Bear Bags	Be Prepared	Fishing	Tentsite	Alongside Johnson Creek	Vallecito Creek	Vallecito Creek Bridge

Day 4: Tuesday August 3, 2004

Johnson Creek Trail over Columbine Pass (13,000 feet) and into Chicago Basin

Elevation at Start: 10,500

Distance Traveled: 7.5 miles

The skies cleared today and we were off on a challenging uphill grind to Columbine Pass.  We were treated to outstanding vistas along the way to Columbine Lake.  The wildflowers were in abundant supply and in a blaze of colors.  While resting at the lake, scouts detected a strange odor and found the carcass of a horse that probably had fallen off the ridge above the lake. We also explored an abandoned mine near the lake.  Once we reached the pass, we stayed for about an hour and a half.  The view and weather could not have been better!  We were entertained by a pica and incredible views all around us.  We descended from Columbine Pass and made our way toward our campsite near Chicago Basin.  Along the way, we stopped for our traditional summer snowball fight in a snowfield. We found an excellent campsite above the Chicago Basin Area.  We did attempt to hike lower into the basin but opted to stay put after talking to two hikers that we were better off at our campsite.  Our campsite was about a mile and 700 feet further than where we wanted to be to start our day hike up Windom Peak, but given the outstanding location, water supply and views we were content.  We did make friends with the mountain goats, one in particular we named Sherman.  He seemed to follow you like a puppy and was always nearby—especially when you had to go to the bathroom.  They goats are attracted to the salt in hiker’s urine and would follow us for that reason.  Nate found this out while relieving himself in the middle of the night, when Sherman brushed up beside him!

Along The Trail	Alex And Rob	Campsite Above Chicago Basin	Sherman	Sherman The Goat	Nate At Columbine Pass	Columbine Lake
Old Mine	Our Scoutmaster Greg	Switchback To Columbine Pass	Snow Field	Vallecito Basin Area	Vallecito Basin

Day 5: Wednesday August 4, 2004

Elevation at Start: 11,000 feet

Day Hike at Windom Peak, Elevation: 14,082

Distance Traveled: 10 miles

We descended seven hundred feet to the trailhead for Windom Peak.  We encountered a lot of hikers and noticed a lot of campsites in the Needles Creek Area.  We complimented ourselves on how nice and remote our campsite is from the congestion down below—and how the hike backup to the campsite would be tiring after a 14000 footer but well worth it.  At the trail head for Windom Peak we started the ascent to Twin Lakes.  This was a robust climb in itself and prepared us mentally for the remainder of the climb.  From the lakes, the trail ascended to a plateau and then began the grueling assault to the summit.  It was a picture perfect day.  It was a non-technical climb yet there was plenty of loose scree and rocks to scramble over.  The majority of our scouts and leaders made it to the top.  

Alex Nearing The Top	Ascent of Windom Peak	Break At Twin Lakes	View from Twin Lakes	Gordy Near The Top	View From The Top	View From Windom Peak

Day 6: Thursday August 5, 2004

 

Needleton Creek Area of Chicago Basin to primitive campsite along the Animas River.

Elevation at Start: 11,000 feet

 

We hiked through the Chicago Basin and then followed the Animas River. Hiking along the Animas River we spotted the Durango – Silverton Train a few times.  We found a secluded campsite away from one of the train junctions.  A lot of day trippers would get off the train here and meander around.  It was a bit melancholy to realize we were getting back to civilization.  We caught some downpours at our campsite.  We did manage to use a pavilion about a ½ mile from the campsite to chill out at.  Some of us used the pavilion to cook dinner.  There was a local scout troop there that set up their tents underneath the pavilion to keep dry for the night!  We were fine in the outdoor elements without any whining or hardship complaints on account of the weather.

Day 7: Friday August 6, 2004

Purgatory Trail Head

Distance Traveled: 

The last day on the trail included a good uphill start in the morning before leveling out.  Our final mile was an uphill hike with a 700 foot elevation gain to the Purgatory Trail Head.   We arrived at the trail head ahead of our scheduled pick-up time and did the tourist deal by visiting the shops at the base of the Purgatory Ski Area.

 

Day 8: Saturday August 7, 2004

Saturday morning came awfully early and the vans had to be returned and the bus came. We were headed home. A nice hotel room in Denver and a swim and back home we went.

Where did the week go? We had a lot of laughs and a lot of memories. Saw a lot of incredibly beautiful scenery and some pretty bad storms. Ate a buffalo burger in Silverton which was not like any beef I have ever had. Do it again???  In a heartbeat! Bring on the next High Adventure!

Bus Ride To Denver	The Long Ride	Dinner Break	Happy Birthday Jim	Fun In The Pool

 

Day 9: Sunday August 8, 2004

Our last day was a travel day. A late morning flight from Denver to Chicago, finally arriving back at Manchester in the evening.