- Joined
- Oct 30, 2016
- Messages
- 944
Day-hiking with a heavy ass backpack... lol.
I had planned on heading out towards Grand Junction this weekend, but forecasts for 40+ mph winds (with 100+ in the mountains between here and there) had me search out somewhere a little less gusty. Sand Dunes fit the bill.
Very challenging hiking. Some spots on the dunes had a bit of snow on them and held together under footsteps, but mainly it was like hiking on the stairmaster from hell. You have to get up and over the first ridge in order to camp. They don't want to see any tents facing the visitor center/road. It's a 700-800 ft hump and a lot of back and forth while trying to find a line of approach that will carry you.
Unfortunately the forecast was off. Winds were very high (though temps were a pleasant twenty degrees higher as well), and it clouded up. Look forward to going back to actually put my backcountry permit to use, and hopefully get some serious eye-candy sunsrise/sunset/milky-way shots. It was still nice to be out carrying a pack, and I got to glimpse a couple places I plan on visiting when things melt out (Spanish Peaks and the Sangre de Cristo range)
Anyway here is a dump out of lightroom:
![IMG_1542.jpg IMG_1542.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53954-386959401b249f7dd586ec22a1a4e5b9.jpg)
![IMG_1559.jpg IMG_1559.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53959-503907ca35e94bdc527a11905a57f9b7.jpg)
I had planned on heading out towards Grand Junction this weekend, but forecasts for 40+ mph winds (with 100+ in the mountains between here and there) had me search out somewhere a little less gusty. Sand Dunes fit the bill.
Very challenging hiking. Some spots on the dunes had a bit of snow on them and held together under footsteps, but mainly it was like hiking on the stairmaster from hell. You have to get up and over the first ridge in order to camp. They don't want to see any tents facing the visitor center/road. It's a 700-800 ft hump and a lot of back and forth while trying to find a line of approach that will carry you.
Unfortunately the forecast was off. Winds were very high (though temps were a pleasant twenty degrees higher as well), and it clouded up. Look forward to going back to actually put my backcountry permit to use, and hopefully get some serious eye-candy sunsrise/sunset/milky-way shots. It was still nice to be out carrying a pack, and I got to glimpse a couple places I plan on visiting when things melt out (Spanish Peaks and the Sangre de Cristo range)
Anyway here is a dump out of lightroom:
![IMG_1443.jpg IMG_1443.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53941-43bde3787f0b5039d695ba5c4f16e393.jpg)
![IMG_1445.jpg IMG_1445.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53942-1b8cbcbacd37fe7475bd1de204c3e952.jpg)
![IMG_1456.jpg IMG_1456.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53943-c2b8c56a48564e3ab4d04cb01d55f9fa.jpg)
![IMG_1491.jpg IMG_1491.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53944-e46aeb2b9010988a4d93699c633ad545.jpg)
![IMG_1505.jpg IMG_1505.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53945-c970fafe616c050dbce763eda532dbd3.jpg)
![IMG_1506.jpg IMG_1506.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53946-8b773f0eb4a6d8bd1df3bbde4dddb093.jpg)
![IMG_1507.jpg IMG_1507.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53947-daa081229fd57ad76bbba542b09a14d8.jpg)
![IMG_1512.jpg IMG_1512.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53948-bca091b3304e924ac983b499cfbe6a43.jpg)
![IMG_1515.jpg IMG_1515.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53949-728611cedbfd3a4c523d66199951d261.jpg)
![IMG_1526.jpg IMG_1526.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53950-c0fe511175bebe70a183176818a41778.jpg)
![IMG_1530.jpg IMG_1530.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53951-cde9afc749c4b868f824476bdf038f56.jpg)
![IMG_1539.jpg IMG_1539.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53952-9b235213a014d0124cc781c0d72b15d2.jpg)
![IMG_1540.jpg IMG_1540.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53953-588edcab30fb8b5bac9926bfe13be948.jpg)
![IMG_1542.jpg IMG_1542.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53954-386959401b249f7dd586ec22a1a4e5b9.jpg)
![IMG_1543.jpg IMG_1543.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53955-f36d8ca84346d3d19492bb6da2f1ecd0.jpg)
![IMG_1551.jpg IMG_1551.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53956-febddddc0a584e427014e5da3d89616d.jpg)
![IMG_1553.jpg IMG_1553.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53957-db48a2422111c5dd827a31d90d5a7d1d.jpg)
![IMG_1557.jpg IMG_1557.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53958-cbbf9fc6330e69b7c73e7d6a9d679143.jpg)
![IMG_1559.jpg IMG_1559.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/53/53959-503907ca35e94bdc527a11905a57f9b7.jpg)