I was up at Missouri Lakes in the Holy Cross wilderness this weekend. No pics to share yet since I only took my 4x5, but I wanted to report on wildflowers and conditions for those interested in the area.
The runoff is strong and there is a lot of water in the Missouri creek area. There are several large meadows and other areas that collect water that are very lush and have great wildflower collections. The stream sides are heavy with bluebells, paintbrush, Monkshood, and other flowers. Up in the basin, where the lakes are, the flowers were plentiful but not towering, mostly low-lying tundra varieties. Still, flowers pretty much everywhere you stepped off-trail.
The weather held, which was great! Only one squall that caught us coming off Missouri pass on Saturday. The trail up Missouri pass is blocked by snow in a couple of places but you can climb over the snowbanks. There is a cornice at the top that you have to traverse. But the view from the top over Treasure Vault Lake was worth it. The flowers on top were awesome too including columbine, paintbrush, buttercups (probably not real name) and some daisy-like flowers that I hadn't seen at that altitude before.
I have a new appreciation for those large format backpackers out there. I also now understand why everyone talked about camera and lens weight when I was researching LF gear. I don't have a scale at home, but my friend who was with us estimated that I was carrying at least 50lbs, probably more. The trail in to the lakes is a steady climb with several sections of stair-stepping up rocky ledges. It was pretty brutal with that weight. Just carrying the LF gear around the basin was 15-20lbs. Taking the LF gear on multi-day backpacking trips doesn't sound too appealing right now, car trips and day hikes might be it for a bit. I wish I'd had the 20D with me too but that would have been the straw that broke my back.
The Missouri Lakes basin is very beautiful! Large ridges and outcroppings of granite with three large and several smaller lakes as well as several tarns. Streams and brooks everywhere. Also much more forest than I expected at that altitude. The basin opens to the east almost directly in line with the current rising sun, so sunrise was great. Sunset would be harder with only late afternoon light on the peaks. Storms threatened each afternoon so it was overcast each evening so I never got any sunset potential.
I haven't been to Missouri Lakes, but was one basin north on my Holy Cross City 4WD trip. Based on the topos, I would think that conditions would be similar. Glad you had an enjoyable trip. I agree that it is a beautiful area when you get away from Homestake road. I'm curious if Homestake Road was a zoo when you went through. There were people camping EVERYWHERE when I was there June 30th.
There were quite a few campers along Homestake road but a few sites were open. Lot's of 4WD units, rock climbers and such staging for the Holy cross city roads.
The Fancy creek and Missouri creek trailhead parking was pretty full too. We passed a few day hikers on the way in and saw 1-2 overnighters going in with us on Friday. There were at least 6-7 campsites in the basin, one with nearly 10 people. MUCH more crowded than Harrison flat a couple of weeks earlier but it was still the 4th weekend. It's definitely a popular place.
Kalin
Yes I feel your pain with backpacking with LF. Several years ago I spent 6 days packing packing in the Weminuche Wilderness and my starting pack weight was 77 lbs: a bit brutal especially since I never went below 11,000 feet all week. But the images were worth it. I sometimes think Fielder has the right idea going with llamas
6 days in the Weminuche sounds like a lot of fun! 77lbs doesn't
I commented about Fielder and llamas a few times over the weekend. The friends with me actually have llamas but they're getting too old for packing. Now they're just lawn ornaments. After this trip they started thinking about seeing if they could get them out again. They also talked about getting another/more but probably won't. They're great pack animals but the maintenance is a long-term commitment. Renting is an option but not too cheap, although Jesse and I mentioned getting a bunch of photogs together for a pack trip to split costs after we ran in to a photog from North Carolina that had rented some llamas in Buena Vista for an extended trip.
If the images from this trip are in focus and exposed correctly, I'm sure it will be worth it. I love LF transparencies!
Thanks!
Thanks for the report... I'll be up in that area in a few weeks. Yeah, hauling the 4x5 sucks. I did 16 days in a row of tough backpacking in Wyoming last summer, and I think I really tweaked my back! I am currently in the process of getting a custom made McHale pack, which will help a LOT with the weight. Hope your shots turn out!
Discussion
6 repliesThe runoff is strong and there is a lot of water in the Missouri creek area. There are several large meadows and other areas that collect water that are very lush and have great wildflower collections. The stream sides are heavy with bluebells, paintbrush, Monkshood, and other flowers. Up in the basin, where the lakes are, the flowers were plentiful but not towering, mostly low-lying tundra varieties. Still, flowers pretty much everywhere you stepped off-trail.
The weather held, which was great! Only one squall that caught us coming off Missouri pass on Saturday. The trail up Missouri pass is blocked by snow in a couple of places but you can climb over the snowbanks. There is a cornice at the top that you have to traverse. But the view from the top over Treasure Vault Lake was worth it. The flowers on top were awesome too including columbine, paintbrush, buttercups (probably not real name) and some daisy-like flowers that I hadn't seen at that altitude before.
I have a new appreciation for those large format backpackers out there. I also now understand why everyone talked about camera and lens weight when I was researching LF gear. I don't have a scale at home, but my friend who was with us estimated that I was carrying at least 50lbs, probably more. The trail in to the lakes is a steady climb with several sections of stair-stepping up rocky ledges. It was pretty brutal with that weight. Just carrying the LF gear around the basin was 15-20lbs. Taking the LF gear on multi-day backpacking trips doesn't sound too appealing right now, car trips and day hikes might be it for a bit. I wish I'd had the 20D with me too but that would have been the straw that broke my back.
The Missouri Lakes basin is very beautiful! Large ridges and outcroppings of granite with three large and several smaller lakes as well as several tarns. Streams and brooks everywhere. Also much more forest than I expected at that altitude. The basin opens to the east almost directly in line with the current rising sun, so sunrise was great. Sunset would be harder with only late afternoon light on the peaks. Storms threatened each afternoon so it was overcast each evening so I never got any sunset potential.
I'll post pics once developed if they turn out.
Mel-
The Fancy creek and Missouri creek trailhead parking was pretty full too. We passed a few day hikers on the way in and saw 1-2 overnighters going in with us on Friday. There were at least 6-7 campsites in the basin, one with nearly 10 people. MUCH more crowded than Harrison flat a couple of weeks earlier but it was still the 4th weekend. It's definitely a popular place.
Yes I feel your pain with backpacking with LF. Several years ago I spent 6 days packing packing in the Weminuche Wilderness and my starting pack weight was 77 lbs: a bit brutal especially since I never went below 11,000 feet all week. But the images were worth it. I sometimes think Fielder has the right idea going with llamas
I commented about Fielder and llamas a few times over the weekend. The friends with me actually have llamas but they're getting too old for packing. Now they're just lawn ornaments. After this trip they started thinking about seeing if they could get them out again. They also talked about getting another/more but probably won't. They're great pack animals but the maintenance is a long-term commitment. Renting is an option but not too cheap, although Jesse and I mentioned getting a bunch of photogs together for a pack trip to split costs after we ran in to a photog from North Carolina that had rented some llamas in Buena Vista for an extended trip.
If the images from this trip are in focus and exposed correctly, I'm sure it will be worth it. I love LF transparencies!
Thanks!
Mel-