Last year, a few people expressed interest in some kind of ride with a hike involved - this then is such a semi-unoffical ride/hike.

It's about a 45 minute drive from Copper, and offers a nice hike along a scenic high-mountain lake. The trail itself starts from a fairly high altitude (almost 11,000 feet) so you'll get to see something a little different than you might be used to (and probably have to move slower as a result). The start of the hike, for example, looks like this:

http://kigiphoto.smugmug.com/gallery...8232#180808232


(the true lake is beyond the dam above that smaller lake)

The idea is you can do as much or as little walking as you want - we park within 1 quarter mile of the lake where it's just a short walk up the road to see the lake and mountains around it, people could walk to that area and look around and turn back if they liked. Beyond that I was going to hike along the edge of the lake (on a well-maintained trail) and up to some high mountain ponds, which hopefully should still have a good array of wildflowers. That will probably take an hour or two to reach, and then I was going to turn around though the truly adventurous may go further still...

If you come, wear good shoes, you'll probably have to cross small streams. Also don't forget water, and to wear a hat and sunblock! At that altitude the sun is unforgiving.

The idea would be to meet around 6:00am Saturday morning and depart Copper by about 6:15am or so, and park at the trailhead about 7:00am. People could wander up a bit later, or even some other day if they liked - all the information you need to get going is here including a link to a map to the trailhead at the end of this post.

Note that to reach the trailhead from the main road, there is about two miles (one way) of dirt road - in parts very rough (washboard) though not the whole way and with almost no potholes or rocks, so it's only your suspension that may take a beating instead of your undercarriage. And example of some of the worst wash board looks like this:

http://kigiphoto.smugmug.com/gallery...8232#180808804


The map from Copper to the trailhead is helpfully illustrated by Google. Note the turn from the paved road occurs just as the road goes through a long U-turn to ascend up a pass, and is marked by a small blue sign that reads "Blue Lakes Rd", don't be confused by earlier signs for the Blue River:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...2462&z=12&om=1

Let me know if anyone is interested, or has other questions.

---> Kendall

 

That is some beautiful looking country. I can't WAIT to see Colorado!!!!

But what you are proposing, in a wonderfully packaged "box", with a bow on top, sounds, to me, suspiciously like exercise! :impatient

 

WOW it is beautifull and what a way to start a day. A beautifull hike in the mountaind.

teresa

 

Kendal,

I'm glad to see more rigorous options offered.

See you at MITM

 

wish we could go but we're doing Mt Evans the night before and trying to hike at 11k ft on 3 hours of sleep would be a bit rough hehe

 

^^What he said. Plus I'm coming from ~800'. I plan on hiking in RMNP next week after I'm acclimated a bit more. Otherwise I'd love to do that hike.

 

LOL, it truly takes about 6 weeks to fully acclimate.

That is a beautiful hike, only wish I was there that morning to join you, but I will be just getting home from work and heading to bed

 

Well, the hike is a little like exercise, but if you just want to look at the lake it's hardly any work at all! And you can wander down by the shore where it is still flat, and I think there will still be many flowers...

Also, I know what you mean about Evans - I am going to go Saturday night, so that should be a long day!

Sorry for those that can't make it. That works out to the best time for me to go, as I was going to try and lead one of the more offical drives Friday morning. As I said though, if you're wanting to do it some other time you could do so - perhaps write up a time you want to go on the ride board and see if anyone else joins you. I'll print up a few map sheets to have around in case anyone wants to go at a different time and doesn't remember where it was.

I'll also write up the Staurday Morning drive on the ride sheet so others than might miss this post can come.

 

Uhh I'm hoping you're planning to do this one on your own dave, cuz I don't get up at 6am on a Saturday to go for a hike (technically that would be 5am PST given that we're from CA) when I'm on vacation. :impatient

and I agree with Tig.. it looks pretty, but it also sounds like "exercise."

 

A quick poll - would more people be able/willing to do this if I have it Friday morning, perhaps leaving a bit later (7:30am?)

Does anyone want to keep the Saturday time with teh horribly early start?

 

Friday still wouldn't work for us because we already planned on a bike ride from Copper to Frisco.

We'll have to catch this hike next year when we won't be doing the Mt. Evans ride the night before hehe.

 

Well, I think I'll stick with the Saturday morning hike and time then. Hopefully someone can make it...

 

Count me in i will have to drive in from frisco. so i may look like the bride of frankstine after being up half the night but i can take a nap latter in the day and that is what hats are for.

 

Great! We'll start from the top of the Copper parking garage, just like other rides...

 

Just a note, stil planning on doing this drive - I'll also write it up on the board later this afternoon in case anyone up here has not read NAM. Meet at 6:00am at the registration tent, leave around 6:15am. Even if you just want a pretty drive with a little walk around the edge of a lake, it's good for that as well as the longer hike I am thinking of...

From the Independance Pass ride I did today, I think there will still be a lot of flowers.