Backpacking Trip

Andrew Gagnon, Tyler Huntley and myself set out for what ended up being a 6 day back packing trip in the Weminuche wilderness of Colorado (San Juan Mountains). It was hard work hiking over a total of 35 miles with an elevation gain of over 10,000 feet. We didn't venture too high with our highest point reached only being 12,200 feet.

Before

In the first 150 yards or so we had to cross the Rio Grande. It was freezing, very fast, had a couple deep spots (waist), and very unstable round rocks. Needlesss to say it was very scary with 65 lbs strapped to your back.

Getting a little deep!

Farther up the Rio Grande

Black Lake

Beautiful alpine valley

A couple dozen Elk; if you click this you can probably see them better.

A fairly big Cutthroat trout.

Here I am among the Columbine on the edge of a cliff. Tyler and I free climbed a 200 foot rock face. It was very neat because it had several ledges on the way up to rest on so we had to only had to climb 10 to 20 foot sections at a time.

Paused looking at my GPS for our elevation before climbing up the next section which is behind me. It was perfect with lots of good holds.

Me working my way up a section.

The view from up top after climbing our rock face/mountain.

Looking down at our lake. I think you can even see Andrew (goon) on the shore in the bottom right if you click on the picture.

Stringer-o-fish.

A Nalgene to give scale to a Brookie and Cutthroat we caught.

A decent 13 -14" or so Brookie I caught.

Our Basecamp.

A view from our tent during an evening rain.

Flint Lake. If you click and look very close you can see Tyler just to the left of a patch of snow down on the other side of the lake.

A decent Cutthroat I caught at Flint Lake.

During the trek back to Basecamp we got all kinds of rain and hail. The hail really stung the ears. You can see all the hail accumulated on the trail we are on.

Here we are on our way back about 3/4 mile from the car.

After