Snowy Range

“The tentative date is Aug. 9-15. My girlfriend is going with me, big plus, that doesn't happen often. We plan on doing a little scrambling and light climbing, and havin' some snowball fights! YeeHaw!

Is anyone else here familiar with this part of Wyoming?”

“mnutz, you and I just keep going the same places!! (utah, remember??)

Drove through the scenic byway and ended up near Encampment. Took up some local's invite to visit his huge tent/fall hunting set-up (don't tell anyone he's camping on forest land for over the allowed 2 weeks or whatever it is!! You know, he does end up feeding those free-ranging cows grazing the forest, with hay by his corral)

Went to Mt. Blackhall, I think it is. It's a nice high point you can drive almost all the way to. And even nicer, that Snowy Range is little used. VERY LITTLE! Ran into forest service guys there at the old lookout tower and got to go in it. They said maybe one person/vehicle a day gets up there.

Saw virtually no one. Tried to drive from there to the North Park area of Colorado. Roads not well marked; got lost. Headed back west on a drive that apparently has some brochure somewhere to tell the mining history and just plain history in that area. Ended up at Commissary Park and hiked up the Encampment River for a bit. Seemed a very, very nice LITTLE USED area.

Then looped around Hog Park Reservoir and headed on grave/dirt road for at least a 2-hour drive toward Steamboat Springs.

It's nice. I don't know about climbing, though. Course, Blackhall had a few wicked faces to it.”

“M-nutz,
Your are gonna love it up there. My wife and I try to make the 2.5 hour drive from Denver at least once a year. Very uncrowded, and spectacular scenery. Very different lookin peaks from what I see down here in Colorado. Like they are made out of quartz. You'll see. We always stay in a campground on the west side of Snowy Range Pass, about 3-4 miles from the top. Only been on few trails, but they were nice. As soon as Photopoint is back up, I'll show you some pics. I did find this web site though:
http://www.jharp.net/snowy_range.htm
Just found it on the web tonight. I'm leaving for a week in SW Colorado tomorrow, and will try to send you more info when I get back. Take care, and have fun!
Brent”

“photoboy - thanks for the info, I checked out that site. It really is a beautiful area.

lizs - who's followin' who? LOL Maybe we'll be in the same place, at the same time, someday.”