elk park train stop to needletonhouses for rent wilmington, nc under $1000

elk park train stop to needleton

Route Standard route up to Twin Lakes, ascended Windoms West face. Really, it shouldnt be called a creek, but a river instead. We also packed an MSR PocketRocket Deluxe backpacking stove to boil water for all our freeze-dried meals, our hand-pump espresso machine, and a lightweight hatchet multitool to help with campfires. The stars were barely visible now that the morning light was fast approaching, but this was the most Id seen of stars the entire trip. This was my first hike of more than five miles. Our backpack would take us on a horseshoe loop from Elk. It might be tough to find a good alpine hike that early in the season. Youre hiking at high elevation in a very sunny spot, so protecting your eyes is important. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. Debris form 2020 avalanches on the elk park section have been cleared but theres quite a bit of fallen trees blocking the needle creek trail out of the Chicago Basin. After 3 hours, we were finally back in Durango. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. Weve also been testing this Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45 + 5 pack and love it. We chatted for a while and took turns taking pictures of each other before they headed down. Todays hike will take us the rest of the way up the Elk Creek drainage along the Colorado trail, where well hit the Continental Divide Trail, or CDT. Everything was still pretty wet from the rains overnight, and it was cold. Hikers exchanged stories about their experiences in the Weminuche Wilderness and beyond to kill the time. We didn't. Windward_Coug. Thanks for the great report! The ride is slow and sooty and other than the crying kids that overpopulated our car, the ride really was wonderful. View Profile I modified my workout regimen before this hike to try and strengthen certain parts of the leg muscles that support the knee function, some intense stair climb sessions (45lb pack), as well as doing a lot more stretching. The bridge at Vallecito Creek, near Johnson Creek, is still good. Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. Awesome, glad it was useful to you. There were cairns here and there marking the way as well, which could be seen since the Twin Lakes. It looked like a nice spot, close to the water, but the views werent excellent. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. As the evening progressed, we saw several deer both near our camp and off in the distance. See the beauty of the San Juans on a guided tour. Very good tip report. The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. Also, if youre looking for a GPX file, you can download that here http://metalbackpacker.com/gpx-files/. There are also sections with loose pebbles where youll want good traction. While it did have some beautiful parts, Particularly at the top of the Continental Divide and Columbine Pass, I was disappointed by the avalanche debris in the first 6 miles and the lack of trail maintenance on the section below hunchback pass to the Vallecito Bridge. Lower elevations and farther south, definitely no snow and the spring melt off is going to be done by then. If youre doing the whole Elk Park to Needleton loop, take the Durango-Silverton diesel train north from Durango to Elk Park. I dont trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! I was awestruck with the beauty of those mountains. It was around 1:45pm when we rolled into camp today. After about an hour of rain, thunder and lightning, I gave up on the idea of a fire. Finally, some views! What a place for a cabin though! We stopped to eat lunch on a talus slope and observed many pikas, no marmots yet though. Yes there is. Also, this area of the Weminuche has quite the rodent population. We passed 2 guys who had asked us how far Roell Creek was, but I wasnt familiar with that one. Down to Eldorado. We did the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Loop which was 36 miles. Once on the other side, the path down to Eldorado lake was pretty clear. If I were to do it again, I wouldve done a few more miles the first day - theres a nice campsite before the first peak. As with the other days, we passed many streams and waterfalls on the way up. Continental Divide Trail At the Divide, the trail connects with the Continental Divide Trail. There was another group who did this, and the train staff didn't seem to have any problem with it (we had paid for a RT ticket anyway). Colorado Adventure 2022 San Juan Mountains Weminuche Wilderness Elk I didnt want to go crazy on day 1 anyways, so it worked out that it was a shorter day. There were also a lot of flowers alongside the trail, and there were tons of butterflies on them. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. This snowshoe hare looks as if it could shoot lasers from its eyes, Campsite along the Elk Park trail, around 10,300ft. