Hiking Around Ridgway, Colorado

It's been over 100 degrees where I live in central Texas nearly every day this summer. So, what better thing to do than to go to Colorado and spend a week hiking in the Rockies?  It was a good trip and a much needed break from the heat and the never-ending effort to implement my Master Plan.

I'm a qualified leader with our local chapter (Austin, TX) of the Sierra Club, which means I took all of the training in first aid, wilderness first aid, and the Sierra Club training for being an event leader. They contacted me last winter and asked me to go on this trip. They were short qualified people and the annual trip was at risk of not happening without a sufficient number of first aid qualified hikers. Hmmm. Colorado in August or Texas? Quick decision. But, only as an assistant leader, not the primary leader. That is too much work and responsibility for my taste. I did all of that for decades and now I want to enjoy my trips.

So, about a dozen of us met at Ridgway State Park and spent a week in early August hiking in the surrounding mountains. We car-camped at the park (meaning we used our cars to carry our gear instead our backs) and did day hikes (meaning we didn't need to carry our gear with us on the hike) every day except one, which was left open for people to rest and do something of their choice in the local area. I arrived a day early to enjoy the beauty of the setting and managed to get in an extra day of hiking with my niece who is interested in exploring the outdoor world. All total, I count that I hiked 39 miles with a total vertical displacement of over 12,000 feet. Like I said, it was a good week. 

For the record, the trails we hiked (besides trails inside the park) were the Twin Peaks, Wetterhorn, Blue Lakes (plural, singular is a different trail), Bear Creek (my favorite), and Cascade Falls/Chief Ouray Mine trails. All were very good to excellent. Of course, the scenery was spectacular. 

These were not your walk-in-the-park type of hiking. These were real challenges. The inclines were tough and the hillsides were steep. If you tripped you were at risk of tumbling down the mountainside. And, that would be an improvement over the last two trails on the list. They were both generously described as "not for those afraid of heights." Both had stretches of being nothing more than ledges on the face of cliffs. If you tripped and fell, you wouldn't need to worry about tumbling. But, it's only the stop at the bottom that would hurt. For some people, these trails would not be fun. For me, it was one of the reasons I was there. They were great! 

We also saw several black bears (we were too far south for brown, or grizzly bears) and there were reports of mountain lions in the area. The risks were real. Fortunately, we somehow managed to thread the needle with regards to the weather. We saw torrential downpours on the peaks but the most we ever got was a light sprinkle. And, there was the time we practically ran down the mountain with the thunder booming above us. No one wanted to be a human lightning rod. But, it all worked out in our favor.

The town of Ridgway was charming. I could see myself spending a month there. The day we left they were having their "annual" arts and crafts fair. Except, this was the first time in three years. We saw them setting up Friday evening when we went into town for dinner and the people we spoke to were very excited that it was back. I was tempted to stay over an extra day so I could attend.  

The group of people was pretty good. I find that people who are willing to put 20-30 pounds of gear on their backs and climb thousands of feet are a different breed of cat. Generally, I enjoy their company (you meet a few stinkers even on the trail). This was a pretty good group. There were even a couple of people I would enjoy seeing again on a regular basis. Good hiking plus good people makes for a good time.

But, it was much more than getting out of the heat and enjoying beautiful views and charming towns and meeting new people. It was a good time to reflect on what I'm doing and where I want to go. Do I really want to sell my house and go "all Jack Reacher," as one person put it? The answer was a definite, "Yes". I was so much more at peace with myself and the world when I was out there. At the end of the week, the other people were talking about how they were looking forward to getting home. I wasn't. No, this wasn't home, but I was enjoying it much more. 

So, yes, the Master Plan is still in effect.  

Pictures to follow.