My kids and I managed a hike up Mount Aire today. Since the gate to the upper portion of Millcreek Canyon is still closed, we decided to start at the Bowman Fork Trail Head and hike along the Pipeline Trail to the Mount Aire Trail Head.
When we arrived at the trail head it was drizzling a touch but after thirty minutes on the trail it had stopped and the sun popped out intermittently. The hiking was pretty easy along the Pipeline Trail though it did get muddier as we approached the Mount Aire Trail Head.
We took a quick break at the Mount Aire Trail Head before continuing on. It took us a little over and hour and a half to make it to the summit of Mount Aire. Once on top, we stopped and ate lunch before heading back down. We had originally planned to gain the Millcreek Ridge and follow it to the Bowman Fork Trail and then descending back to our vehicle, but my daughter was out of gas so we returned the same way we hiked up.
Round trip distance was approximately 10.2 miles and it took us six hours and ten minutes to complete, including lunch and a couple of breaks along the way. My lens hood wasn't screwed on all the way, which I didn't notice until I got home, so my images have some of the hood showing in opposite corners.
![IMG_3493.JPG IMG_3493.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30581-21764f75be7540f707975a9ba432f7d9.jpg)
Pipeline Trail Sign
Kids on the Pipeline Trail
View from the Pipeline Trail
Mount Raymond
![17916881589_9918f77a12_k.jpg 17916881589_9918f77a12_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30585-8478404ea58e7bd46571cb779c4aec0f.jpg)
Elbow Fork - location of Mount Aire Trail Head
![17915397360_b2ab9d0736_k.jpg 17915397360_b2ab9d0736_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30586-b391b61dab91116b2b1e20eb5c1fd8d3.jpg)
Scatman at the trail head to Mount Aire
![18103039135_3aa7a683ae_k.jpg 18103039135_3aa7a683ae_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30587-4d223ff862eb9252240f960ee7a121d4.jpg)
Hiking through aspen
Looking up at the top of Mount Aire from the saddle
Horned toad next to the trail
- I-80 heading east
![18099518422_12eac66719_k.jpg 18099518422_12eac66719_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30591-508814f12be2daf4efa5560bdfaa1d99.jpg)
Grandeur Peak to the west along the Millcreek Ridge
Millcreek Ridge with Murdock and Milvue Peaks to the east - viewed from the top of Mount Aire
Wildcat Ridge - viewed from the top of Mount Aire
The three stooges on top
Nice view on the way down.
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When we arrived at the trail head it was drizzling a touch but after thirty minutes on the trail it had stopped and the sun popped out intermittently. The hiking was pretty easy along the Pipeline Trail though it did get muddier as we approached the Mount Aire Trail Head.
We took a quick break at the Mount Aire Trail Head before continuing on. It took us a little over and hour and a half to make it to the summit of Mount Aire. Once on top, we stopped and ate lunch before heading back down. We had originally planned to gain the Millcreek Ridge and follow it to the Bowman Fork Trail and then descending back to our vehicle, but my daughter was out of gas so we returned the same way we hiked up.
Round trip distance was approximately 10.2 miles and it took us six hours and ten minutes to complete, including lunch and a couple of breaks along the way. My lens hood wasn't screwed on all the way, which I didn't notice until I got home, so my images have some of the hood showing in opposite corners.
![IMG_3493.JPG IMG_3493.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30581-21764f75be7540f707975a9ba432f7d9.jpg)
Pipeline Trail Sign
![18103880591_bcf01bce04_k.jpg 18103880591_bcf01bce04_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30582-282717433e8ff4e8d0347e06aeb43250.jpg)
![17915208988_385f4b769b_k.jpg 17915208988_385f4b769b_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30583-d2184af981da84907a7ca0caf7374240.jpg)
![18076654346_777231351c_k.jpg 18076654346_777231351c_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30584-3ce15ce5f49d6048237abb5bf4fca846.jpg)
![17916881589_9918f77a12_k.jpg 17916881589_9918f77a12_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30585-8478404ea58e7bd46571cb779c4aec0f.jpg)
Elbow Fork - location of Mount Aire Trail Head
![17915397360_b2ab9d0736_k.jpg 17915397360_b2ab9d0736_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30586-b391b61dab91116b2b1e20eb5c1fd8d3.jpg)
Scatman at the trail head to Mount Aire
![18103039135_3aa7a683ae_k.jpg 18103039135_3aa7a683ae_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30587-4d223ff862eb9252240f960ee7a121d4.jpg)
Hiking through aspen
![18104007781_7bf03c8975_k.jpg 18104007781_7bf03c8975_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30588-6ed6adf185635640260f4a9df2c458ce.jpg)
![17915277840_3c787303b9_k.jpg 17915277840_3c787303b9_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30589-8ca2abc6ecb3db5e493499354438799d.jpg)
![17916738359_0fe81bd1cd_k.jpg 17916738359_0fe81bd1cd_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30590-0a8d7fd213e941fb0e630576a17774af.jpg)
![18099518422_12eac66719_k.jpg 18099518422_12eac66719_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30591-508814f12be2daf4efa5560bdfaa1d99.jpg)
Grandeur Peak to the west along the Millcreek Ridge
![18103938621_3c6ad8467a_k.jpg 18103938621_3c6ad8467a_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30592-bea121c020a1b4c5d34043006bb96f1c.jpg)
![17480319104_7e71d86600_k.jpg 17480319104_7e71d86600_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30593-357c7ea1ee049d1ca78e13fc47abfaf0.jpg)
![18099463702_7ca895fe49_k.jpg 18099463702_7ca895fe49_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30594-475e158ef4f961388339a997fd4fc9c5.jpg)
![18103882781_3536b7500c_k.jpg 18103882781_3536b7500c_k.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/30/30595-4188dc392966595256936802c42ff059.jpg)
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