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a9fc6034fcd46f19ce6730fcccb725d8" );document.getElementById("b86db021e5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I'm Sarah! Your email address will not be published. The low clouds were back, engulfing Mount Kennedy southwest of us. Sometimes 2 to a flower. I purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. The fire burned quite well once established, despite the soggy wood. This was a class 3 in my opinion. We use the Therm-a-Rest Vela Double 20 quilt. Completed this loop early July 2021. More mountain goats as I leave the Twins Lake area. Complete Weminuche Wilderness Photo Gallery | Weminuche HD Video. There was another meadow a mile or so past our camp that would have been a nice place to spend the night. Here are our top tips on preparing for a successful and safe loop from Elk Park to Needleton in the mountains of Colorado! I highly recommend it. I used a Garmin InReach Mini 2 to track our location, and any time we came to an unmarked trail junction, we knew which way to go. This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. Dogs are welcome and may be off-lead in some areas. It has a mesh frame that holds the weight of the pack slightly off your back. Early morning often leaves thick fog in valleys, only to be burnt away later by the sun. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. The skies were grey to start the day, but gave way to some blue patches by mid morning. The clouds seemed to be chasing us up Hunchback Pass. I couldnt really see Kite Lake well from the the CDT, but as I said earlier, my mind was pretty much set. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. Then, we saw 2 mountain goats on the other side of Needle Creek that had just walked into someones camp. Length: 7.9 mi Est. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. Elk Park Stop Elk Creek Trail This trail travels east from the railroad, climbing into the upper reaches of the Needle Mountains. 2/21/22 12:55pm. Elk Park to Needleton Backpack Loop 5,560 views Aug 5, 2008 9 Dislike Share Save Elizabeth Black 394 subscribers From the steam engine train we backpack for 6 days on a 40 mile loop out in. It even had some rails leading in and out of it. This is when the fog really started growing. We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. The oldest cart on the train was built in 1879, and the oldest engine was from 1925 I believe. There were 2 large pines growing 3 feet apart, creating a dry spot large enough for our tent, all out gear, places to sit, and more. Elk Park/Needleton Loop, Colorado. We made it to Chicago Basin and I made it to the "saddle" of Sunlight peak before talking myself out of going up the rest of the way (regretting it to this day). It was raining up here and quite cold. Everywhere along the horizon, fog could be seen rising from the mountains. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. In good weather it should not be a problem. I used to do that, but it gets expensive to print out those big maps all the time, especially for places I likely wont return to for years. We heard later that there was a porcupine in the area chewing on things, so it couldve been the culprit. Reddit - Dive into anything Before I knew it though, I was was past the steeper summit section and back down to a more obvious trail. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Hiking Route | Trailforks is to leave an itinerary with a responsible person back home, as well as a time and date when they should call for help if they dont hear from you. This satellite powered device is able to track your location on a digital map, share your location with friends/family, send basic text messages, and (most importantly) it has an emergency SOS button to get help. It rained a little very briefly when I got back, then was party sunny the rest of the day with only a few intermittent showers. We followed Bear Creek down to the Rio Grande by following the 4wd road and used our sat phone to arrange for transportation to Silverton. PS. with an Osprey water bladder. The views were awe inspiring, but of course, it began to rain. Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. Thanks for the trip report, I had originally planned just on Chicago Basin but will now do the whole loop after seeing your report and talking to the forest service rangers. We played leap frog with the other groups of hikers most of the day as we passed them on their breaks and vice versa. If youre boarding the train at a flag stop, you need to alert the conductor. drops you off in the middle of the wilderness (no car access) and do a loop that is absolutely beautiful. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. We walked down to Needle Creek and took a side path over to a waterfall, but besides that, we spent the rest of the day relaxing in camp mostly. The final approach of Columbine Pass was pretty steep, but manageable. They could not believe how small the pad was, but I got the impression it was too ultralight for them. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. Alternatively, if you feel you have any information youd like to share with others regarding this hike, please feel free to leave that below in a comment as well. There were more mountain goats in the evening as well. This time, we were sure to be acclimated to the elevation. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. Heres an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Thank you for taking the time to write it! Bob Marshall. