(Continued from the previous page.)

LAKE VIEWS

When I got up to about 12,000 feet I could see a pretty little pond in the lower part of the basin:

I continued further on the trail as it ascended higher because I wanted to see what the entire basin looks like. My maps showed only one lake; the first one was so small and shallow that I figured there must be another one higher up.

Yup, there was:

 

Willis Lake isn't as spectacular as I expected but it's a scenic little lake and worth the hike at least one time.

Cody and I spent about 45 minutes eating lunch and wandering around above the lake, down to it, and back up to the trail:

 

 

It was warm and not nearly as windy as on Hope Pass Sunday. I was in no hurry and wanted to enjoy the scenery while I was there because  I doubt I’ll ever go back up Big Willis Trail – too many rocks and not a big enough pay-off compared to other trails in the Leadville-Twin Lakes area.

I could have gone a little farther back into the gulch but I didn't see a trail past the point where I stopped. Further hiking would have been over more rocks than I wanted to negotiate. I didn't see any trails going up to the passes between LaPlata and Rinker or LaPlata and Mount Hope but it looks possible to go either way without climbing equipment if you're determined to do that.

THE DESCENT

I enjoyed the views of Willis Lake, the pond, and the valleys in the distance when I turned around and started my descent through the basin. The water in the lakes and stream looked even prettier from this angle than going up:

 

 

 

 

Dense willows on the flank of Rinker Peak

Then we got to the treeline and descended through a mix of trees and meadows until we reached the rock slide again:

 

 

Just before the rock slide I could just barely see the Twin Lakes down in the valley. That's the blue water in the center of the next photo and the one above:

 

 

 

We're heading back into the woods now, still in Big Willis Gulch:

    

 

These photos are from the trail that goes down to the Lake Creek gorge and gauging station where I parked:

    

 

View of Twin Lakes from the trail

GORGEOUS GORGE

This was my fourth time in two days going past the beautiful gorge below the gauging station and I had to take some more photos on the way back:

Above and below: two views of what I call "The Vortex"

 

The next picture shows the trail intersection near the gauging station.

The trail on the left goes about half a mile to Parry Peaks CG, where I started and ended my hike to Hope Pass on Sunday. The trail on the right goes about a third of a mile to the gauging station bridge and parking area. That's the trail I used today:

 

I'm no mind reader but I do believe Cody is hesitating (next photo) because he remembers those painful metal steps he must take to get back up to the truck in the parking area on the other side of the bridge:

Gauging station bridge over Lake Creek

POST-HIKE THOUGHTS

To my surprise I saw exactly ONE person on the trail today – he was cutting the only downed tree I saw Sunday on the LT100 course going up the north side of Hope. It was just above the intersection with the Big Willis Trail. I just saw him from a distance and didn't talk with him.

Where is everybody?? It was a beautiful summer day for a hike or run. This might be a good place for you to go if you're looking for solitude and don't mind rocks and thick shrubs . . .

Tonight I’m tired and get stiff if I sit too long in one position but I'm not sore. I feel like I'm getting better trained and better acclimated to go higher on subsequent hikes. I've got Elbert and Massive in my sights -- both are 14ers.

Cody's got a stick . . .

Cody seems fine after his big day in the mountains.

He found a stick on the LT100 course on the way up this morning and brought the same one to me on the way down – cute! He's got lots of energy for an eight-year-old Lab. It helped that he had plenty of water from the creeks and lakes we passed today.

Next entry:  cycling on the Mineral Belt Trail and parts of the LT100 bike course

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, and Cody the Ultra Lab

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© 2011 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil