Colorado...

“Well then, we'll be renting a car or an SUV depending on the number of people. It will be myself and Troy for sure, and maybe one other person...we'll see if he buys a plane ticket in a month or so.”

“Any one plan on gettng there a day or 2 early?”

“Me and BigPoppa will leave early, not sure when we get there. Planning on climbing Mt. Sunflower...hehe...and see other odd attractions on our way to Colorado. We might be early, we might not be.

Oh, and I still did not receive my maps yet. ugh...
last edited: 1/11/13 5:20:48 AM”

“It sounds like we will have more then one car, so I am going to plan for a one way trip. If someone ( who remain nameless) would ever get their maps, we could get this done. Lol.”

“Looking at the maps , there are not any direct west to east trails. All the trails seem to go north to south. I don't know why I have it in my head to travel against the grain like that, but that is what I am doing. Bottom line, there most likely be some off trail stuff. I have some good aerials of this wilderness, so it all looks very doable and fun.”

“"so it all looks very doable and fun."

as last words that must rank right up there with "hey y'all watch this..."”

“My maps will be there Thursday... I know... It take forever. Jeez

Sincerely,
The one without a name”

“We need to reach out to the locals and see if there are any secret hot springs. There is a famous one in Ouray. So I am thinking, if there is one, then there should be another.”

“Due to the inherent problems with getting to JFK at a reasonable time after work on Friday, by the time I get to Denver and then drive to a trailhead it will probably be late afternoon Saturday.
I do have some plans for 14er's but after the trip plans are set I'd like to see if I could at least meet up for some part.”

“Are off trail sections really wise with a large group? Cause remember some may not be a fast as others especially at higher altitudes.”

“looking at a map... It'll take at least 2 more weeks until we come up with a detailed itinerary ...”

“Gem is correct, there is nothing written down yet. This area is tough to loop. No one will get lost. We will make sure everyone knows the route.

Pepsi, I think it will be easy for us to meet up some where on the trail in the first few days. We will see.”

“Where can I find the facebook page?”

“Hope this works for you...

http://www.facebook.com/events/421411567938874/?fref=ts”

“I think I have figured out a loop. This was a very tough one. Only two spots where we have to go off trail. There is just no way of doing this park without going off trail to do a loop. I am going to finish this on Saturday, Gem and I will disuss the pros and cons. Will post this week.”

“I finished loop, I need to run it by Gem and get her input when she gets back from her trip. sorry for the wait.”

“I need a contact information to a ranger in Uncompahgre wilderness area. I have tried three different emails and they all got kicked back to me saying they were not good emails. Please help be find find a ranger that can help me answer a few trail questions. forward info to [email protected]”

“I posted this question in a Colorado site that I frequent. Will let you know if anyone answers.”

“This district should cover Uncompahgre
Grand Valley Ranger District
Bill Edwards, District Ranger
2777 Crossroads Blvd, Suite 1
Grand Junction, CO 81506
970-242-8211

The facebook link does not work?”

“This looks like it may have some good resources also
http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo.html”

“Hi all I'm Roger. I went to CO last year and spent a little over a week near Beuna Vista at 10,000' in the Sawatch range at an old mining claim with a couple of cabins on it.

I did climb my first 14er.

I'm not sure if I can make this trip but I'm kinda keeping an eye on it and seeing what I can do. I been wanting to go back out there and do some backpacking instead of the dayhikes from a base like last year.

Also waiting to see the route and the difficulty. I live at 600' above sea level in Indiana and I get pretty winded at elevation.”

“Hey chance4272. I live at 35 ft above sea leevl and plan to get there 3 to 4 early and spend as much time as possible up high to help me out.”

“Yotaman, I thought you wrote, I am going to spend 3 to 4 days getting high. Lol. It is CO”

“Chance4272' thanks for the info. I will check it out.”

“I sent off another email. I will let you all know if I get a response.”

“LOL bigpoppa. Did you get my email?”

“Bigpoppa have you tried this email? frontdesk/[email protected]”

“I signed on as a maybe on FB. Hubby and I are seriously thinking of making this trip part of a 2 weeks in Colorado trip next summer. It's been years since I have checked out TT - Hi, y'all!”

“Hey pepperDog, hopefully yall can make it. It looks like I will be making this a 10 day trip myself. I plan on dayhiking for 2 to 4 days before the actually trip starts.”

“Hey peperdog!!! It would be so great I you could make it. It has been years. I am still on the road, will check details once I am situated.”

“http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripID=2076920&secretLinkKey;=a8dcbd44-5fc0-4983-847a-e12752b99629

Here is a link to Trimbleoutdoors.com This is the route that Gem and I mapped out. It covers all the hot spots. Places to fish, lots of waterfalls and great views. I sent Gem a word Doc so she can post all the trails, trail names and directions. There is a plan for all weekenders to meet up with us on the first night. Gem will post written route once she looks it over and makes sure I did not make any crazy mistakes.”

