Always a Journey

October 26th, 2009

Medicine Bow / Rawah Mountain Range Traverse

Trailhead View Looking South

While viewing the NOAA weather website I could not believe what I was reading. There was going to be a four-day reprieve above tree line from rain or snow. The past month Northwestern Colorado and its higher elevations have had daily yet intermittent rain or snow showers. Thus preventing my plan to traverse a 30-mile section of the Medicine Bow Mountain Range (click here for map / patience please).


My intention is to follow the Medicine Bow Trail 965 (MBT) for 17 miles and then continue walking another 10 to 12 miles of non-trail ridge line to Montgomery Pass. Allthewhile enjoying a new forest, sitting atop a few peaks, and taking in the solitude of the area. Then descend to CO Hwy 14 (2 miles east of Cameron Pass), hitchhike to Walden, pick up my van parked at the Walden Sheriff office, drive back to the MBT 965 trailhead, pick up my bicycle in an Aspen grove, and then drive back to Steamboat Springs. Sounds simple enough. Well I underestimated the conditions and terrain along the ridge line.

Trailhead

Riding my bicycle to the trailhead I was pleased to have a tailwind, and I soon became concerned with what I saw—snow, and a lot of it. The entire ridge I was about to walk was covered with it.  As I continued to get closer to the trailhead I continually told myself, the snow cannot be to deep. How wrong I was with this assumption.

Thirty minutes from the trailhead I encountered ankle deep snow and soon lost the trial. With each step I hoped the snow would not get deeper, and I would come across a tree blaze or two (a mark made in tree bark to mark the trial direction). No such luck. Another 20 minutes brought me to mid-shin deep snow and still no tree blaze. A thought of turning back came to mind, and I soon made a deal with myself. Get to the ridge, assess the snow depth, and then decide whether to continue with the traverse or retrace my steps to the trailhead.

Snow Road

Leaving cover of the trees and arriving at the wind blown ridge, I was shocked to see a road and a few inches of snow. The wind was blowing about 10-15 mph and went through the 3 layers of clothing I was wearing. As I walked quickly to a stand of trees for shelter while deciding if I should continue or backtrack, I realized how the road came about. The first elk rifle season had ended the day before and hunters must have driven their ATV’s along the ridge looking for their quarry. I then thought the hunters must have created a road to Ute Pass. Seeing the road made my decision for me. How could I turn around when there was a well-worn path to follow? This train of thought made sense at the time and how wrong it was.

Hunting Camp

About 2.5 miles later the road ended at a hunting camp. It was an impressive sight to see. Big wall tents have evolved since the last time I came across one. This tent was at least 20’ long. I chuckled when seeing the overturned game-carrying cart in the snow and said to myself, good luck trying to use it in these conditions. Minutes later I found myself walking in 16” to 18” of snow, no sign of the trail, and wondering what I am doing walking in snow with a 40 pound pack on my back when I could be sitting in a hot tub relaxing.

About two hours had past and the snow depth subsided some. However, to my surprise the ridgeline was more undulating then I had thought–alas. I was fortunate enough to come across elk tracks that led me to shallower snow and a good place to camp. Once it stopped snowing and the clouds broke up, the view of North Park was impressive. I packed down the snow, laid out my tarp and sleeping bag, took off my boots and thought, how cold my feet will be when putting them back into frozen boots in the morning. I then wiggled my way into my sleeping bag, made dinner, and went to sleep.

Sunset at Camp 1

To be continued…

Posted in Trips | 2 Comments »