Colorado Trail to Guller Creek

This hike began on the ski slopes of Copper Mountain Resort.  "We hiked across a few ski slopes before ascending to the Colorado Trail (CT)," according to Mary Kay Ryan, a High Country Hiker core member.

View from trail of Copper Mountain Resort as the hiking day begins.

The gradual increase in elevation keeps everybody happy.

"The trail was busy," Ryan added.  The group of 13 soon would meet a thru-hiker named Blake, who was hiking the entire 500 mi. CT from Denver to Durango.  "Later we met a couple also headed for Durango, plus two young women who started in Mexico.  Their goal was to reach Canada by mid-September," Mary Kay told us.

Hike leader, Ed Blum talks with a trail crew member.

"Later in the day, there was a unique opportunity to meet members of two volunteer trail crews.  They were loading rocks into buckets, clearing debris and building a trail bridge," Ryan explained.

We wanted to get an update on the progress this crew made since Tuesday.  So about 11:00 a,m, on Friday, three days after the HCH last talked to the crew, we called Steve Stadler, one of two Crew Leaders assigned to the Guller Creek Project.  Stadler answered our call from the Guller Creek work site.  When asked to describe the current status of the project, Stadler said, "We finished the bridge twenty minutes ago.  We are now working on access ramps on the east and west side of the bridge.  Next, we will be tearing out the pedestrian crossing and rebuilding it into an equestrian crossing.

After explaining the reason for our call...his comments would appear in "The Hiker" blog...Stadler asked for contact information about the blog.  "I will pass the blog address on to the Colorado Trail staff," he added.  

A long and relaxing lunch in a meadow.

A well-built beaver pond.

According to the CT web site, this crew is working together for one full week.  Crew members camp at Copper Mountain Ski Area, then walk a mile each morning to the work site at Guller Creek.

A section of the CT was rerouted above the resort in 2002.  It crosses several ski runs, travels under chairlifts, drops near the village then winds down to meet the older part of the CT near the confluence of Jacque Creek and Guller Creek.  Ryan noted, "We expressed our appreciation for their hard work," referring to crew members.

Can that downed tree be trusted to hold everybody?

Canopy provided intermittent shade throughout the 6.6-mile trek.  On the day, there was approximately 900' of elevation gain.  Ryan said, "The views were gorgeous."  John Tedrick agreed, saying, "The views were phenomenal."

Lunch break was nice and relaxing by several beaver ponds.  Tedrick added, "The beaver ponds held small brook trout.  They appeared to be holding in riffles waiting for a snack to come floating by."

HCH members pose for the camera.

An experienced hiker and backpacker, Tedrick noted "The hiking was very good.  The trail was in good shape." John also observed, "When crossing the ski runs, small bits of trash (bits of velcro, water bottle tops, broken pieces of bindings, bottle caps) dropped by skiers and boarders during the ski season.

Referring to the overall experience, Mary Kay told us "A stop for ice cream at Annie's in Frisco, brought another beautiful day in good company," to an end.  

Authors Note:  Thanks to Mary Kay Ryan and John Tedrick for providing both general information and personal observations from the day.  Kudos to John and Mary Kay as well for capturing many of the extraordinary landscapes and the people who make every hike with the High Country Hikers a joy.

Our thanks as well to Colorado Trail Volunteer Crew Leader John Stadler for giving us an on the spot update of the Guller Creek Project.