Continental Divide wandering.

roverrocks

Expedition Leader
On July 30, the wife and I wheeled up to and along a small part of the Colorado Trail/Continental Divide Trail open to four wheeling near Lake City, CO. Terrific views in all directions on a day that got stormier and stormier as the high peaks and forests disappeared in and out of dark rain. Alpine wildflowers were in abundance though starting to decline a bit as the peak has passed. Great views down below of Lake City, Lake San Cristobal, and the Slumgullion Slide that formed the lake. A number of fourteeners were in view to the west that we used to hike in our younger, more vibrant days. Earlier in the day we hiked up American Basin just below Handies Peak but decided the oomph just wasn't there to get to the top. Doesn't get much better than the wildflower heaven that is American Basin. Too many people there though. The alpine trails and views we wheeled up to get to the Continental Divide south of Lake City were virtually deserted however. Isolation is bliss.
 

Attachments

  • American Basin sunshine.JPG
    American Basin sunshine.JPG
    1.1 MB · Views: 20
  • American Basin Colorado Columbine.JPG
    American Basin Colorado Columbine.JPG
    1.2 MB · Views: 14
  • American Basin sunshine .JPG
    American Basin sunshine .JPG
    1.2 MB · Views: 19
  • A beautiful Penstemon plus red King's Crown, white bistort, and Green Bluebells.JPG
    A beautiful Penstemon plus red King's Crown, white bistort, and Green Bluebells.JPG
    1.2 MB · Views: 9
  • Hordes of Colorado Columbine amongst paintbrush, alpine avens, bistort, etc.JPG
    Hordes of Colorado Columbine amongst paintbrush, alpine avens, bistort, etc.JPG
    1.5 MB · Views: 9
  • Distant Wetterhorn,Coxcomb,Matterhorn, and Uncompahgre Peaks behind Red Mountain from near Lake .JPG
    Distant Wetterhorn,Coxcomb,Matterhorn, and Uncompahgre Peaks behind Red Mountain from near Lake .JPG
    721.2 KB · Views: 14
  • Distant 13'ers east of Spring Creek Pass from the Continental Divide south of lake City, CO.JPG
    Distant 13'ers east of Spring Creek Pass from the Continental Divide south of lake City, CO.JPG
    883.8 KB · Views: 16
  • Distant Rio Grande Pyramid at 13,821ft thru the rain.JPG
    Distant Rio Grande Pyramid at 13,821ft thru the rain.JPG
    714.2 KB · Views: 12
  • Distant Bristol Head at 12,706 ft with Santa Maria Reservoir below.JPG
    Distant Bristol Head at 12,706 ft with Santa Maria Reservoir below.JPG
    975.6 KB · Views: 14
  • Distant Bristol Head Peak near Creede.JPG
    Distant Bristol Head Peak near Creede.JPG
    829.8 KB · Views: 27

roverrocks

Expedition Leader
More pictures
 

Attachments

  • Alpine Praire Smoke on the tundra.JPG
    Alpine Praire Smoke on the tundra.JPG
    1.1 MB · Views: 6
  • An American Basin thistle in bloom..JPG
    An American Basin thistle in bloom..JPG
    1.6 MB · Views: 5
  • An alpine Goldenweed .JPG
    An alpine Goldenweed .JPG
    1.2 MB · Views: 5
  • An alpine tundra Senecio species about to blossom.JPG
    An alpine tundra Senecio species about to blossom.JPG
    1.1 MB · Views: 3
  • A bright red Wyoming Paintbrush parasitizing a shrubby subalpine willow .JPG
    A bright red Wyoming Paintbrush parasitizing a shrubby subalpine willow .JPG
    1.4 MB · Views: 4
  • Lake San Cristobal and Lake City from the Continental Divide.JPG
    Lake San Cristobal and Lake City from the Continental Divide.JPG
    853.6 KB · Views: 8
  • Parked on the Continental Divide at the end of the trail near Lake City, CO.JPG
    Parked on the Continental Divide at the end of the trail near Lake City, CO.JPG
    985.1 KB · Views: 8
  • New Engleman Spruce cones and vegetation along the Continental Divide.JPG
    New Engleman Spruce cones and vegetation along the Continental Divide.JPG
    1.8 MB · Views: 4
  • Hymenoxys grandiflora and distant Uncompahgre Peak from near Lake City.JPG
    Hymenoxys grandiflora and distant Uncompahgre Peak from near Lake City.JPG
    738.3 KB · Views: 4
  • Sunshine Peak 14,001 ft and Redcloud Peak 14,034 above my wife's head west of the Continental Di.JPG
    Sunshine Peak 14,001 ft and Redcloud Peak 14,034 above my wife's head west of the Continental Di.JPG
    716.1 KB · Views: 8

roverrocks

Expedition Leader
more pictures
 

Attachments

  • The Continental Divide near Lake City, CO.JPG
    The Continental Divide near Lake City, CO.JPG
    1 MB · Views: 7
  • Whipple's Penstemon high on the alpine tundra along the Continental Divide.JPG
    Whipple's Penstemon high on the alpine tundra along the Continental Divide.JPG
    1.1 MB · Views: 4
  • Western yellow paintbrush on the alpine tundra.JPG
    Western yellow paintbrush on the alpine tundra.JPG
    1.5 MB · Views: 4
  • Wheeling along the stormy Continental Divide near Lake City, CO.JPG
    Wheeling along the stormy Continental Divide near Lake City, CO.JPG
    724.7 KB · Views: 25
  • Distant Bristol Head at 12,706 ft with Santa Maria Reservoir below.JPG
    Distant Bristol Head at 12,706 ft with Santa Maria Reservoir below.JPG
    975.6 KB · Views: 6

Vermejo

Adventurer
Beautiful scenery and pics. This definitely gets me in the mood to head up that way. Thanks for sharing!
 

Kya

Adventurer
Beautiful! The wildflowers are going off......like firecrackers on the ground.
 

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