IntrepidXJ
ADVENTR
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2012
- Messages
- 3,479
Sunday, December 30, 2012
The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO
This is it! My final trip report from 2012. I sure hope 2013 is at least as good to me as 2012 was.
For my final trip of the year I had the urge to get out snowshoeing again, except I didn't want to just head up onto the Grand Mesa again. I wanted to try somewhere new that still wasn't too far away from home. I realized that I hadn't made it to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park all year and I know they have some snowshoe trails near the Visitor's Center, so I thought it would be a great place to check out.
I left my house bright and early and arrived at the park well before sunrise. Let me tell you, it was cold and windy! I hiked around until I found a view into the canyon I liked and waited for the sun to come up.
Black Canyon Dawn by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Gunnison River far below.
Gunnison River by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
When the sun broke free of the horizon, it lit up the rim of the canyon.
Black Canyon Sunrise by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Rim Light by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
When the sun hid itself behind the overcast sky, and I was too frozen to take anymore photos, I went back to my Jeep and warmed myself up for a bit before starting my snowshoe hike on the Oak Flat Trail. This trail is a 2 mile loop that descends about 400 feet and then climbs back up again. It's in the trees for part of the loop and kind of narrow in places. There were also some steep switchbacks along the way. Since I usually snowshoe on the relatively flat Grand Mesa this route was a little different for me, and it was a lot of fun! It was a great way to get some experience on different terrain with my snowshoes.
While hiking the trail, I passed this wall covered in different colored lichen.
Lichen & Snow by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
After finishing the Oak Flat loop I was still feeling good and wanted to find another trail to check out. I decided on the Rim Rock Trail that goes from the Visitor's Center to the South Rim Campground. This trail offered some excellent views into the canyon, and as I neared the campground I also got to break some new trail in the fresh powder since no one had hiked that far yet.
Rim Rock Sign by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I liked the contrast of the colorful lichen on this boulder to the snow-covered terrain.
Boulder View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Along the Rim Rock Trail.
Rim Rock Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Looking down at my MSR Evo Tour snowshoes.
MSR by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The view over the North Rim of the Black Canyon up a drainage towards the Elk Mountains.
North Rim by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
It was a great morning and I'm looking forward to spending more time at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in the winter months.
>> Black Canyon Snowshoeing Photo Gallery
Featured image for home page:
The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO
This is it! My final trip report from 2012. I sure hope 2013 is at least as good to me as 2012 was.
For my final trip of the year I had the urge to get out snowshoeing again, except I didn't want to just head up onto the Grand Mesa again. I wanted to try somewhere new that still wasn't too far away from home. I realized that I hadn't made it to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park all year and I know they have some snowshoe trails near the Visitor's Center, so I thought it would be a great place to check out.
I left my house bright and early and arrived at the park well before sunrise. Let me tell you, it was cold and windy! I hiked around until I found a view into the canyon I liked and waited for the sun to come up.
Black Canyon Dawn by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Gunnison River far below.
Gunnison River by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
When the sun broke free of the horizon, it lit up the rim of the canyon.
Black Canyon Sunrise by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Rim Light by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
When the sun hid itself behind the overcast sky, and I was too frozen to take anymore photos, I went back to my Jeep and warmed myself up for a bit before starting my snowshoe hike on the Oak Flat Trail. This trail is a 2 mile loop that descends about 400 feet and then climbs back up again. It's in the trees for part of the loop and kind of narrow in places. There were also some steep switchbacks along the way. Since I usually snowshoe on the relatively flat Grand Mesa this route was a little different for me, and it was a lot of fun! It was a great way to get some experience on different terrain with my snowshoes.
While hiking the trail, I passed this wall covered in different colored lichen.
Lichen & Snow by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
After finishing the Oak Flat loop I was still feeling good and wanted to find another trail to check out. I decided on the Rim Rock Trail that goes from the Visitor's Center to the South Rim Campground. This trail offered some excellent views into the canyon, and as I neared the campground I also got to break some new trail in the fresh powder since no one had hiked that far yet.
Rim Rock Sign by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I liked the contrast of the colorful lichen on this boulder to the snow-covered terrain.
Boulder View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Along the Rim Rock Trail.
Rim Rock Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Looking down at my MSR Evo Tour snowshoes.
MSR by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The view over the North Rim of the Black Canyon up a drainage towards the Elk Mountains.
North Rim by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
It was a great morning and I'm looking forward to spending more time at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in the winter months.
>> Black Canyon Snowshoeing Photo Gallery
Featured image for home page:
