10 replies to this topic

[HighPlainsMedic]

After a week in Denver sitting in meetings and standing around the state capitol on Friday I was really ready for this one.. Barb had made reservations at Amberwood on Fall River Road, darn reasonable.. and we slept pretty good... well I did.. Barb was kind when I snored.. she didn't smack me.. We were up well before sunrise, and did not have a 4 hour drive to the trail head.. Used the pocket rocket to heat water to make tea and oatmeal. Coffee was in the room.. we were packed and out the door by 6:15. All we had to do was assemble and put the gear on in the dark.


It was quiet, no one else in the parking lot except for Barb and I. We headed up the trail


Usually we see the sunrise in our rear view mirror.. Yesterday we experienced it from the trail.


Looking foward.


I love the moon shots when my 24 Oz.. framing hammer of a camera can capture it..


The usual views of Old Fall River Road are either from a moving car or at a turn out.. I saw vista's I had never known existed.



Most of the trip was in the trees.. We underestimated the snow on the road and decided to not take the snowshoes.. We have a tendency to 2nd guess and wind up regretting it.. Out of the 13 miles round trip we post holed probably 5 or 6. We had a goal to get to the meadows just about where the last set of switchbacks head up the north headwall towards Chapin pass.. We made that goal.. Maybe on some future trip we can head up the meadows.. just after the tree's in the forground and look upon the bowl below the AVC.. But on this day we had to head back..


I will post another trip report on some sights along the way.. a young moose who didn't make it.. downed trees with wind, the tremendous snow slide that kept the road closed for so long.. But for now.. enjoy,

Edited by HighPlainsMedic, 15 January 2012 - 10:44 AM.

[mistylady]

Great hike. I enjoy hiking on the roads we have driven.. A couple of years ago we were able to hike TRR from Rainbow Curve to the Ute trail in the snow. The views were amazing. When driving, you never get to really enjoy the beauty. How long did the hike take you? The weather looks great, but was the wind blowing very hard? How deep was the snow when you were post-holing? Looking forward to seeing your other pics.

[Scrapinator]

Great pics. Looks like it was a nice day

[HighPlainsMedic]

mistylady, on 15 January 2012 - 10:00 AM, said:

How long did the hike take you? The weather looks great, but was the wind blowing very hard? How deep was the snow when you were post-holing?

The gate is right at the west alluvial fan parking lot.. It's a mile from the gate to the start of FRR. we hit the trail around 6:50, ended right around 2:30, The snow drifts in spots were thigh deep on me.. I'm 6'-4". but most of the time they were knee deep. We walked on gravel some, hard pack some too.. The wind was blowing up high but in the tree's not so bad..

[Monica]

What a great idea to walk Fall River Road. That sounds like pretty deep snow!
Love the pictures.

[John]

Fascinating! I want to walk up and sled down!

[Becky J.]

I really enjoyed your pictures and commentary.
It is great to see the park in the snow.

Becky J.

[NWA395]

What a great picture and trip report

[B-Jay]

I enjoyed reading your trip report. I was wondering though... If you were in snow drifts thigh high and you're 6'4", was Barb almost buried in the snow?

B-Jay

[mwilson]

Sounds like a lot of fun, and you really got some nice pictures. Thanks!

[HighPlainsMedic]

B-Jay, on 16 January 2012 - 03:07 PM, said:

I enjoyed reading your trip report. I was wondering though... If you were in snow drifts thigh high and you're 6'4", was Barb almost buried in the snow?

B-Jay

No.. i play the part of snow plow lol. and the thigh deep drifts were few.. but sure did tax the incentive to go on at times..