CAMPING TRIP - OCTOBER 2-6, 2003 PINOS CREEK ROAD RIO GRANDE NATIONAL FOREST

Beth and I camped in a meadow overlooking Greyback Mountain and the upper stretches of Pinos Creek. It was misty and clouds hung in the valley below us on Friday morning. It soon clouded over with the high level moisture that was moving through the area.

We decided to camp in southern Colorado because we wanted to see the aspens in the peak of their fall color. This photo shows that less chlorophyll production = wonderful Fall colors.

I photographed this, and the next two slides with camera and mm f/2.8 lens mounted on a tripod to capture the texture of the aspen groves in the distance. The shots were taken from our camp site.

More aspen textures

A few reds pop out.

Most of the extant rock formations of Rio Grande National Forest are comprised of eroded lava flows formed eons ago.

This is the Burro Creek Trail. I took a picture of a friend on a dirtbike in 1987 at this same spot And it is pretty close to the same view. Dead fall on the left was still standing then.

A little further up the Burro Creek Trail we came upon these cabins. They are the remains of a Cow Camp, last used in There are still cupboards, a few coffee cups and wood stoves remaining in the cabin on the left. The right cabin was used as a protecting abode for horses. A sign on the left cabin marks provides the historical information.

A few hundred yards down the trail, is the Fitton Guard Station. It lies in an isolated meadow several miles up the Burro Creek trail. Bennett Peak rises above the aspens in the background.

Fitton Guard Station contains a log book where trail riders and FS Rangers record their experiences in the area. Inside the cabin are two bunk beds, a small table and chairs, and a cupboard with can goods. If caught in a snow storm, you could survive here for a few days. Last time I visited was in 1987 on a dirt bike. Not much has changed.

Outhouse at Fitton Guard Station. View is to the north and includes the cow camp cabins on the hillside in the distance. This is a beautiful valley!

Looking backward to the north as we head south on the trail towards the Bennett Creek trail and Blowout Pass.

Friday afternoon threatened rain so we backtracked on the Burrow creek ride and then went for a ride in the pickup. We took the road from Del Norte, through South Fork and on to Creede. Eroded Lava flows, create the backdrop for the town. You can purchase some interesting mememtos here. It’s a cute towm.

We awakened to this view every morning. This was Saturday morning and the weather looked like it was going to be drier. We decided to ride the Shady Creek trail.

We piloted our ATVs on trails like this every day. This road drops down from our campsite into the valley below, and leads to several trail connections including the Shady Creek Trail.

Beth enjoying a ride along the West fork of Pinos Creek. The trail follows the creek north for a couple of miles and then climbs up through meadows and aspen groves along the Shady Creek drainage.

Rocks and leaves immersed in the West Fork of Pinos Creek

Aspen leaves...beaver pond...Pinos Creek

Floating aspen leaves cling to a sunken deadfall on Pinos Creek.

Beaver have been busy on Pinos Creek. There was three piles of wood chips alongside the trail.

Climbing out of the lower portions of the Shady Creek trail. West Fork of Pinos Creek is in the valley in the background of this picture. Ahead of us lies Willow Park and several trail junctions.

When riding down the trail, with the cloudy sunlight in the “right” direction, the leaves on the ground seemed to have jewels on their surfaces

Close-up view of the jewels.

Strange rock formations alongside the Castle Creek trail.

Castle Creek trail

The Castle Creek trail winds through aspens and hobgoblins to end down low in sagebrush country at a private property line. You have to go back the same way you came, but it was a nice ride, nevertheless.

More “castles” along Castle Creek trail.

Swallows and bats leave tell-tale signs of their homes in the rocks.

These rock formations wind up the hill-side in Castle gulch forming strange, dark and narrow canyons.

Aspens and castles

These rock formations on Castle Creek rise 100 feet above the trail.

Riding on “golden carpet.” Another section of the Shady Creek trail. We rode this trail again on Sunday because it was fun and beautiful. During our weekend here, we encountered many groves of aspen that had not yet begun to change color,...

…and then there were many in full autumn color. Can’t beat that blue-yellow combination - this on Shady Creek trail after the sky cleared.

Another view of Pinos Creek drainage from the Shady Creek trail.

We found this little fellow carved in a ponderosa pine near a nice meadow camping spot near Shady Creek.

View towards Bennett Peak

Co-mingled aspen and pines

Open meadows along Shady Creek trail

Aspen groves have a memorable smell in the Fall

Cascades from early Fall snowmelt. I took this shot at the end of the day while we were riding back to our camp. We took a side trail that I had checked out the day before. Beth waited patiently as I set up the gear and composed the shot.

Mother natures art work will soon be covered in a blanket of snow

A narrow band of aspen trees are revealed through the clouds at sunset. A GREAT CAMPING TRIP