outdoors 5
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If this week’s Out There has enticed you to visit the mighty Gore Range, but you aren’t quite ready to slap on a backpack for a multi-night trip, here’s an exhila- rating hike that can be done as a long day trip or a one-nighter at the prettiest mountain lake you’ve probably ever seen. Getting there Take Interstate 70 west from Denver to the east Vail exit (Exit 180) and turn left at the bottom of the ramp. Take another left onto Bighorn Road to the trailhead after 2.5 miles. If it’s a Friday, beat the I-70 traffic by instead taking U.S. Highway 24 west to Colorado Highway 9, go over Hoosier Pass and get on I-70 in Frisco. The hike Take the right turn at an intersection shortly into the hike and follow the trail gently through wildflower meadows along Gore Creek for about 4 miles. The trail is frequently boggy, so be sure to wear good boots. At a spot where the trail branches to the left, stop and take a look at the grave of the Recen brothers. (See this week’s Out There story for more on these Summit County pioneers.) The main trail crosses the creek to the right. Instead, take a deep breath and go left, as you begin to climb the side of the mountain. The trail gains 1,200 feet in 2 miles, and you will frequently have to duck and hop over downed trees. You’ll continue through numer- ous meadows — each one disap- pointing your tired legs because you are not yet at your destina- tion — until you burst out of the trees at 11,400 feet. And there lies a stunning alpine lake. Great camping can be found along the south and east sides of the lake. Day hikers can catch their breath, have some lunch and bask in this beauty awhile before the knee-crippling descent to the main trail. Details The hike is in Eagles Nest Wilder- ness, so no bicycles or vehicles and dogs must be leashed. Be- cause of heavy snow in the Gores, it’s usually inaccessible until June, and remains wet all summer. For current conditions, call the Holy Cross office of White River National Forest: 1-970-827-5715. Difficulty rating A scale of one to four boots. One is most gentle. Four is most dif- ficult, with severe elevation gain, difficult terrain or extreme length and altitude. rating • 3 boots • 12 miles round trip • 3,200-foot elevation gain more online All Happy Trails all the time at outtherecolorado.com happy trails gore lake outthere colorado.com Three hikes planned on peak’s South Slope The Trails and Open Space Coalition has three more guided hikes planned in the still-closed South Slope area on Pikes Peak. You’ll see the peak from a side few enjoy, and learn about plans for hikes in the high-altitude acreage. The groups will meet at Red Rock Canyon Open Space. Hikers must be in good physical condition and prepared to hike 7 miles at high altitude. Hikers must be at least 12 and minors must be accompanied by an adult. Take your own water and snacks, and be prepared for changing weather. Cost is $12. Call 633-6884 to reserve a spot. “Bicycle Dreams” screening The award-winning film about Race Across America will be shown at Stargaz- ers tonight as the final local event of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. The film, which chronicles the 3000-mile, 10-day race across the U.S., will be shown at 7 p.m. at 10 S. Parkside in Colorado Springs. After the film, RAAM veteran Jarmila Gor- man of Idledale will be on hand to answer questions about the race. Gorman competed in Race Across America in 2005, the year the film was shot. Tickets are $15 at the door. 4 days to see USA Pro Cycling Challenge If the Prologue race from Garden of the Gods to downtown Colorado Springs whetted your ap- petite for top-level cycling, there are still four stages left to see. Today’s time trial in Vail begins at 1 p.m. (10 miles, climbing 1,783 feet). Friday the cyclists ride from Avon to Steamboat Springs (82.8 miles, climbing 5,034 feet. Saturday sees them race from Steamboat to Breckenridge (105.2 miles, climbing 8,327 feet), and on Sunday they’ll zip from Golden to Denver (73.79 miles, climbing 3,129 feet). See OutThereColorado. com for details, stories, photos and videos from the Prologue and Stages 1 and 2. Share your own photos and stories by joining the site. And follow our cover- age on Facebook or Twitter (outthereco). OutThereColorado.com and Out There are spon- sored by Heuberger Motors. THURSDAY August 25, 2011 news@outthere colorado.com backcountry getaway white riVer national Forest• We’re just a few miles from Interstate 70 and Colorado’s largest ski area, but you wouldn’t know it. These are the Gores, in the heart of ski country and yet a world apart. Millions see these moun- tains each year from the front sides of Vail ski area and Copper Mountain or from Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Beautiful and impos- ing, they are a spiny ridge of 12,000- and 13,000-foot peaks running 60 miles northwest from Frisco and Silverthorne. During the brief summer, it’s a landscape of wet for- ests, flower-strewn mead- ows, rushing creeks and mirrorlike lakes, presided over by jagged peaks. Dur- ing winter, it’s an all-but-im- penetrable fortress, where steep alpine walls shield the snow-choked valleys from light and threaten to send avalanches pouring down on trespassers. But natural obstacles have not always protected this area. Denver Water, timber companies and Colorado highway officials have all tried to utilize this terrain, threats that were eased when it became wilderness 35 years ago. by R. SCOTT RAPPOLD [email protected] — — see Gore ranGe • PaGe 2 Gore Range offers pristine wilderness in the heart of ski country, and it’s just a stone’s throw from I-70 Gore Lake, at 11,400 feet, offers incredible backcountry camping for those willing to make the long, steep hike from east Vail. photos by r. scott rappoLd, the Gazette lAnD of the Gores are known for jagged mountains, lush terrain and creeks that rage long into the summer. Wildflowers, such as these columbines, thrive in the wet Gores.
