2nd Annual Colorado Winter Hang - 14-16 Jan 2011 - Rampart Reservoir

**Kaliram** · 12-19-2010, 01:42

I don't think I'd want to miss this! Last winter's hang was great. ...I'll just plan on being there: Simple.

____________________

"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

Benjamin Franklin
____________________

**Just Jeff** · 12-19-2010, 14:10

Haha - actually, nobody came to the most recent Colorado hang (Autumn Hang at Raspberry Mtn, I think)...the Goose Creek Spring Hang was the previous one. And yes, it was a beautiful area...might be too far away from the cars for the CWH but I'd definitely like to go back.

We had a good showing at the CWH1, though!

Rampart Reservoir (and the two campgrounds there) closed last month, so that option is out.

**ringtail-THFKAfood** · 12-20-2010, 13:36

Has anybody managed to scout locations?

**DanaMac** · 12-20-2010, 19:46

I'm out. Get back from Mass. on the 15th. Have fun all.

**Just Jeff** · 12-20-2010, 19:48

What a coincidence...we start on the 15th! Just come straight from the airport to the hang. Simple!

**DanaMac** · 12-20-2010, 20:58

Originally Posted by Just Jeff

What a coincidence...we start on the 15th! Just come straight from the airport to the hang. Simple!

Hmmm...... may still be able to come up on the 16th. Will definitely try.

**Mustardman** · 12-20-2010, 22:16

Good call, Jeff!

**Cannibal** · 12-21-2010, 09:58

Originally Posted by food

Has anybody managed to scout locations?

No, life has been getting squarely in my way.
We've got family coming in for the holiday and a couple of them will surely want to get up into the mountains to see snow. I'll try to swing by a couple of spots on Sunday and report back.

**Just Jeff** · 12-21-2010, 10:29

And I'll be out this week...can scout a few in Pike NF. There's a decent place here called Chimney Peak that has some great views, but no close water access. (Map attached w/ GPS waypoint.) It's a drive-up site on a well-kept Jeep trail (take Ice Cave Creek Road, not Saylor Park Road) so no one would need a 4x4 unless it's snowy...I don't think they plow Ice Cave Creek Road. We could ferry people if needed from Rampart Range Road, but it's only 3.25 miles to the site if they want to hike it.

Great views of Pikes Peak from Chimney Peak, and more peaks to the north.

**Just Jeff** · 12-21-2010, 10:53

Just checked with the Ranger District. Only the gate to the Rampart Reservoir is closed, but we can still hike in. She said that no one would be there to collect fees for the two campsites, but we can use the sites if we hike in. See the attached map for the site locations...the first one is only 1.5 miles in so it should be a good balance. There are plenty of trees around the Reservoir but I'd have to check the campsites specifically...the one next to the water is probably pretty sparse on hammockable trees. We're still allowed to fish in the Reservoir (with permits), and I hear the smaller Reservoir has great fishing as well.

Benefits to this one - very easy to find on a maintained dirt road (the gate is on Rampart Range Road), short hike in from the cars, great views of the Reservoir/Pikes Peak/etc, hikeable trails all around, fishing, benefits of an established campground w/o having to pay (should have picnic tables but bathrooms will be closed).

Disadvantages - not sure how many people will be there. I'd expect a few fishermen but probably nobody camping, so we'd likely have the place to ourselves after 5pm anyway (that's about sunset that time of year). And it is an established area, if you're looking to camp in near-complete wilderness. Plenty of trails around it to escape to, though.

If y'all are interested in this one, I could hike in this week and check out the campgrounds. This may be a great option for this kind of hike...more folks could come who don't have backpackable winter kits or four wheel drives.

Edit: Wifey wants to go geocaching today and we already have several marked at the Reservoir, so I'm probably hiking up there today anyway.