Kicked our butts! Off we went this morning to try our luck at seeing forest area called Weminuche Wilderness. We have heard, and saw videos on this particular trail. Supposed to be an amazing bridge at mile marker 2.9 - marking the distance from the trailhead at the campground. The second bridge at 7 miles is no longer there due to an avalanche. We'll settle for the first one - if we can do it.
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Lets see what we can do...
We thought we were prepared - waited 3 days to get acclimated to the elevation - started out at 7,200 feet at cabin. Had our bug spray on, lots of water and snacks, lotion for sun screen, hats, hiking boots, hiking poles, everything good to go. Well, we did not do so good. By 8,200 feet - both of us huffing and panting. We had gained 500 feet elevation from the trailhead, but thought we could make it. Wrong. The first mile was very even, dirt packed but then it got to the granite boulders and pieces scattered. Sprained ankles waiting to happen, or a fall. Could hear the roar of the creek - creek to me is a small little river - but this baby - when we could see it - was roaring and very muddy. We have had thunderstorms every afternoon and the water showed it. |
We turned back. I had stopped taking pictures about 20 minutes prior - was concentrating on where my feet were and that there was a huge drop off to our left with the canyon where the 'creek' was. I was over heated and we were struggling. I have not sweated that much - ever. Dave's legs were wobbly - and we were both suffering from altitude sickness on top of that. Stopped every 100 feet or so, stayed in the shade, rested, and then continued down to the car. By the time we got to the car we could barely move. But - it was absolutely beautiful. No wonder it is rated as the second highest traveled trail in Colorado - the first being the Colorado Trail which runs from Durango to Denver. Some very serious hikers passed us. And some that we thought - wow, what are they thinking? Flip flops on, no water, no hats, one man had an oxygen tube stuck in his nose, another man had a young daughter strapped on his back. And some folks were definitely older than us and they were buzzing on through. Trail goes on for 39 miles. Yikes.
I don't regret turning around. We experienced it, maybe find another place to sit and watch the creek go by in the campground another day. Pay for a day pass and just sit and listen and smell.
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| Our start at trailhead |
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| Nice and flat at the beginning |
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| Granite walls hugged us |
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| Bridge before entering wilderness |
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| Lots of doggies visiting with their 'parents' |
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| And we enter the wilderness |
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| Horses to left, hikers to right |
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| Stunning |
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| Starts getting ankle bendy rough |
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| There's the 'creek' |
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| Snake to left of base of tree |
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| And another snake |
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