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Transcript of outdoors 5
If this week’s Out There has enticed you to visit the mighty Gore Range, but you aren’t quite ready to slap on a backpack for a multi-night trip, here’s an exhila-rating hike that can be done as a long day trip or a one-nighter at the prettiest mountain lake you’ve
probably ever seen.
Getting thereTake Interstate 70 west from
Denver to the east Vail exit (Exit 180) and turn left at the bottom of the ramp. Take another left onto Bighorn Road to the trailhead after 2.5 miles. If it’s a Friday, beat the I-70 traffic by instead taking U.S. Highway 24 west to Colorado Highway 9, go over Hoosier Pass and get on I-70 in Frisco.
The hikeTake the right turn at an
intersection shortly into the hike
and follow the trail gently through wildflower meadows along Gore Creek for about 4 miles. The trail is frequently boggy, so be sure to wear good boots.
At a spot where the trail branches to the left, stop and take a look at the grave of the Recen brothers. (See this week’s Out There story for more on these Summit County pioneers.) The main trail crosses the creek to the right. Instead, take a deep breath and go left, as you begin to climb the side of the mountain.
The trail gains 1,200 feet in 2 miles, and you will frequently have
to duck and hop over downed trees.
You’ll continue through numer-ous meadows — each one disap-pointing your tired legs because you are not yet at your destina-tion — until you burst out of the trees at 11,400 feet.
And there lies a stunning alpine lake.
Great camping can be found along the south and east sides of the lake. Day hikers can catch their breath, have some lunch and bask in this beauty awhile before the knee-crippling descent to the main trail.
DetailsThe hike is in Eagles Nest Wilder-
ness, so no bicycles or vehicles and dogs must be leashed. Be-cause of heavy snow in the Gores, it’s usually inaccessible until June, and remains wet all summer.
For current conditions, call the Holy Cross office of White River National Forest: 1-970-827-5715.
Difficulty ratingA scale of one to four boots. One
is most gentle. Four is most dif-ficult, with severe elevation gain, difficult terrain or extreme length and altitude.
rating • 3 boots • 12 miles round trip • 3,200-foot elevation gain
more online All Happy Trails all the time at outtherecolorado.com
happy trails gore lake
outthere colorado.com
Three hikes planned on peak’s South Slope
The Trails and Open Space Coalition has three more guided hikes planned in the still-closed South Slope area on Pikes Peak.
You’ll see the peak from a side few enjoy, and learn about plans for hikes in the high-altitude acreage.
The groups will meet at Red Rock Canyon Open Space. Hikers must be in good physical condition and prepared to hike 7 miles at high altitude.
Hikers must be at least 12 and minors must be accompanied by an adult. Take your own water and snacks, and be prepared for changing weather.
Cost is $12. Call 633-6884 to reserve a spot.
“Bicycle Dreams” screening
The award-winning film about Race Across America will be shown at Stargaz-ers tonight as the final local event of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.
The film, which chronicles the 3000-mile, 10-day race across the U.S., will be shown at 7 p.m. at 10 S. Parkside in Colorado Springs. After the film, RAAM veteran Jarmila Gor-man of Idledale will be on hand to answer questions about the race. Gorman competed in Race Across America in 2005, the year the film was shot.
Tickets are $15 at the door.
4 days to see USA Pro Cycling Challenge
If the Prologue race from Garden of the Gods to downtown Colorado Springs whetted your ap-petite for top-level cycling, there are still four stages left to see.
Today’s time trial in Vail begins at 1 p.m. (10 miles, climbing 1,783 feet). Friday the cyclists ride from Avon to Steamboat Springs (82.8 miles, climbing 5,034 feet.
Saturday sees them race from Steamboat to Breckenridge (105.2 miles, climbing 8,327 feet), and on Sunday they’ll zip from Golden to Denver (73.79 miles, climbing 3,129 feet).
See OutThereColorado.com for details, stories, photos and videos from the Prologue and Stages 1 and 2.
Share your own photos and stories by joining the site. And follow our cover-age on Facebook or Twitter (outthereco).
OutThereColorado.com and Out There are spon-sored by Heuberger Motors.
THURSDAY August 25, 2011news@outthere colorado.com
backcountry getaway
white riVer national Forest• We’re just a few miles from Interstate 70 and Colorado’s largest ski area, but you wouldn’t know it.
These are the Gores, in the heart of ski country and yet a world apart.
Millions see these moun-tains each year from the front sides of Vail ski area and Copper Mountain or from Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Beautiful and impos-ing, they are a spiny ridge of 12,000- and 13,000-foot peaks running 60 miles northwest from Frisco and Silverthorne.
During the brief summer,
it’s a landscape of wet for-ests, flower-strewn mead-ows, rushing creeks and mirrorlike lakes, presided over by jagged peaks. Dur-ing winter, it’s an all-but-im-penetrable fortress, where steep alpine walls shield the snow-choked valleys from light and threaten to send avalanches pouring down on trespassers.
But natural obstacles have not always protected this area. Denver Water, timber companies and Colorado highway officials have all tried to utilize this terrain, threats that were eased when it became wilderness 35 years ago.
by R. SCOTT [email protected]—
—
see Gore ranGe • PaGe 2
Gore Range offers pristine wilderness in the heart of ski country, and it’s just a stone’s throw from I-70
Gore Lake, at 11,400 feet, offers incredible backcountry camping for those willing to make the long, steep hike from east Vail.photos by r. scott rappoLd, the Gazette
lAnD of
the Gores are known for jagged mountains, lush terrain and creeks that rage long into the summer.
Wildflowers, such as these columbines, thrive in the wet Gores.
