In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Grass Creek Yurt
22 December 2007 - 26 December 2007
Saturday: December 22, 2007
We’ve had a series of storms all week but today dawned bright and sunny. Perfect for the three hours drive to the Colorado State Forest in Gould. We left Lyons at 8:50 or so. Arrived at the Ranger Station in Gould around noon. The road heading up to the summit of Cameron Pass was somewhat snow-covered but did not seem slick but by no means did we rush along. We bought an annual pass at the Ranger’s Station then headed to the trailhead. A month ago we were joking about being able to drive all the way to the yurt. But, as it turns out, there is plenty of snow to ski in on and there is no way we can drive in further than the winter trailhead. We had already decided to do 2 hauls in – one for the food and one for clothes and other gear. As the last time we came to this hut, I haul in 2 sets of skis. Gary is hauling in the Dutch oven and charcoal. So for food, we had Dutch Oven dinners on the menu.
We can neither convince nor coerce anyone to come with us. We’ve talked about how we have slowed down in our old age. Many of our friends and acquaintances have done like-wise, though for others this trip is way too pedestrian. Plus it’s over the Christmas Holiday.
It trip is definitely me. It’s indoors with a wood stove for heat and propane for cooking. It is dark and the lighting is poor. So, there are some comforts but mostly it’s a rustic experience.
We got to the hut at just about 2 pm, so it took about 50 minutes for the first haul. Then back to the truck and back again in about 70 minutes. Unloaded. Got the stove going, turned on the propane and made lunch – quesadellas and home-made squash soup.
The hut is tucked into the trees on the west side of this valley. To the east are the peaks of the Continental Divide…and light with alpenglow at the moment. I should note that these are the peaks that border the Rawah Wilderness Area, one of our favorite backpacking destinations.
The thermometer on the outhouse hovers at about 8 degrees. They did say it would get much colder, at least until the next storm rolls in.
The biggest thing for me to note is that the work related stress of last year has subsided. Even the stress of owning a too big house has subsided. And, as far as work goes, there is not anyone that I work with that I find unduly stressful.
More later or tomorrow: It’s nice to be at peace with myself and the world around me.
Sunday: December 23, 2007
Took some pictures: Shot 1 and 2 is from just below the yurt, looking east. One is at fstop 16, one at 11; on the light meter, 11 was neutral, 16 was minus; but it seems like in the past, the snow reflects more light than usual. The third was at shutter speed 60 and fs 8. I took several more on today’s jaunt but did not keep track of them.
This is the first tour of this trip, and, actually the first tour of this season.
As a side-note, our first ski tour of the season has been the first or second weekend of November. But, this year, it was thanksgiving before we got enough snow to even think about skiing. Then, Gary got his wrist worked on and that involved nearly 4 weeks of recovery time. But, here we are.
Two years ago, when we came to this hut, we did a loop tour on roads that started just west of the hut, then turned south then east. We ended up the Grass Creek Valley a little ways, which we skied down to return to the hut.
Today, we started the same way, following the blue diamonds just west of the cabin. The blue diamonds quickly turn into a road going very gently up-hill. Before long, off to the right, is a spot that looks like it would fun to ski down thru but it definitely does not have enough pitch for the amount of new snow we currently have. We continue on, past the left hand turn off we took last time.
Before long, there is another road to the left. This one climbs steeply uphill. We turn and start up, saving the road ahead for another time. It’s a steep climb but we’re so over-waxed that it’s not a problem. Up and up we go, over and around a few downed trees. The sun peeks out now and then, so we try to get a photo in.
We continue up. There is another branch to the left, going downhill. We continue uphill to the right, which, now is not nearly as steep. Before long, we’re in an old clear-cut, which, judging from the size of the new trees, is probably 10 –15 years old. The road appears to end here. We scout at the edges and decide the forest at the bottom of the clear-cut is thin enough, the terrain low-angle enough and there is enough snow that we can proceed down-hill. We proceed down-hill and soon enough spy another clearing which we continue to cross. Now what – right or left or straight? We choose left, as it seems that the trees are thinnest in that direction. I ski to the bottom of the cut and spy what appears to be a road. On closer inspection, we see it is a road and there are tracks. But whose tracks? At this point, we not really quite sure where we are though it seems like we are not far above the Grass Creek Meadow far enough to still be above the hut. I about a minute we pass the first cutoff and before long we are back at the hut.
This was a nice tour. We broke trail the whole way. There is too much snow for skiing.
Monday: December 24, 2007
Our outing today was to Laury’s Run. This is a very cool moderate tele run about a mile or so from the cabin. Take the trail west of the hut. There is a turn-off on the left, not far from the start that goes downhill. By pass this and continue to the next left, which is somewhat uphill but not very steep. Before too long, you will pass an open cut area on your left. Make note of it as we will come back to it later. Continue on. The road continues at a slight uphill but mostly just continues around. After a mile or so, the trees open up and there is a clear cut both above and below the road. Climb steeply up the right side of the cut – or continue on the road and cross it – and climb steeply up the left side. It took us about 20 minutes or so to get to the top. But it’s well worth the effort. Stop at a knoll at the top. Take off the skins and head straight down hill. The steepness is only moderate, so finally I am able to point those skis straight down hill and get in a number of linked turns. We stop at the road. I consider continuing down to the bottom – seems like I have done that before – but decide to take the road back. At the top of that first clearing we crossed coming in, we can see the trail leading in to the hut. I decide to investigate, not knowing where it comes out but knowing I will not be far from the hut. It turns out to be another gentle downhill, sprinkled with trees but they are placed just so I can plan a turn around them. Toward the bottom, I go right as the trees look a bit thick on the left. I end up on another road, which I expect is that very first road that I did not take. I look thru the trees then spy the cabin, and radio Gary. Before long, I see him thru the trees approaching the cabin. A nice jaunt.
Now, back to the cabin and ‘Water For Elephants’. I think if I write a book, it won’t be about death and betrayal.