elk park train stop to needletonhomeless shelter policies and procedures

Alternatively, if you feel you have any information youd like to share with others regarding this hike, please feel free to leave that below in a comment as well. There is no cover up here by Eldorado Lake, which sits well above the treeline at 12,300ft. It ended up raining everyday, several times a day while we were here. Columbine Pass The crowning jewel on our recent vacation to Colorado was an epic backpacking trip. You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. The final approach of Columbine Pass was pretty steep, but manageable. Things open up a bit after this pond and there are some meadows to camp in if you were so inclined. Columbine Pass and Chicago Basin probably were the highlights of the trip -- incredibly high and scenic alpine country. It was nice to know that we had a day off of hiking coming up tomorrow, at least for Lisa anyways. It seems that most people in Chicago Basin came from the Needleton stop, hiked here, and turned around and went back the way they came. There was a very brief moment of sunlight right as we crossed Red Rock Creek, which was nice to have at this moment. The hiker who told me about the mice up here had camped here last night. Subscribe to receive an emial notification when new content is added, Sawtooth Mountains Idaho Landscape Photography Canvas Prints, Seeking Lost Logo Shirt - Unisex Softstyle T-Shirt, Basin and Range Trail Planning Kit: Guidebook, GPX, Maps, Waypoints, Water Chart, Vanadinite Mineral Specimen (North Geronimo Mine, AZ), Wulfenite on Fluorite Mineral Specimen (Red Cloud Mine, AZ). We also packed an MSR PocketRocket Deluxe backpacking stove to boil water for all our freeze-dried meals, our hand-pump espresso machine, and a lightweight hatchet multitool to help with campfires. We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. Thanks for sharing. Maybe not a traditional campsite, but it was by far the driest campsite Id seen on this trip yet. Very clear and interesting. You can purchase a ticket to or from Elk Park onboard as long as space is availableno reservations are taken for this flag stop. For some reason, the mileage the GPS reports to me in the field is always more than the mileage it gives me at home when I am reviewing the final data. The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. We were thrilled when a ranger who had just cleared out the trail told us the three 12,000-foot passes on our route were free of snow. The stars were barely visible now that the morning light was fast approaching, but this was the most Id seen of stars the entire trip. The third day we hiked ~11 miles, starting with 2 miles downhill and then 7 miles to the top of columbine pass and then 2 miles down to camp at Chicago basin. For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. drops you off in the middle of the wilderness (no car access) and do a loop that is absolutely beautiful. You'll need to reserve this option in advance, but it makes for a great opportunity to explore the San Juan National Forest. Its most notable feature is a wye, built in 1884 to allow northbound trains to turn back when the canyons between Elk Park and Silverton, CO were blocked by winter avalanches. Interesting views in the upper Chicago Basin area. We didn't. Windward_Coug. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. Strider1. Learn more about this exciting opportunity for outdoor recreation youll find only in Durango. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. This snowshoe hare looks as if it could shoot lasers from its eyes, Campsite along the Elk Park trail, around 10,300ft. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass. At what point along your route could you hike out and call it quits (or hike out for help)? To reach this trail on foot, some hikers make a longer loop from the Molas Trail (about four miles). On the Elk Park to Needleton loop, the emergency outs are limited. The rock is slippery and there is nothing to help you balance yourself on this very narrow section of trail, which happens to have a BIG drop on your left. Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. Fortunately it was all downhill, so we could cover some serious ground, which I assumed would be at the expense of my knees. The water was deep and fast flowing here. Soon enough it was back to the rain. Oh well. These odor proof bags have never let me down, and with all the rodents around, it was going to be a real test tonight. We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. I wasnt sore at all until day 4 or 5, with only moderate soreness in the hamstrings. By the time Lisa made it to the top, we had to continue down the other side immediately. . Most of our clothing was wet, including our backpacks and other gear, so we finally had a chance to dry them out some. After climbing about a third of the way up to the CDT, I hit a switchback, which I gladly used the rest of the way up. The only way to combat them is it cover up your skin with long sleeves, jacket hood, etc. What a place for a cabin! We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. Y0ou could really see just ow red it was with a little sunlight. