll be driving across I-70, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, or east CO there's room for riders, we split gas, or we could just meet up in one of the three Alpine Loop towns. Jeep Liberty, PT 4WD, armor, etc, plus I have all necessary gear, kitchens, tents, bags and pads, packs, etc., except personal. I'm old and slow, take lots of pictures, this is a vacation, not a tri-athalon. First symptom of altitude sickness is irritation, you need to see that coming and be able to avoid most of it, otherwise, any experience level, short of "city-dwelling-fool" is welcome. If you can handle light fifth class rope work, or even 3-4 class scrambling, so much the better, but not necessary. First come, first served, this is an EASY trip into some of the prettiest, ruggedest, and arguably most difficult terrain in the continental US, lemme know. 
(looking NE from 13k on Bighorn Ridge, Pt 12,148 (fin) left, center) |
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It's a done deal. The only variable is the window between snowmelt and monsoon. If you want to lock in or choose tenative dates now, I'm okay with that, just pick them. If we get record snows, a late or early melt, well, we can work around it or adjust. Two straight weeks of no storms and no clouds if we time it right.
Pulled a 2L pop bottle full of gravel from the lower Cow Creek last trip out, and panned it at home. Too many fines to pick out, literally thousands of them. Kind of a pain as they were under this real heavy black sand at the bottom of the pan...shades of Leadville?? 
Anyway, that's why I want soil samples from above the creek junction. Somewhere up one of the four gorgeous feeder valleys is a big wall of white quartz... Hunting for treasure isn't the trip decider, just adds a little structure to it. Mostly looking at some quality time away from civilization. It IS a designated wilderness after all. ETA...there's a place on the main drag in Ouray that serves authentic Mexican, climber hangout...the food is calling me as I type this... |