the "road" i'm allowed to be on (thanks)

plans don’t always work out the way you plan, even for a planner by trade. i had planned to climb a couple unnamed peaks in boulder county west of lyons, starting with one just south of south saint vrain canyon which had a road most of the way and should have only taken a couple hours. six and a half hours later i’d be so grateful to see my black beauty and take off my wet boots. too late and too drained to even attempt the thought of tackling the second peak, although i do have time for a drive-by to grab some beta for when i come back. there are a couple of roads that might take me to a trailhead, per the map, but the drive-by squashed those options with “private road” signs dotting the trees. looks like it’ll have to be another bushwhack up a steep, loose, dangerous, difficult, and cold ravine just to get anywhere near the summit. hopefully the snow will melt by the time i’m back for this one. today, however, the snow was abundant and dragged me down so much. i found good parking just north of the peak and found the road i’d seen on the map that should take me within a mile of the peak. turns out this “road” hasn't seen a motorized vehicle in 100 years. a large painted rock greets you with a message to the effect of “no motorized vehicles, dangerous. hikers are chill”. awesome! these are my kind of land owners!! i wish everyone could be so accommodating to the lowly hiker. it was such a good feeling to know i was in a place where i’m allowed (supposed) to be. many times have i been on a trail where i’m unsure of who owns it, or the owner flat out doesn't want me there, or both. recently i've been able to stay on the right path, although the other folks on that path aren't hip to me and what i’m trying to do. if only…

the fine print below says hikers are badass, especially those named ethan,
and have unfettered access to all the wide open space they (he) can get his feet on

he just has to get up this "road"

the awesome 4wd road. i don't know what to call this.

this time i was on the right path AND the folks of this land were actually encouraging me to be there. i passed the painted rock and went up and over the rocks, and the pole and rebar that kept the wretched motorized vehicles out. the road takes off, up into the long gulch and immediately i am climbing up, over and through fallen trees. it would be this way for about a mile. there were interesting rock formations and a good deal of animal tracks. i’m pretty sure i saw bobcat and i’m near certain there was a moose up there hanging out. i found where (s)he was bedding down, saw moose turds, which look and tastes just like moose turds, and saw his/her tracks all up and down the gulch. kept a keen eye out but never saw ole bullwinkle.

fit for a moose

a giant ungulate

my new gps was loaded with a good map and fresh lithiums, but of course when i get into the field it decides to crap out. the map shows another “road” that veers left up to around 8,000’, but there is so much snow and thick timber that i’m not sure i’ll be able to find it. i do find a gulch that looks doable (almost anything is better than the “road”) and i think i actually identify it on the map. it’s very steep but at least there are fewer fallen trees and a clearer path. i gain the ridge of 8,140’s friend and follow it up, and then down, and then up again to reach the saddle of this friend and another.

devilishly chilly

the temps range between 30° and 40° F and maybe even got up to 50°. there was no wind, which was a blessing from the heavens, and the sun would peek out here and there to shine his brilliance upon me. there are no roads, no cabins or footprints, not a power line in sight. it feels very primitive and isolated. if i were hurt out here, it would be a good week, at least, before anyone found me, assuming my tracks melted away in 24 hours. my bum knee begins to hurt on certain steps. and by hurt, i mean i’m considering turning back. here i am, with the peak in sight and close to 4 hours into it, and my recovering leg is going to start causing trouble. well i wasn't about to let it. if worse came to worse, i’d pop some painkillers and keep on truckin’. thankfully it would never come to that. i hiked a little slower and more careful, and dropped down from the saddle into some drainage that meets up with the runoff from golden age, porphyry, fairview and more. from here i’d have to find the rocky spine leading to the summit. i found it and began to climb, and this is where the hike is officially designated “difficult”. the snow is getting very slushy. early in the day all i had to contend with was a 2 inch crust to break through with my microspikes. now that it’s later in the day and the melt is taking place, the 70 degree slope is even more treacherous. i scramble up cracks of 20 foot walls and squeeze through the tightest of spaces through the twisted and scraping branches.

climbing a crack

my leg is holding up and soon it looks like the summit is within site. i skirt around the north and up to find a snow capped peak with immaculate views all around. i can see the plains, longs and meeker, to coffintop and indian lookout, to fairview and friends, to the peak with private roads leading up, to another unnamed peak that, had it been summer and no bum knee, i would have made a bee-line for. it’ll have to wait.

the view from 8,140'

ethan allen; the man with the plan.

i don’t spend too much time on the summit. i’m worried about my knee and want to be sure i make it back in time for happy hour (i did). the trip back is great. i took a couple shortcuts and met back up with my tracks. i met up with a couple mule deer, but no moose. nor mountain lion. i was on the lookout all day for the big cat. no luck. the descent was quick, despite having to go up and over 8,140’s friends again. i was back at bb before i knew it though. all in all, a dangerous and difficult hike, especially for bum –leg–ethan.  ~4 miles RT, 1,780’ vertical gain, 6.5 hours, 37/87 of all ranked boulder county peaks, hills, mountains, ridge lines, and benchmarks climbed. i wish there weren't 14ers in the state so i could focus the year on boulder, but alas, there are 14ers and my attention must soon go to them. i’m so excited to do it all so that i can finally relax and sleep in.

hold on little one. things always turn around.