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. Miles Hiked 7.4 At mile 4.25 or so, there were some nice camping spots in the meadow. The weather started to improve a little as we set up the tent and took care of the usual camp chores. The ride is slow and sooty and other than the crying kids that overpopulated our car, the ride really was wonderful. Thats how I do it these days. Sad to see all the beetle damage. Bugs were pretty bad this year. This will give you time to make it to your seats before the final boarding call. Unlike Snowmass though, the trail here was more open and very well worn, and not much here to get me wet. I knew I was going to punish them here and figured itd be best to give them any help they can get. Excellent views all around. As the sun went down, the goats headed back up the mountainside for the evening. Any way to access this trail without riding the train? Debris form 2020 avalanches on the elk park section have been cleared but theres quite a bit of fallen trees blocking the needle creek trail out of the Chicago Basin. Enjoy the hike, its a good one! I proceeded downhill now alongside the edge of this. The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. I ended up spending an hour and a half up here just hanging out. If youre doing the whole Elk Park to Needleton loop, take the Durango-Silverton diesel train north from Durango to Elk Park. Have a good hike! Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). It sounds funny, but for some reason hey turned and ran when I did that and never came back. This cabin would be a good place to wait out a storm, but its not suitable as an overnight shelter due to its condition. Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. On day three, we made our way up and over the Continental Divide and into the beautiful meadow just below Hunchback Pass. One mine was fairly close to the trail, so we took a quick detour and had a look inside. The water in Elk Creek was super clear, so I didnt have to pre-filter any of it before using my Steri-Pen Opti UV water purifier. Miles Hiked 5.7 (summit Windom Peak starting from camp in Chicago Basin) We brought along this Weminuche Wilderness National Geographic map. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. Parking is available at the Silverton Depot at no charge. In good weather it should not be a problem. After setting up camp, I decided to go down to the creek to purify some water. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! After going up a series of switchbacks, I had reached the Twin Lakes by around 7:15. I knew the vegetation was still wet from last evenings rain, and didnt feel like being soaked to the bone if the trail happens to go through dense foliage. Mojave-Sonoran Trail (2021) We did this trip in September. Your email address will not be published. We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. Awesome views all around, but it was still cold and precipitating out and thus my camera stayed under my rain jacket. Literally just yards below the top of the pass, on the Chicago Basin side, the trail gets extremely steep and pretty sketchy. I took the driest looking campsite I could find, which wasnt saying much. Carrying a backpack downhill has wreaked havoc on my knees on my last few hikes, but I was spared this time. Did this route from July 28 to August 3. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. Trail Name - Elk Park/Needleton Loop Location - Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan National Forest, CO Park Type - National Forest, Wilderness Area Fees & Permits - None Length Of Time Hiked - 6 days, 5 nights Trail Type - Semi loop - Train drops you off and picks you up Miles Hiked - 48 Trail Difficulty - 8 I reached the summit of Windom Peak (14,087ft) by around 8:30. Black flies were a pain the whole week. Needless to say, our rain gear would be used heavily on this trip. One slice was probably between the size of a small and medium pizza at most places, but it was extremely thin. Copyright 2015-2023 Champagne TastesAll Rights Reserved. We headed down towards Kite, watching as the fog grew more and more around us. It was around 1:45pm when we rolled into camp today. Cell service is highly unlikely. All of our gear was dry and life was good. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a9fc6034fcd46f19ce6730fcccb725d8" );document.getElementById("b86db021e5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I'm Sarah! One guy stopped and said Whoa, what are you doing going up that? This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. Your monthly pledge helps me bring you more quality hiking and outdoor adventure videos, trail guides and content. It has a mesh frame that holds the weight of the pack slightly off your back. Obviously I skipped this route on our way up here, opting to go the traditional way up the switchbacks to the CDT, but I was curious if it was doable. Ive started research for a September 2017 trip and came across your report. Lisa and I ended up taking a nap for about an hour and a half until the weather improved. