Day Trip, Hiking/Wheeling Kingston Peak, CO, 14OCT06

[devinsixtyseven]

Sorry for the short notice, just an impromptu trip up Kingston Peak from Alice, that's Fall River Road off I70. We'll be driving up, stopping at the rock shelter for the view and pics, then continuing to either the Kingston Peak hiking trail or the lake hiking trail at the other end of the route. I've been up there twice and wanted to do the hiking, now seemed like a good time .

Weather looks great Saturday, clear and cold. No precipitation until Sunday early AM.

Probably getting out of town around 11AM, coming back through Central City area around dusk.

At the moment it's just myself and a buddy+wife in their dcab Tundra, it's a very easy trail that runs across 12000' altitude highlands and has like I mentioned a couple hiking trails.

C'mon if you're interested .

-Sean

 

[Bergger]

I wish I could but I've got military duty on Saturday. I was just up that way 2 days ago. I went out of Central City and Apex. I thought about doing Kingston from that end but since I was alone, have not done the trail before and there were a few snow flakes I decided against it. I just drove up Rollins Pass. The scenery is great up there, you should have an awesome time. Have fun.

 

[bigreen505]

Sorry, I was out on a shoot and just got back.

 

[devinsixtyseven]

good you guys didnt come with, it started to flurry while we were on top headed past the rock shelter. ceiling was dropping fast, and we were headed to the lake trailhead/apex exit, but the downhill to the lake trailhead was drifted in several places...long, 30-50ft drifts. i shouldve locked the hubs prior, it was extremely sketchy going down. our friends fortunately didnt start down after us, they were in a stock dcab tundra--we would have had a helluva time turning both trucks and i dont think he wouldve made the return climb on his tires.

we chose to turn rather than risk whiteout on the shady side, not to mention massive drifts. after my hubs were locked, i did make a turn and barely climbed the hill...wish i had the locker and gears under the truck, as i was losing momentum in the uppermost drift, and without 15# in 35" m/s tires i doubt i would have made it as the highest drift was under both sides of the truck, like driving in a luge track and about as slick. he almost did not make the return climb up the s-turn hill near the rock shelter.

obviously we did not get to hike, with a storm coming out of nowhere--weather was supposed to be nice, and it became increasingly not nice the longer we were up there.

we did get a pic or two from the rock shelter, i'll post 'em as soon as theyre off the camera.

perhaps something at lower altitude next weekend, like moab .

-sean