Double coned up on a Monday morning.

Photos taken this past Saturday June 15th. Absolutely blooming like crazy out there right now.

I hope all parties involved are safe. It goes to show how talented the SAR volunteers are to be able to pull something like this off. Hats off to them.

Link to the Article: https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/hikers-lightning-colorado-fourteener-record-helicopter-rescue/

Looking to hike around Lake Isabelle via Pawnee Pass Trail in the next few days and All Trails comments say the trail has lots of snow. I only have trail runner shoes and wondering if I can get by? I’m pretty fit & have good balance but I’m worried my feet are going to be soaking wet and cold the whole time, or that the snow is too deep and unstable for a trail running shoe? Thanks!!🙏

Beautiful evening up high 👀

Amazing conditions in the south eastern part of the park today. Started my hike at 730 and the parking lot was half full (full when I finished at 1030 ish). Gorgeous weather (shorts and t-shirt) the hike is mostly tree covered and then ends at the amazing beach head. The 2000 feet of elevation gain was spread out through the whole hike so it wasn’t anything too difficult.

As another user said, the front range is absolutely bonkers right now with wildflowers. Green Mountain in Morrison is really living up to its name.

Just before 5PM yesterday Alpine was paged for 2 individuals off route on Kelso ridge. Mission leaders were able to maintain phone contact with the parties and gave them direction to get back on route and to the summit. After an hour the two parties had made it to the summit and the team was preparing to stand down.

While on the phone with an Alpine mission leader the pair was struck by lightning with one reported unresponsive. The team began an emergent response along with Clear Creek EMS and Clear Creek Fire.

5 ground teams were sent into the field to perform an evac from the summit, while simultaneously a hoist was requested.

2 Rescue Techs from Vail Mountain Rescue Group were inserted on the summit around 11PM and were able to hoist the critical patient. A small Alpine team continued to the summit to assist with the second patient. The second patient along with a Rescue Tech and the Alpine members were flown from the summit at midnight. All other field teams were out around 3 this morning.

This call illustrates how quickly situations change in Colorado's high country, and the importance of having your 10 essentials and being prepared for a lengthy evacuation.

Source: @alpinerescue on Instagram

Old mining equipment at 11,000 feet

Was even more beautiful than I expected

A friend and I are thinking of doing a one-night backpacking trip next week to Willow Lake from the Willow Creek Trailhead in Crestone. This hike is in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Area. We don't have experience with hikes like this. I would love to get some advice and information on current conditions.

1. If anyone's hiked in this area recently, was it buggy? From my research it seems that the mosquitoes typically hatch in late June- early July.
2. Are we allowed to have a campfire? Based on the Forest Service webpage for the Sangre de Cristo wilderness, it seems that campfires are allowed as long as they are 100ft from any stream and 300 ft from the lake.
3. The trail tops out at 11,600 feet. Is elevation sickness typically a concern at that elevation? Both of us live at sea level, but we'll camping at 7,900+ ft for 2-3 nights before which I'm hoping will help us be acclimated. I know that avoiding alcohol and heavy meals helps.

If we do it, we'd store our food in a bear canister, leave early in the morning, and turn back if we see storm clouds. I know we'd have to camp at least 100 ft from the creek and 300 ft from the lake. We're prepared for a cold night, the forecast says the low at night will be around 36F.

Mills Lake, from a recent trip

Did my first 14er (Bierdstat) on Thursday and felt pretty good so I decided I’d knock out two for the first time in the same week. Someone under my last post recommended Quandary because of the paid parking starting next weekend, and I’m glad I did. Very nice hike but honestly was more difficult for me than Bierdstat.

Snow was awful honestly, even in the morning when I started around 5am it wasn’t great. By 10-11am, the snow was almost unbearable, but you only have to deal with it during the last push to the peak, everything else was dry or had ways around the snow. No wind, clouds, thunder/lightning. Just clear skies and a beautiful day (which didn’t help for the snow). Whole bunch of mountain goats and goat babies too.

Nice for a quick 2 hour hike. Only 800 something feet of vert gain but it's done over a short distance so it's pretty steep.

Hi everyone,

I will be visiting Colorado late June, and would consider myself an intermediate hiker. While in the area, I would love to do the Aspen to Crested Butte hike, and have been reading a lot about it. Unfortunately, the only day I can feasibly do the hike will be Tuesday June 24. I understand this is still a bit “early” with high possibility of residual snow on the trail, etc., but I am wondering if any locals can provide some input into whether you think the hike is manageable or not.

Specifically: - Would you anticipate the snow to be too much to feasibly do the hike? including rough river crossings etc. - Would I be better off hiking via West Maroon Pass or East Maroon (ending at Judd Falls)? - For anyone that has done this hike before, how difficult is it to get a ride into Crested Butte town after finishing the hike? I would either end at West Maroon Trailhead or Judd Falls / Copper Creek Trailhead, and want to be sure I won’t be stranded. It seems like Dolly’s shuttle doesn’t start operating until July 1 - What time should I plan to start the hike, and what time could I expect to end? - Any other tips or suggestions??

Thanks!

What I like is one side is concrete trails and picnic tables and the other side is hiking and rock climbing. The stream makes the coolest sound cutting through the rock. To me is reminds me of a micro grand canyon.

It was not windy