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. People really are friendly in Colorado! It also didnt hurt that we pampered ourselves a little afterwards with a leisurely day at Pagosa Springs. I had no way of keeping my gear out of the reach of the rodents. Complete Camper Van Build Parts & Materials Spreadsheet, Zion National Park Hiking Angels Landing & The Narrows, CDT Section Hike 2021 Never Summer Wilderness & Parkview Mountain, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 9: Quartzsite to Kofa, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 8: Bouse to Quartzsite, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 7: Lake Havasu to Bouse, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 6: Bullhead City to Lake Havasu, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 5: Searchlight to Bullhead City, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 4: Boulder City to Searchlight, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 3: Callville Bay to Boulder City, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 2: Echo Bay to Callville Bay, Las Vegas Review-Journal article on the Basin and Range Trail, Location Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan National Forest, CO, Park Type National Forest, Wilderness Area, Trail Type Semi loop Train drops you off and picks you up, Fires Allowed Yes (No fires in Chicago Basin or Needleton drainage). Any feedback appreciated. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. This was true for much of the trip. Everything was still pretty wet from the rains overnight, and it was cold. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. Fog billowed from distant peaks, and it was pretty dark around me as well now. Our morning routine is a little more polished now, and we were on the trail by 7am. From above, I spotted a deer down below on the trail to Kite Lake. El mejor momento para visitar esta . We woke up today at 5:30 and began to slowly pack up camp. Required fields are marked *. The clouds seemed to be chasing us up Hunchback Pass. We saw 3 hikers coming down Hunchback Pass earlier as we were going up, and didnt see anyone else today until we got about a mile from the Vallecito Creek Bridge. Looking back up the way I just came down from Windom Peak. The water tasted great and was very cold. There was an insane amount of biting flies and mosquitoes by the river here though, and I was regretting my decision to leave the bug spray and mosquito head net behind. It was extra sunny during the day, and there were thunderstorms most evenings. I am going in Aug 2017 and want to make sure to get a good map. This was our third trek on this trail. Some streams had a lot of flash flood debris jammed up in certain points, more so than wed seen in other areas. While the wilderness area has many access points, one of the best approaches is from the Durango & Silverton railroad stop of Elk Park, just outside of Silverton. Actually, mid May. I was rewarded with an amazing view of the Weminuche Wilderness, unobstructed by clouds for the first time all week. Past that meadow, the trail begins to climb past the treeline. I dont know why these animals are so persistent about going to a specific location when there are humans there. Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? At the bridge over New York Creek, there was a waterfall right there along the trail.. Animas River, from the bridge at the Needleton train stop. The correct way to flag the train and let the conductor know youd like to board is by waving your hands across your knees. Hey Trey, Its been many years since I did this hike so pardon my memory here. It filtered a little more slowly than usual because we were at high elevation, but still worked well. Lower elevations and farther south, definitely no snow and the spring melt off is going to be done by then. I've begun planning my adventures for this summer, and while there will be a handful of overnighters and long weekends, I've settled on the Elk Park-Needleton Loop for my main trip. Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. Completed this loop early July 2021. Most were quick to check out the shack as we did, so the cinder block and wood plank benches filled up fast. Hail/freezing rain/snow was falling, and it was Hunchback Pass all over again, with a little better visibility. Im sure the views would have been great here in the absence of the clouds, but this was still pretty cool. Or the Osprey Eja 58 pack I preferred the Airspeed suspension system on it. Thank you for taking the time to write it! I dont trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. Breathtaking! Although it was monsoon season during our trip, we were told that the coal cinders often start forest fires. I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. We knew that the odds were pretty good that goats would wander near us too, eventually. