Rocky Mountain High! Leadville, CO
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Topic: Rocky Mountain High! Leadville, CO
Posted By: DocTom
Subject: Rocky Mountain High! Leadville, CO
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2012 at 9:15am
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Tina and I and the R-pod spent a wonderful week at Sugar Loafin' campground just outside of Leadville, Colorado (elev 10200') camping, hiking, wading in streams, meditating by Turquoise Lake, eating, reading and meeting new friends.
There was another R-pod there. An engineering student from Nevada, Michael, is doing an internship at the Climax Mine just outside of Leadville, and is staying the summer in his Rp-177. Really nice guy!
There are tons of things to do in Leadville, wonderful restaurants and interesting shops. Historic mines and great biking trails, museums and a train that goes up toward the Climax Mine from town. We have visited Leadville several times over the last many years and it remains a beautiful, layed back, historic town. There is very little tourist development as in the resort towns of Colorado, possibly because of the altitude. However, if you can tolerate low temps in the 40's and highs in the low 70's, the reduction in oxygen is a minor problem!
We hiked and climbed 5 days, covering about 25 miles, with an total altitude gain of 6000' (with 6000' down too, of course). The highest elevation we achieved was a little over 12,500'. We did two 7 milers, with the hardest being Missouri Gulch, with an elevation gain of about 3000', very steep and rocky, but beautiful. We also hiked Agnes Vaile Falls, Native Lake, the Leadville Fish Hatchery Nature Trail, and 7 miles of the Colorado Trail/ Continental Divide Trail near Turquoise Lake. We also spent some time in Halfmoon gulch, wading in the creek.
We did spend one day at Cottonwood Hot Springs, soaking in the hot springs pools and having a wonderful hot stone massage. Highly recommended after a few days of hiking.
Pictures, if interested, at http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/583188609LdoSRu - http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/583188609LdoSRu ------------- Brush and Floss, It is the Secret of Life! |
Replies:
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2012 at 10:33am
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Great pictures, I can tell that you had a good time. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2012 at 12:57pm
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Glad you had a great trip. Leadville is a neat place but everytime I see it I have a flashback to 2008. In March '08 my wife and I drove down to Leadville for a long distrance hikers get-together. On the way home I threw a "rogue" clot and had a massive heart attack. It was during a really bad snow storm and LifeFlight couldn't take off ...so they took me via ambulance down to Denver (closest Cardiac center). It was a 4 hour trip and they lost me twice enroute.
Haven't been back to Leadville since ...but one of these days I need to stare that deamon in the face !! 'Slogger ------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |
Posted By: Tri-Pod
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2012 at 9:58pm
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We just spent a week in Evergreen, Co at 8,700 ft. Took a couple of days to get up to speed. Not sure if I could face that demon you did. We went back because I proposed 40 years ago and our grown children wanted to see where it all began.. Good camping. ------------- 2010 PR 176 sold 2012 replaced with 2013 SP 240 w outside kitchen 2012 Toyota Tundra Crew Max 4x2 5.7L V8 Me, My Honey, and Max our GSP |
Posted By: DocTom
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2012 at 7:52am
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I've never had a big problem with altitude, usually ready to go after 1 night's sleep. My wife takes a little longer so we usually do easier hikes the first day or two. We were back for a special event also. We got married 1 year ago in Leadville (at the courthouse), exchanged rings in our truck, then did our vows at about 11,500 feet . . .up the Haggerman Pass trail by the lake.
Did your kids enjoy the trip? Evergreen is a pretty place and 8700 feet is nothing to laugh at! Pretty pleasant altitude, not quite as chilly at night.
Folks sometimes ask, because they know how much I enjoy Colorado, if I intend to move out there upon retirement. First, I like my work and hope to keep at it for a long time yet, and second, I already have a lovely retirement home, the Rp-177, that follows me wherever I wish to go!
------------- Brush and Floss, It is the Secret of Life! |