So, it looks like I'm headed to the Crested Butte area instead of the San Juans. Decided I want to see something different and I typically end up in the SJ's so this time, I'm headed elsewhere. Still bringing my bike and plan to do some mountain biking while there but will also spend sunrise and sunset photographing each day.
I'd like to photograph Crystal Mill. Been there once before and I *think* I remember it being a late afternoon/sunset location. Is this true?
Where else should I visit while in the area? I've got a very capable 4WD and I'm an experienced driver so there isn't much that's out of reach. I'm also not afraid to get my feet dirty. Looking for some interesting stuff like killer waterfalls, vistas, reflections, aspen groves, etc. Go ahead, throw it all out there! Also, any other mountain bikers willing to offer some trail suggestions? I'm an experienced rider on a big suspension bike.
Thanks in advance for you suggestions.
Posted by Jack Garrett on July 19, 2012 at 1:47 PM
Dont forget Paradise Divide for a great reflection. You could go over Schofield pass from crystal mill...a rough road and not for the faint of heart but doable with an FJ
Posted by Doug Beezley on July 19, 2012 at 2:18 PM
Hi Bret,
Jack is right - Paradise Basin with Mt Baldy is a sublime reflection in the late afternoon/early evening. Try to be there around 7:30 pm. Also, Lost Lake Slough off Kebler Pass Road is good for reflections. Late afternoon targets could include The Dike (Dyke) with Ruby Mountain. Good set up location on a rise on the south side of Kebler Pass Road at Horse Park. Also, a very seldom visited but spectacular site is Robinson Basin - you'll need the 4WD - the road to it passes through Lake Irwin. Finally, there is a great shot to be had of The Castles on the other side of Ohio Pass. Contact Darren Kilgore about directions. I'll send a map of locations in the CB area to your e-mail.
Thanks for the info, gents. I'll check out Paradise Divide. Can I camp there?
I've gone over Schofield Pass before (in my Tacoma, which I still miss) and know the FJ will do it easily. I'll look into some of the other locations mentioned, too.
There are plenty of places to camp around Paradise Divide so no worries there. If you head to Robinson Basin or at least Lake Irwin there are 2 really nice waterfalls a short hike downstream from Lake Irwin. Not sure if you carry bear spray but after nearly 15 years of going to CB for wildflowers and never seeing any critters I've seen bears the last 2 times there. One on the Kebler Pass road and one on the Ohio Pass road.
Bret, I just got back from Paradise Divide and it's a beautiful area for sure (I lived in Gunnison for 8 years, I've been up there many many times) but one word of caution. When camping up there, be extra selective of where you set up camp. Some of the worst nights of sleep in my life have been up there. Otherwise, gorgeous area with handy access to West Maroon Pass (and the 4 Pass Loop) just a few miles away.
Bill: I only carry bear spray in griz country. Everywhere else I carry something that makes a big "bang". For that matter, I carry it in griz country too, right on the other hip from the bear spray.
Ryan: Worst night's sleep? Sounds interesting. Due to storms, wind or marmots? I know marmots in that area are well known for chewing up hoses and wires on cars parked at trailheads or camped overnight.
If you are headed to the Crystal Mill, the loop road that goes from Marble through Lead King basin is a rough but beautiful place. With the high altitude at the basin, it holds wildflowers longer. The cascades below Geneva Lake could be nice if there are still flowers in the area, and Lake Geneva can be a nice setting for an evening photo. There are several cascades and waterfalls between Lead King and Crystal.
Drive up Pearl Pass! Shoot a sunset/sunrise up there....Lots of places off the road to explore composition. That drive will test your skilz!! Good views up there too, and loads of free camping. Then go have lunch in Aspen.
Bret, Ive climbed a lot of mountains in that area and if your game for 6-8 mile hikes with maybe 3,000-ft vertical, let me know. Ive got a few suggestions that will blow your socks off.
I’ll start by recommending Teocalli Mountain. This one gets you to 13,208ft via an easy trail that meanders through a nice forest first then drops you off in miles of tundra that likely has its share of showy wildflowers. It’s a remote mountain with an Outstanding view. Teocalli ranks high on my sunset list. I don't have many 13ers on my re-do list but Teocalli is one of them. The view of Castle Peak from up there during sunset would be downright sick, it’s the perfect location for an evening summit shooting.
