Glinting Q. Formalize (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} ilanarama) wrote,@ 2004-06-05 18:22:00 |
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hike: Cascade Creek to Engine Creek to Engine Basin
Britt and I got out hiking on Friday for our first high-country hike of the season. Actually we did a 14-mile roundtrip on the Colorado Trail on Monday, but as we topped out at 8400 feet that doesn't really count as high country. We drove to the Cascade Creek trailhead just north ofPurgatory Durango Mountain Resort and did about 6 miles each way up to the big basin under Jura Knob, sort of between Rolling Mountain (which we climbed last September) and Engineer Mountain (which we plan to climb this summer).
We made the tactical mistake of neglecting to bring bug dope, so we hiked quickly from the trailhead (~8800 ft) until we reached a high enough meadow that the mosquitoes were not out yet. We did see quite a bit of wildlife sign (deer and elk) and saw one pine marten on the way up, and several small herds of elk on the way down (all barely glimpsed through the trees as they hightailed it away from us). There were small patches of snow in the trees beginning around 10000 ft, but never enough to turn us back; things are really melting out fast. There are lots of lovely waterfalls and cascades along the creeks here which are all flowing very hard and fast at this time of year. We turned around in the basin more or less at treeline (around 11500 ft).
From the meadow at around 9500 ft where we had lunch we could see Grizzly Peak (there's an unnamed smaller peak in front and to the left of it):
Engine Falls sounded like an approaching freight train! This picture was taken around 12:30 pm on the way up; later in the afternoon when we hiked past it again, the water was red with mud and silt.
Another pretty waterfall along the upper trail.
Another waterfall - this one really high and in a narrow gorge. And another view of its upper cascade.
The red rock of Jura Knob formed the backdrop for the upper basin. Not much snow for above treeline in June!
Our turnaround and break spot had a great view of the backside (north side) of Engineer Mountain:
A photo of the more well-known south side. My parents took this picture from the road during their visit last September.
Looking southwest from the basin we could see Grayrock Peak.
Britt and I got out hiking on Friday for our first high-country hike of the season. Actually we did a 14-mile roundtrip on the Colorado Trail on Monday, but as we topped out at 8400 feet that doesn't really count as high country. We drove to the Cascade Creek trailhead just north of
We made the tactical mistake of neglecting to bring bug dope, so we hiked quickly from the trailhead (~8800 ft) until we reached a high enough meadow that the mosquitoes were not out yet. We did see quite a bit of wildlife sign (deer and elk) and saw one pine marten on the way up, and several small herds of elk on the way down (all barely glimpsed through the trees as they hightailed it away from us). There were small patches of snow in the trees beginning around 10000 ft, but never enough to turn us back; things are really melting out fast. There are lots of lovely waterfalls and cascades along the creeks here which are all flowing very hard and fast at this time of year. We turned around in the basin more or less at treeline (around 11500 ft).
From the meadow at around 9500 ft where we had lunch we could see Grizzly Peak (there's an unnamed smaller peak in front and to the left of it):
Engine Falls sounded like an approaching freight train! This picture was taken around 12:30 pm on the way up; later in the afternoon when we hiked past it again, the water was red with mud and silt.
Another pretty waterfall along the upper trail.
Another waterfall - this one really high and in a narrow gorge. And another view of its upper cascade.
The red rock of Jura Knob formed the backdrop for the upper basin. Not much snow for above treeline in June!
Our turnaround and break spot had a great view of the backside (north side) of Engineer Mountain:
A photo of the more well-known south side. My parents took this picture from the road during their visit last September.
Looking southwest from the basin we could see Grayrock Peak.
