Josh Kurz
Jun 30

Trail Update 6/29/19

4 comments

Edited: Jul 20

Fourmile Trail to is clear to the Fourmile Falls, stream crossings aren't bad.

Opal Lake Trail is clear to Opal Lake, stream crossings aren't bad.

Weminuche Trail is clear at least 10 miles in, East Fork of the Weminuche Creek is running high but there is a log jam just downstream that will get you across with care.

Divide Lakes is clear to the lake.

West Fork Trail is clear until 4.5 miles, at which point the trail is buried under tremendous avalanche debris.

Lower Treasure Trail is open from the East Fork Valley, but the upper trailhead is inaccessible since Wolf Creek Road is still closed.

Phillip Sproul
Jul 21

Hi Josh, thank you for the trail report for Fourmile Trail. My family and I are hiking to Fourmile lake again very soon to stay for the week. We have to get out of this Oklahoma heat.. ha ha. Have you been up there yet? We met you and your dog last year up there when you were mapping the trail. Thank you for your site. My boys want to hike to the top of that peak you went to on from the upper lake. I'll let you know if we make it.

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Josh Kurz
Jul 21

Nice to hear from you again Phillip! I haven't been to the lake yet but a friend of mine has and he said there were a few trees on the trail above the falls but not too bad. Have fun on the peak. I went up a mostly grassy route and tried to come down a shorter route and it got a little cliffy so I'd recommend coming down the same way you go up. Have fun!

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Phillip Sproul
Sep 22

@Josh Kurz Good morning. I'm sorry I did not write back soon after our trip back in July. This was the first time we camped at the upper lake. We took the 4 mile trail this time. We stayed 3 nights and had perfect weather. However, the mosquitoes were out in full force during the day. Not sure why they were so bad this year. The one day hike I would recommend to anyone going up there would be to hike to the back of the bowl then hike the rim to the East. You can hike up to a little over 12,000 feet and get a great view of both lakes. We made a full circle by hiking down next to the upper lake. It was a great all around trip. Here is a picture of the view from the peak looking at the lakes. It was also nice to see a lot of new growth.

 

 

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Josh Kurz
Sep 22

Great lake picture - that's a cool perspective of both lakes! My friend ran into a family at the lake from OK who mentioned the mosquitos - figured it was you. I think they're normally bad - the drought of 2018 surpressed them briefly! Hopefully you were still able to enjoy the high country!

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New Posts
  • Josh Kurz
    Jul 21

    2019 Wilderness Trail Conditions

    Trail Name (#): Last Updated - Conditions/notes Anderson (579) : 6/12/19 - 1st 3 miles are clear Blanco River (573): Buckles and Harris Lake: Cimarrona (586) : 7/27/19 - one tree between TH and the the junction with Hossick Creek Trail Coal Creek: clear to wilderness both ends Crater Lake (562): 8/21/19 - 2 trees near halfway point Divide Lakes (539) : 6/27/19 - clear to lakes East Fork Weminuche (659): 6/27/19 - 1st 0.5 miles clear, then huge avalanche Falls Creek (673): Fish Creek (575): 6/8/19 - opal/fish to wilderness Fish Lake (574) : 7/20/19 - upper sections presumably buried in avalanche debris Fourmile (569) : 6/27/19 - clear to Fourmile Falls Hossick (585) : 7/27/19 - clear except one short section buried by avalanche debris (impassible to stock) Hossick Lake (602) : 7/27/19 - clear Indian Creek (588): 8/4/19 - clear to Palisade Meadows Leche Creek (576): 6/20/19 - clear Little Blanco (572) : Little Sand (591): Middle Fork (589) : Navajo Peak (577): 6/20/19 - clear Opal Lake (564) : 6/7/19 - clear Pagosa Peak (n/a) : 7/20/19 - around 100 trees in the 1st mile (to the saddle) Palisade Meadows (651): 8/4/19 disappears when it crosses the meadow near the junction with Indian Creek. Great shape to the CDT. Piedra (596): 6/20/19 - clear to Davis from south Piedra Falls (671): 6/1/19 - clear Quartz Creek (571): Quartz Lake (568) : 8/7/19 - one short snowfield remains Quartz Ridge (570): Shaw Creek (584): Treasure Falls: Treasure Mountain Trail (565): Turkey Creek (580) : 8/18/19 - 3 small trees between TH and lake (great shape) V Rock: 6/20/19 - clear Weminuche (592) : 6/11/19 - clear West Fork (561): 6/4/19 - 1st 4.5 miles is clear, then massive avalanche debris, impassible by stock Williams Creek (587): 8/4/19 - clear to Williams Lake and the CDT Windy Pass (566): 6/19/19 - clear from Windy Pass and Treasure Mountain junction 0.5 miles
  • Josh Kurz
    Jun 25

    Road/Trail Conditions

    All of the local forest service roads are open at this time with the exception of Wolf Creek Road (FR725), Falls Creek Road (FR039), and East Fork Road (FR667), which is closed at mile 6 due to high water crossings (Silver Falls is not accessible). Trails with river crossings are still difficult due to high water. Snow drifts and downed timber cover the spruce/fir forest trails above 10,000 feet. Trails in the ponderosa pine and mixed conifer are dry.
  • Josh Kurz
    Nov 27

    Road/Trail Conditions

    Most Forest Service Roads are open with the exception of these high elevation roads: Black Mountain 661 (access Pagosa Peak) Buckles Lake 663 (access to Buckles Lake) Castle Creek 660 (access to Fish Creek Trail) Falls Creek 039 Nipple Mountain 665 (access to Quartz Lake via Little Blanco Trail) Mosca 631 (access to Sand Creek Trail) Wolf Creek 725 (access to Treasure Trail) Although the trailheads are accessible, you're likely to encounter snow drifts and deep swift water crossings on popular trails such as Opal Lake and Fourmile Falls. Trails below 9,000 feet have muddy spots, but should dry out fast with the predicted warm weather. The first few miles of the Williams Lake wilderness trailheads should be accessible, but trees haven't been cleared. The Turkey Springs Area is accessible and beautiful!
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