Lake City Local Activity

It's been a funny 5 weeks here in Lake City.  Funny by how we thought we would be so acclimated to the 9,000 plus feet elevation that we could do just about anything and not be affected.  Problem also is that if we drive into Gunnison or Montrose to do shopping, we drop down in elevation about 3,000 feet and then come back up at the end of the day.  Plays havoc with us.  We now understand why there are so many ATVs or OHVs here, it is just too hard on the body to do any hiking, and therefore, if you want to get out into the wilderness, you need to ATV/OHV and let the machine do all the work.

Saw the hunters while revisiting the Rio Grande Headwaters

A lot of money tied up in equipment, horses, and tack

Rio Grande Headwaters, near Ute Creek which is one tributary to Rio Grande

Since the beginning of September we have been exposed to snow, sleet, hail, and cold temperatures at night (down to 35) and we have heaters going to keep us warm.  Like a switch - it just happened on the 1st!  Daytime temps are in the mid 60s.  They are predicting a very cold, heavy snow this winter in Lake City.

Young moose, standing right by road

The bears are picking on us campers daily.  The camp hosts are diligent in picking up all the garbage by 7pm and no one puts anything in the cans, but by 6:30am the next morning, the bears raid the cans, probably the smells left over are driving them nuts.  Every day, if not morning, then late evening they come.  Have to lock your car, rv, whatever you have.  A bear got into the owner's vehicle the other day, she had left a food wrapper (no food, just the wrapper) on the back seat, bear must have smelled it and got in.  Did no damage other than to muddy up the interior and exterior.

Leisure drive in Powderhorn Valley, Cebolla Creek

Snow on mountain, happened the night before

Coming back, no luck with elk

Cebolla Creek, Powderhorn Wilderness

We have attempted to do some hiking, get pretty pooped out after a mile or so from elevation, but managed to take some pictures.  These hikes had us at 10,000 plus feet elevation.  We went back to Deer Lakes looking for moose, did not see any, but did see some pretty scenery.  We also drove from the north the Powderhorn Wilderness trail, again, very pretty scenery.  The aspens are beginning to change, another couple of days and they will have peaked.

Near Deer Lakes, trees just starting to change

Hiking up to one of the Deer Lakes

No moose, but pretty

Beaver have been busy

Picture perfect

Dropping down Slumgullion Pass and the slide area, near campground 

Saw solar panels from road, turned around and came back to get
better look

Monty's tree house

Hiking at Little Elk Wilderness Trail, about 9,600 feet elevation 

A furr-piece down there! 

Walked along in cow grazing area, cow patties were huge!

A couple different times we have seen pack horses, riders/hunters coming back from being out in the wilderness for weeks at a time, bow hunting for elk.  No one has had any luck although they have said they see them just can't get close enough.  We were lucky to find the tree house right near our campground of 'Monty' who was the best friend of the owner's son (son died in a car crash years ago).  Monty has his tree house at the top of Slumgullion Pass, sitting right above us about 10,500 feet.  Lives there year round.  Propane, solar panels, satellite TV, his story is something else - after his best friend died, Monty turned away from normal living, built the tree house, has lived there for over 10 years.  He sometimes comes down to the campground to do laundry or shower, or visit with the owner (Latella), everyone who has met him said he is very personable.

Glad the path was see-able, lots of cow poop to walk around

Was pretty looking down from on-high

We stopped here, could not jump far enough over water

We will be here in Lake City for the rest of this week then we will move more south and west to Dolores, Colorado, waiting for the warm temperatures (100 still) to drop in Picacho.

Little snot, makes such a mess