In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Sourdough Trail from Beaver Reservoir
26 August 2024
We wanted to do another hike in the high country today. Our first choice was Gem Lake. But RMNP is still requiring reservations and there were none available for today or any day this week.
In years past, we would cross-country ski on the Wapiti-Baptiste Trail which is accessed from a section of the Sourdough Trail where it crosses the road to Beaver Reservoir, so this is today’s destination.
I pick Gary up by 9:15 and we head up CO 7 to the peak-to-peak highway, south to CR 96, then west toward the Sourdough Trail.
We pass the spot where the trail crosses the road. I pull over and park. Gary is ready first and goes over to check out the information sign. I took a photo of Sawtooth shrouded in rain.
Turns out, we missed the parking area, so repark the car there.
Off we go, it’s 10:20. It starts to sprinkle but never rains hard and lasts less than 30 minutes. Today is the first day where we hiked that was not boiling hot!
The trail is immediately uphill! But levels out for a while then down again to the Beaver Bog Trailhead. The distance was only a mile, but it’s been 45 minutes since I started!
At the trailheads there are lots of aspens but otherwise is ponderosa pine. Very little ground cover which is typical of the Sourdough Trail.
For winter outings there is a road we use to reach the same spot as the snow is better along the road.
At 11:15, we do a radio check. Gary is nearly a mile ahead! I continue but it’s kicking my butt! Not surprising since it’s a steady uphill walk along a somewhat rough trail. I pass the turnoff for Wapiti-Baptiste but had already decided that the full loop was a bit longer than I had anticipated.
We do a radio check at 11:15. Gary is ready to head back. I think about continuing but am pretty pooped I have a snack then start back.
Once I started back, I passed along an overlook and could see a small lake with buildings. I have no idea where that lake is. It seems too small to be Beaver Reservoir and in the wrong direction.
At our 12:15 radio check, Gary mentions he is at the Wapiti Junction which I just passed.
We catch up back at the Beaver Bog Trailhead and are back at the car around 2:30. About 5 miles round trip, a nice outing.