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. We did the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Loop which was 36 miles. Route Standard route up to Twin Lakes, ascended Windoms West face. Trail Name - Elk Park/Needleton Loop Location - Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan National Forest, CO Park Type - National Forest, Wilderness Area Fees & Permits - None Length Of Time Hiked - 6 days, 5 nights Trail Type - Semi loop - Train drops you off and picks you up Miles Hiked - 48 Trail Difficulty - 8 Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. After about 20 minutes of hiking, I ran into my first mountain goats of the day. I have backpacked in the Weminuche three times, all in September, and each time we encountered some bad rainy weather. is to leave an itinerary with a responsible person back home, as well as a time and date when they should call for help if they dont hear from you. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! Before reaching the trails down to Kite/Eldorado Lakes, we had to hike over a 100ft rocky ridge, just as the clouds looked their worst. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. We followed Bear Creek down to the Rio Grande by following the 4wd road and used our sat phone to arrange for transportation to Silverton. Seeking Lost: Thru-Hiking & Backpacking Adventures, Complete Weminuche Wilderness Photo Gallery, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 8 Day Rockhounding & Mineral Collecting in the Santa Teresa Mountains, AZ (Nov 2022), How Much Did It Cost?? It was incredible to see the clouds taking over the area! I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. Not today, it gre more and more intense as time went on. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. We use the Therm-a-Rest Vela Double 20 quilt. I packed a peanut butter sandwich, some jerky, and a Metrx bar to eat later, as well as 2 liters of water. However, to hike this trail as I did, you will need to secure a train reservation through the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. 09-23-2015, 12:45 #12. There didnt appear to be any evidence of beavers here either. The altitude will affect water filters and food cook time, which is usually explained on the packaging. My husband had an offline map downloaded in his Google Maps app, although we found it to be unreliable in the Vallecito Creek area. With about five minutes to go before arriving at Elk Park, one of conductors gather all of the backpackers and ask you to head to the front of the train. Excellent trip, lots of varied terrain, meadows, forests, small mountain ponds and lakes, avalanche tree slides, large and small rock slides, multiple high passes with great views. We passed several waterfalls and areas of whitewater. Cant wait to try this trip myself! We passed many more campsites along the trail shortly after leaving our camp this morning. San Juan National Forest. Still, I was glad to have spent the night at Eldorado Lake. Next I found myself on the saddle below the approach to Windom Peak. After the train dropped us off at Elk Park, it was pretty quiet. Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch. I had also been considering a climb up Sunlight Peak as well, but it was so nice up here on Windom Peak that I decided to relax, and just enjoy the beautiful view. It rained a little very briefly when I got back, then was party sunny the rest of the day with only a few intermittent showers. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. A hiking boot is preferable. On the train, make sure to talk to the train staff! I always recommend carrying a waterproof paper trail map on a hike (because even if you have a digital map, sometimes technology fails). Tomorrow is going to be a long day. Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. This is where Eldorado Lake drains off the mountainside and down to the Miners Cabin area we passed earlier today, Looking up at 13,627ft White Dome from the Eldorado Lake drainage. There were many stream crossings and several large waterfalls that we passed, but due to the weather and number of miles we had to cover, we didnt spend any time checking most of them out. I watched the bolts of lightning in the distance for a while before going to bed. My GPS said we did 16 miles today, including going up Hunchback Pass, but later when I reviewed the data for this trip it calculated the day at 14.5 miles. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. There was another group who did this, and the train staff didn't seem to have any problem with it (we had paid for a RT ticket anyway). To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. Looking up, it looked very easy and straight forward. We also saw more people this morning than the rest of the trip combined! However, Im sure you could find a clearing to put a tent somewhere. I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. I'm a traveler who loves to eat. I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) I dont know which to trust, but it was a long day regardless. Our brakeman Sam was a wealth of knowledge about any kind of train-related questions we had. Finally, the weather is cooperating! Here, theres a good view of Vestal Peak. And what a campsite that would be, killer views! After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage.

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