“Bridge trail day 1
Distance: 12.70 mi
We start out at Wedge Mine (Trl # 215) and hike east to Horsethief trl (#215). Pick up Saddle Trl (#140) and Camp at the intersection of Mary Alice Trl and Saddle Trl (#140 + #226)
Mary Jane Camp
For the Weekenders: Your Trail Head could be Matterhorn TH and you can meet up with us at this campsite.
Location: 38.038340, -107.518966

Bag 2 peaks Day 2 trail
Distance: 6.67 mi
We pick up Matterhorn Cuttoff trl (#245) and head north on Matterhorn Trl (#233)
For those who want to, we are going to pick up Wetterhorn Peak Trl (#256) and bag Wetterhorn and Matterhorn peaks. Alternatively, We can go off trail heading north and pick up trail # 142 then swing east, south and head on to our campsite. Just a thought.
We pick up the Ridge Stock Trl (#233) and follow that al the way to Uncompahgre Peak Trl (#239). On the map there is a spring directly east of Uncompahgre Peak. That is our next campsite.
Camp 2
Location: 38.038759, -107.477049
Uncompahgre peak Day 3 trail
Distance: 7.16 mi
We can get up early and go back and bag Uncompahgre Peak or go forward to our next campsite. We continue on Uncompahgre Peak Trl (#239) and head north on Big Blue Trail (#232) Our Campsite is Slide lake.
Slide camp 3
Location: 38.132970, -107.390971
read that there is great fishing here

Day 4 trail
Distance: 11.22 mi

We head north on same trail and then turn west on Failes Creek trl (#230) We then camp at the intersection of Failes Creek Trl and Fall Creek Trl (#231) Not a great campsite because of it being a Trail Head, but it will work for our loop.
Camp 4

Location: 38.190468, -107.423458
Day 5 trail a
Distance: 10.12 mi
We head South to where Falls Creek trl and Little Cimarron Trl meet (#229) Stay on Falll Creek Trl for a short time and then go off trail west to Silver Mountain until we get to Silver jack Mine. The aerial view looks like this is very easy. This is our next campsite.
Silver creek camp 5
Location: 38.100354, -107.476630
Day 6 Trail
Distance: 4.08 mi
We head south on East Fork Trl (# 228) and pick up Middle Fork Trl (#227) We head west and pick up CoxComp Trail (#132) I have this broken up because I had and another route to get us out, but it required two off trails and longer miles. So I stuck with the next trail .
Day 6a Trail
Distance: 9.09 mi
We start heading south on Coxcomb Trl (#132) and then pick up Middle Canyon Trl (#136) to where it hits Saddle Trl ((#140), we will merge with Ridge Stock Driveway (#233) and our last campsite will be at American lake.
camp 6 a
Location: 38.003569, -107.563448

Day 7 Trail
Distance: 8.00 mi
this is last day should be an easy hike out back to our cars. The end.


Link to our route.
http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripID=2076920&secretLinkKey;=a8dcbd44-5fc0-4983-847a-e12752b99629”

“Good looking route but I do have question. The first day looks like a long one. Will we be driving to Ouray on Friday or on Saturday? Since it takes about 5 1/2 hours to get there, would it be smart to get there on Friday and then start hiking saturday morning?”

“Everyone will be responsible to be t the trail head on Saturday morning. If there is a problem with their own itinerary, then the should consider starting at Matterhorn trail head and meeting us at first campsite. Everyone can still do whole route and still exit to Matterhorn with any problems. Anyone who chooses that option is missing the bridge of heaven which is the whole point of starting there.”

“Everyone will be responsible to be t the trail head on Saturday morning. If there is a problem with their own itinerary, then the should consider starting at Matterhorn trail head and meeting us at first campsite. Everyone can still do whole route and still exit to Matterhorn with any problems. Anyone who chooses that option is missing the bridge of heaven which is the whole point of starting there.”

“what he said.
oh, and the bridge is going to be awesome!”

“OK, what time Saturday morning? And does anyone know of a campground nearby?
last edited: 1/22/13 2:19:02 PM”

“Well, it's in August...so we still have a lot of time to figure out a specific time...BUT let's say we meet at 7:49AM.”

“Awww why not 7:52am?”

“Ok, you convinced me... 7:53AM
I am never late... ever!!!”

“Yay, that way I can sleep in abit. Thanks gem. :)”

“I doubt that we could get there before 7:54...”

“Lol ok... Last time change. 7:54 it is! Final!!”

“Pepperdog is in on this trip?! Wow....How far is it to CO from CA? =o)”

“Sandy... Did you ask the question yet?? You have to go!!!”

“I'll say as someone who spent a couple of nights on Matterhorn Ck. I don't know anybody who hikes 13 miles of alpine ridge and climbs two of the tougher mountains in the state the next day.



You guys will have a great time if you keep smiling and stay flexible. Still jealous.”

“The peaks are optional. If a person is up to bagging the peaks, then follow me. If not, continue on to the next campsite. We are not changing altitude a whole lot. We start out at 9400 and go up to 12200 over a course of two miles. That is gradual in my world. Then we stay at 12000 changing only a few hundred feet the rest of the day. Does not look hard.”

“Does not look hard.”
bigpoppa
THAT WHAT SHE SAID!”

“http://www.summitpost.org/backpacking-the-uncompahgre-wilderness-area/649614

Poor kids, 6 lb tents and no tarps..lol.”

“...still jealous.”