Lulu City Loop, RMNP, CO June 7, 2009

The question was, where to go? June 7 is normally too early for hiking up anywhere close to timberline. And this year is even snowier than what we have been having lately (supposedly our " ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:15:43 -0700

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
The question was, where to go? June 7 is normally too early for hiking up anywhere close to timberline. And this year is even snowier than what we have been having lately (supposedly our " ...

Will and I were able to coordinate our work schedule to allow for us to take a hike together on Sunday, June 7. Quite an, ummm, interesting hike. One could even use the work "epic" : )

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:43:44 -0700

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Will and I were able to coordinate our work schedule to allow for us to take a hike together on Sunday, June 7. Quite an, ummm, interesting hike. One could even use the work "epic" : )

We got to the trailhead relatively early. Although cool, the sky was mostly sunny. It was a little breezy. Not too many people seemed to be using the trail. We took a quick "pre-hike" vi ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:45:34 -0700

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
We got to the trailhead relatively early. Although cool, the sky was mostly sunny. It was a little breezy. Not too many people seemed to be using the trail. We took a quick "pre-hike" vi ...

With that out of the way, we took off.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:50:15 -0700

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
With that out of the way, we took off.

One thing that was immediately apparent was how "green" everything was. The bushes and aspens were just getting their leaves and had that glowing greenery that you only see in the late spri ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:53:01 -0700

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
One thing that was immediately apparent was how "green" everything was. The bushes and aspens were just getting their leaves and had that glowing greenery that you only see in the late spri ...

Once pass the initial half mile or so, the trail comes back to tracking close to the Colorado River itself. Just to be sure everyone is on the same page, yes, this is the same Colorado Rive ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:55:25 -0700

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Once pass the initial half mile or so, the trail comes back to tracking close to the Colorado River itself. Just to be sure everyone is on the same page, yes, this is the same Colorado Rive ...

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:59:17 -0700

Lulu City Loop, RMNP, CO June 7, 2009

The question was, where to go? June 7 is normally too early for hiking up anywhere close to timberline. And this year is even snowier than what we have been having lately (supposedly our " ...

Will and I were able to coordinate our work schedule to allow for us to take a hike together on Sunday, June 7. Quite an, ummm, interesting hike. One could even use the work "epic" : )

We got to the trailhead relatively early. Although cool, the sky was mostly sunny. It was a little breezy. Not too many people seemed to be using the trail. We took a quick "pre-hike" vi ...

With that out of the way, we took off.

One thing that was immediately apparent was how "green" everything was. The bushes and aspens were just getting their leaves and had that glowing greenery that you only see in the late spri ...

Once pass the initial half mile or so, the trail comes back to tracking close to the Colorado River itself. Just to be sure everyone is on the same page, yes, this is the same Colorado Rive ...

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

As can be seen, the first couple of miles of the trail are relatively flat. It crosses through a lot of small meadows. Quite a bit of the time you can hear, but not see, the river off to t ...

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Once you get a mile or less up the trail, you can begin to see the mountains in the distance.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Being RMNP, there are always plenty of elk around. At this time of the year the elk are even more evident than during the mid and late summer as they are unable to get up into the high coun ...

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

We move on. As per normal during the early season of hiking, water is everywhere.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

But in general, the trail, and the day, is almost idyllic. Almost too good to be true. Hmmmm.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

There are some aspen that are just leafing out. Pale pale green.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

The mountains were starting to close in on the river valley. Still some meadows, but not as big as when we started the hike.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Tall mountains in the distance.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

New leaves on the aspens.

Some rather bright moss (fungi?) on the rocks.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

This marmot was gathering grass for its den. It actually ran right past (within a couple of feet) Will as it crossed the trail. Kinda gave us a glance, but mostly just ignored us. I was s ...

Like I said earlier, water everywhere. We were treated to a lively chorus of frogs as we went past this small pond.

Well, ok, just a couple of small patches of snow. Nothing to be worried about.

Really, dad. This trail is a piece of cake.

In another week or two, that meadow will be carpeted with wild flowers. For now, the grass is just turning green.

Shipler cabins. Well, used to be cabins.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Most of the trail was clear of downed trees. But, we did climb through a few.

Also, the clouds were beginning to get a little darker.

And then, it started snowing. Somewhat surprising. But, hey. You have to expect this kind of weather in the mountains. Particularly early summer. So, we put on our ponchos and went forw ...

Will heading off into the trees.

Shot of the distant mountains in the snow.

And then, the snow stopped. So, parkas off. At about the same time, we reached Lulu "city". Or, it's remains.

There were a few old remains of some small cabins. Really not much to see. Looking at the sign, it doesn't look like it ever got too big.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Will and I had decided that we would reach Lulu City and then make a final decision on where to hike. We could continue up the Colorado River to what was called "Little Yellowstone" and "La ...

I talked to a man I met on another hike a few weeks later. He was mentioning a mining scam that had bilked thousands of people out of money (lots of money) back in the 1800s. He thought Lu ...

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

The weather continued to be sunny and the views were quite nice.

After a short hike, we crossed the Colorado River. Quite a bit smaller here than in Moab : )

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

We reached a fork in the trail. It was time for a final decision. Note the sunshine and bare ground, please.

Should we hike to the Little Yellowstone, and then back down to the car via the same trail we had come up? Or, up to Grand Ditch and a loop back to our car? We decided on the loop. Note t ...

And then, we hit snow. Both in the air and on the ground. We ended up hiking on snow, solid drifts of snow without any ground unlike what you see above, for half a mile or more. Uphill.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

But, we eventually reached an area that was a little confusing at first. Picked the wrong way to go and ended up at a camping spot.

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Turned around and found the real trail to the "ditch". Now, let's talk about the ditch. So, as far as I knew (not that I'd ever looked into it) the ditch was some old thing that had been u ...

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

Nope. Not dry. And not small. And the trail was in very good shape. For a road. So, I finally put 2 and 2 together and came up with something close to 4. This "ditch" actually runs alon ...

Yep. It takes this PACIFIC watershed water and routes it over the continental divide. Again. OVER the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, and into the ATLANTIC (by way of the Gulf of Mexico) watershed. ...

So, we headed on down the road looking for a sign that would indicate the trail that headed back down to the Colorado River. This road did allow for some good views of the mountains to the ...

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)'s photo

And, some of the mountains to the west. Note that there were a number of trails that took off into the canyons to the west. Including Thunder Pass. We never did see anyone else on the roa ...