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Map of Elk Trail, Routt National Forest, Colorado
By PK | July 31, 2008
First, I’d like to recommend reading, Hiking on an Elk Trail, the beginning of this series.
Continuing…
I decided to show everyone the mountain where we traveled on the Elk trail. The total length of the hike wasn’t but four miles, but they were the most grueling four miles I’ve ever hiked. We began on the left and traveled across the ridge of this mountain to THE valley, where Dalton seen ONE bull Elk. So, our search began for this ONE bull elk and lasted 6 hours! I wasn’t able to photograph the whole mountain as you’ll understand in the last picture, but hiking up to the trail, which we found by chance, there wasn’t a trail, just brush and tall grasses. The dip we took along the ridge line was a gulley where we ran across several more trails. It was very cool with a slight breeze, but because of all the fallen timbers and rocks unsuitable for a good resting spot for elk.
Thinking back to Sunday when this hike occurred, and after my feet no longer ache beyond belief, I realize how unique this backpacking experience was. After all, it’s not your average hike for a 50 something couple, nor is it a type of hike typical of hikers. (Blah! What a mouthful there.) Latter thoughts that also ran through my mind is that not very many individuals actually stood where I was and took those pictures. More than likely quite a few hunters have probably been to that spot, but how many actually stopped to view the scenery and take a picture? I would imagine none.
THE valley where Dalton seen ONE bull elk he just had to track down for a second look. The spot indicated is where we sat under a large pine, removed our boots, and had a snack watching for any further signs of wildlife, of which I previously wrote ‘there were NONE’.
One thing that prompted me to write this second part of hiking an elk trail, is I will never, ever, allow Dalton to map us in. Sorry, Dalton… He may have a GPS and can locate mountains, roads, and lakes, but I’m the researcher, the geek on the computer who uses and analyzes every bit of data I can get my hands on.
Thank you Google Earth! Without you I never would have found THE road! Take a look at this map. We drove in from the west on 134 and parked where the black line starts off 134. The dark green, of course, is the mountain along which we hiked it’s ridge to THE valley. But wait, there’s a second lighter line. That is THE road I found yesterday going to THE valley with the help of Google Earth. I couldn’t believe it!! It backs up against the grove of aspens that we sat looking at on top the valley hill under a pine tree. We drove out there last evening, and checked it out. THE road is passable, rough, dirt, but driveable. Geeze….
Lesson Learned - ‘HE’ drives, ‘I’ navigate!
216.237.246.94
38.103.63.61
Stumble it!
Topics: Colorado, Hiking, Camping, Fishing,, Routt National Forest, Wildlife and Hunting |
