Another day trip completed. The wife wanted to go up to the mountains and see some color. It's late for it, but any excuse for a trail ride right?
This time we went for a new trail we had not done before. Along for the run was my buddy John in his well equipped TJ and my buddy Bill with his sister and bro-in-law in his new to him Tundra (bone stock). The trail was Hayden Pass in Northwest Fremont County. It's one of only two trails that traverse the Sangre De Cristo range to the San Luis Valley. The other trail was the last one we did going over Medano pass. This area we were going to had a major forest fire early this summer. I made a call last week to see if the trail was open as the fire came right up to the trail itself. The USFS said it was open, so onward and upward!
Making a pit stop in nearby Cotopaxi along hwy 50 and the Arkansas river.
Looking down river.
Not as much color, but still a nice day to be on dirt.
County road 6 leading up to the trail.
Start of the trail.
Looking across to the next ridge you can see where the fire came over it.
Another ridge.
Driving through the burn scar. Amazing how the white aspen trees escaped burning.
More burned area.
Looking through the burn area back towords the Arkansas river valley below.
Above the burn area, but below the summit we came across this mess. John, big Bill and I made short work of this with a tow strap.
Made it to the top.
Stopping for snacks at the summit.
Poser shot.
Better color on the west side.
Almost back down.
Looking out over the San Luis valley.