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! Needleton Bridge Trailhead // Colorado 13ers With about five minutes to go before arriving at Elk Park, one of conductors gather all of the backpackers and ask you to head to the front of the train. I was rewarded with an amazing view of the Weminuche Wilderness, unobstructed by clouds for the first time all week. Dogs are also able to. Before reaching the trails down to Kite/Eldorado Lakes, we had to hike over a 100ft rocky ridge, just as the clouds looked their worst. Sad to see all the beetle damage. So, they suggested to take train from Needleton to Silverton, wait for 1.5h and then return back to Elk Park for the price of full ticket Durango-Silverton . The weather looked like it was holding out as we neared the top, but it looked like it could turn bad at any moment. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. Thats for water drainage, and maybe goats. I laughed and told him how I lost the trail before it headed up. The water is gorgeous. Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. The cinders get in your eyes too, and they recommend that you wear sunglasses as a form of protection. Campsite in Chicago Basin for nights 4 and 5. The water was deep and fast flowing here. Physically, I did pretty well on this hike. We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) He sure did look delicious, haha. In summer, you may want to bring along a bug net to fit over your hat to protect yourself from mosquitoes, gnats and black flies. We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. I like having dry gear! Between the trailhead marker and train stop was actually private property with a few shacks, cabins, and homes built. I only followed the drainage a short ways, but another 100ft away it appeared to drop off. This hike is definitely a good one! The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails Browse different rides & seasonal events. You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. There didnt appear to be any evidence of beavers here either. Given the popularity of Kite Lake, being right next to a 44 road just outside of the wilderness boundary, I pretty much had my mind set on Eldorado. I dont like to sit in the tent if I dont have to. We were able to cross the creek by hopping rocks and logs, just as we were able to with every other stream crossing on this trip. As of the 2013 season, a round-trip ticket is $90.10 + $10.00 for your pack. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. It was cloudy and grey though, so pictures werent coming out good. I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. The altitude will affect water filters and food cook time, which is usually explained on the packaging. The Durango-Silverton train offers a backpacker service from May to October, where they drop you off and pick you up at train stops which more or less correspond to the trailheads. I couldnt resist the chance to whip out my Klymit Inertia X-Frame sleeping pad that I bought a few months back. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. Id say we averaged 5 people seen per day on days 1-4. Looking back up the way I just came down from Windom Peak. A very convenient spot for an abandoned shack to be located. NOTE: As of 2021, we have been informed that you cannot board the train in Silverton and get dropped off at Needleton. To reach this trail on foot, some hikers make a longer loop from the Molas Trail (about four miles). Finally, it was time to start this hike. This section of trail is also part of the Colorado Trail, a 400 mile trail that goes from Durango to Denver. There were tons of waterfalls everywhere, many more than our hike in the Maroon Bells last year. Lisa just made it up over the last rocky ridge on the CDT, giving way to views of Eldorado Lake. Youll be hiking in a wilderness area. Hiking through Vallecito Basin on our way up Columbine Pass. We only had to wait 30 minutes before suiting up. Never miss a new post! Would that be too early in the season? If you found my trip report useful, please dont hesitate to leave a comment! Miles: 45 Days: 6-8 Difficulty: Strenuous. Once I gained a few hundred feet in elevation, I could see that there wasnt any threat of getting soaked and I took off the extra layers. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton is a 37 mile less popular intermediate route located near Silverton Colorado. However, the clouds were building now and threatened to block the sun for the first time today. They didnt seem to concerned with our presence though. It took us 7 days to complete it. However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. Share Followers 0. By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. The weather started to improve a little as we set up the tent and took care of the usual camp chores. Hail/freezing rain/snow was falling, and it was Hunchback Pass all over again, with a little better visibility. But, thats another story for another trip report. Twin Lakes, still waiting for early morning light to hit tis waters. Our total distance was about 42 miles. There was a new amazing view after every turn. Wilderness Access Train Rides - Durango.com Preparing for Elk Park to Needleton Loop - Champagne Tastes Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. He mentioned a possible shortcut to get up here from the Colorado Trail, by going up the drainage. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. Learn more about this exciting opportunity for outdoor recreation youll find only in Durango. But if you need an even warmer quilt, weve heard very good things about the quilts from Enlightened Equipment.

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elk park train stop to needleton

　

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