CO>???>July 6-8

[Kyle]

Hey, y'all. I'm wondering if any of you fellow Coloradoans have any recommendations for a first-time, solo trip. I'm wanting to get out this weekend, and preferably for 2 nights. It'll be my very first backpacking trip ever and I'll be going solo (unless anyone wants to join on such short notice).

I'd like to keep it within a couple hours' drive of Fort Collins. Recommendations? Otherwise I'll just be looking at trails the next couple days and choosing one almost at random. XD

Super short timeframe to get ideas, I know, but I'm itchin' to get out and I think it's time. Thanks for any suggestions!

[Boulderman]

I'd go with ya if I wasn't going out of town this weekend. I spend most of my time up in the Indian peaks and James peak wilderness just west of Boulder.

As far as picking a trail - I often pick stuff at random too! I go here:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/arp/...28024&actid=51

and read up on the trails and decide on one. If you haven't already, you should check out the trails in the ranger district west of you, I'm sure there's a bunch of good stuff.

[Kyle]

Thanks, Boulderman, that's a fantastic resource. Stuff like that is a huge help for someone like me who doesn't have the first clue how to even find a trail, lol. Too bad you can't make it; I'm sure we'll meet again at some point this summer. My employers were nice enough to give me every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off this summer knowing that I was just getting into backpacking. So I'll be getting out a lot, methinks. Maybe I should start a thread for suggestions for the whole season... hmmm...

[Kyle]

Think I've settled on a location. Trail info can be seen here.

Copied from the website:

Distance: 19.3 miles (loop)

Walking time:
day 1: 5 1/2 hours
day 2: 4 hours
day 3: 3 1/2 hours

Elevations: 2,140 ft. gain/loss
Surprise Trailhead (start): 8,620 ft.
Upper Cataract Lake: 10,756 ft.
Mirror Lake: 10,570 ft.
Trail: Well marked, but poorly maintained in some sections.

Season: Midsummer through mid-fall. The trail is covered with snow from mid-November through June.

Vicinity: Eagles Nest Wilderness Area, near Silverthorne

Planning on trying to tackle the whole thing, we'll see how that goes.

If anyone wants to come along, and can make it on such short notice, please do!

[Boulderman]

Looks great! Wish I could come. A lot of times after I pick a trail on the forest service website I'll google the trail name and can usually find a printable topo map & more information on a site like Protrails.com or something. For example:

http://www.protrails.com/trail/summi...e-and-cat-lake

(I didn't see a topo on there but often Protrails has them)

Good luck!

[Kyle]

Thanks, Boulderman, another great resource. I found the USGS Map Locator and Downloader and that worked wonderfully. Gives me the topo with the trail on it, already in PDF form for easy printing. And free.

No last-minute takers!? Solitude it is, then, I guess!

[g2outdoors]

If I had seen this before now, I probably could have joined you. Oh well. Hopefully you can still make the trip to Lily lake at the end of the month.

[sliver]

Trip report with pix, please. :-)

[Kyle]

If I had seen this before now, I probably could have joined you. Oh well. Hopefully you can still make the trip to Lily lake at the end of the month.

Bummer! It was a good time, very pretty area.

Trip report with pix, please. :-)

Trip report: It kicked my BUTT, but I wouldn't take back a minute. ;p

Really, though, a proper trip report is in order, and I'll attempt to get it done tomorrow, though I work 9 hours, and with how beat I am, I may not be in the mood. Lol. But one will come!

[Boulderman]

Can't wait to hear about it!