A stop for java in Lyons, rejuvinated everyone before making the final approach to Wild Basin off CR 7, at Allenspark. Conditions in the parking lot provided us a taste of what to expect the rest of the day as strong winds whipped fresh snow across the lot while we cinched into shoes and day packs.
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| RMNP - Wild Basin Trail System. |
While securing shoe bindings for my wife, a gust of wind ripped one of my gloves from its thought-to-be-secure perch in a snowbank, carrying it across the parking lot. The handless glove was retrieved but not before it tumbled close to a fence row. Had I not caught it before it entered the forest, the day would have been uncomfortable if not painful. It was a sign of what we would be dealing with all day. Strong winds of 30 - 50 mph and gusts of 70 - 80 mph were expected in the park.
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| Ed and Jerry make their way down the access road to Finch Lake trailhead. |
The other element to contend with...snow. The park received almost 3 feet of snow over the past week. Another 2" is expected throughout the day. Another 4" is expected overnight and 2" more to follow on Saturday plus 6" more on Sunday. Total accumulation in the park to date this year is 75" and counting.
Conditions for snowshoeing...well, ideal.
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| Shoers maneuver over the wall of snow left by the big Cat. |
From the bus (8,300' el.), we took the snow covered access road about 1.4 mi. to the Finch Lake trailhead (8,500' el.). We would soon approach the spot where a park maintenance worker was removing the 3+ feet of snow from the roadbed with a front end loader. The driver paused as the group passed and climbed up and over the mound left by the big Cat. Snow depth would increase from a few inches on the roadbed to more than 3' for the remainder of the day.
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| Wind gusts harass us all day. |
We were pummeled again and again by harassing wind gusts. A few stopped momentarily to recinch a hood, adjust a pack, or tighten a snowshoe binding.
At one point, Amber found her core body temperature had reached its max and elected to shed a layer. One member was stopped by a hot spot in her boot that had progressed to a blister. An adjustment to socks and boot laces was the remedy.
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| Skylar informs the group, we are close to the Ranger Station. |
The landscape in RMNP today appeared much different from the last time I was on this trail, in August, 2007. It was actually my first hike since moving to Colorado.
I was hiking with the High Country Hiker group from Aurora that day. We went to Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades, in a mixture of sleet and driving rain that lasted all day. Trail conditions were horrendous. At the falls, the water was thrashing down over house-size boulders, as we huddled under tree branches while eating our soggy lunches. A memory that is embedded in my brain. Welcome to Colorado!
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| Shoers talk over lunch while sitting at a picnic table emersed in deep snow. |
Today, the elements Mother Nature had in store were different, yet as physically challenging as those six years ago. What conditions would you rather hike in...temperatures around freezing, with an overcast sky full of moisture, all of it dumped on you, or snow and a driving wind that coughs up bits of snow and smashes them into your face with unrelenting fervor?
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| Fellow HCH hikers Ed and Luisa. |
After a few brief stops to catch ones breath and take on water, we arrived at the Wild Basin ranger station. Snow had been falling throughout the morning. With snow levels well above 3 feet and growing, Skyler informed the group to find a spot that would provide protection, however limited, from the wind.
Some proceeded to the backside of a building, others cleared snow from a picnic table under a tree, still others found themselves using the trunk of a tree as the only protection from the menacing gusts.
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| Bridge overlooking ice and snow-covered Sandbeach Creek |
Amber walked from group to group of shoers asking if they were interested in continuing another .3 miles into Wild Basin to a falls. Looking to the sky, Longs Peak (14,255') to the north, and Mt. Alice (13,310') and Isolation Peak (13, 118'), in front of us appeared to be in near whiteout conditions, as we started for the falls.
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| Shoers enjoy the elements while on break. |
Gaining a bit more elevation in this area, caused everyone to concentrate more on trail conditions and stable footing than looking for a marker directing us to the falls. There was no marker indication of the falls after more than .3 miles, so we stopped and returned to the ranger station. Snow depth likely covered the marker.
Snow continued to fall as the wind, now at our backs would physicologically at least, give us the sense of maintaining a steady pace. I'm not certain that actually happened.
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| Who needs a coat...AAHHH youth! |
Back on the access road, the guy in the Cat had opened the entire 1.4 mi. distance to the parking lot. Thank you, thank you, I said over and over to myself as sight of the van came into view.
A few found the end of a long days trek to be tiring as they freed themselves from their shoes and pack. None would complain, however, about any aspect of a challenging but envigorating day snowshoeing in the backcountry.
Total Miles = 5.2
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