You're a strong dude and I have no doubt you can do this technically easy hike; its a class 1 hike and I think it is on the way to Pearl Pass. Just pick a day out that is as close to "Bluebird" as possible and go for it. BTW, the hike down in the dark wouldn’t be bad at all due to the nice trail, especially with a gps.
For more mountain ideas let me know. I can speak to pretty much every mountain along the Kebler Pass road if interested. Marcellina, Ruby/Owen, Anthracites and the Beckwith's.
Here's a great "late July" TR showcasing Teocalli. Notice all that beautiful tundra...and then you get the view!
I was going to mention the waterfall near Lake Irwin but Bill already beat me to it. I wanted to find that waterfall when we were up there last month, but unfortunately we had the car rather than the Tundra so couldn't do it...but I hear it's pretty nice! There's also supposed to be a decent waterfall up on Gothic Rd. It's called Judd Falls. From the photos I've seen, looks a little hard to compose/shoot, but it might challenge you at any rate. The trailhead & road are just past the Gothic site. I don't know if the ferns on Kebler Pass are still in good shape, but I certainly had a lot of fun shooting them last month. There was a really nice pull-out a couple miles west (north?) of the Horse Ranch Park area, with an awesome area of ferns with a social trail leading aways into the forest.
The mtn bikers at the race last month were talking about the 401 trail. It's supposed to be epic. The Upper and Lower Loop trails also seem quite popular. Mike rode the Deer Creek Trail in the race.
I'd recommend eating at the Brick Oven Pizzeria in CB. Although I didn't order the pizza, it smelled delicious, and the sandwich I had was great. They also have a large beer menu, for further enticement.
You've gotten a lot of suggestions and I'm sure whatever you do, you'll have an awesome time. How can you not in that area?
Posted by Jack Garrett on July 19, 2012 at 10:26 PM
A lot of photographers will hate you if you camp in the trees near the end of the pond and destroy their view. You can camp almost anywhere else on the flat areas without getting sworn at...lol.
Hasley Pass -- starts at the same TH as West Maroon Pass in Schofield Park but you take a left on a marked trail about halfway up. You get a view of the back side of Frigid Air Pass and West Maroon Pass
Rustlers Gulch -- TH on Gothic road, I believe at the bottom of the 401. I called this a hikers paradise, nice even grade, tons of wildflowers (not sure about this year) and beautiful tundra creeping up the sides of all the peaks.
Discussion
11 repliesI'd like to photograph Crystal Mill. Been there once before and I *think* I remember it being a late afternoon/sunset location. Is this true?
Where else should I visit while in the area? I've got a very capable 4WD and I'm an experienced driver so there isn't much that's out of reach. I'm also not afraid to get my feet dirty. Looking for some interesting stuff like killer waterfalls, vistas, reflections, aspen groves, etc. Go ahead, throw it all out there! Also, any other mountain bikers willing to offer some trail suggestions? I'm an experienced rider on a big suspension bike.
Thanks in advance for you suggestions.
Jack is right - Paradise Basin with Mt Baldy is a sublime reflection in the late afternoon/early evening. Try to be there around 7:30 pm. Also, Lost Lake Slough off Kebler Pass Road is good for reflections. Late afternoon targets could include The Dike (Dyke) with Ruby Mountain. Good set up location on a rise on the south side of Kebler Pass Road at Horse Park. Also, a very seldom visited but spectacular site is Robinson Basin - you'll need the 4WD - the road to it passes through Lake Irwin. Finally, there is a great shot to be had of The Castles on the other side of Ohio Pass. Contact Darren Kilgore about directions. I'll send a map of locations in the CB area to your e-mail.
Doug Beezley
Snellville, GA
I've gone over Schofield Pass before (in my Tacoma, which I still miss) and know the FJ will do it easily. I'll look into some of the other locations mentioned, too.
Bill: I only carry bear spray in griz country. Everywhere else I carry something that makes a big "bang". For that matter, I carry it in griz country too, right on the other hip from the bear spray.
Ryan: Worst night's sleep? Sounds interesting. Due to storms, wind or marmots? I know marmots in that area are well known for chewing up hoses and wires on cars parked at trailheads or camped overnight.
If you are headed to the Crystal Mill, the loop road that goes from Marble through Lead King basin is a rough but beautiful place. With the high altitude at the basin, it holds wildflowers longer. The cascades below Geneva Lake could be nice if there are still flowers in the area, and Lake Geneva can be a nice setting for an evening photo. There are several cascades and waterfalls between Lead King and Crystal.
Bret, Ive climbed a lot of mountains in that area and if your game for 6-8 mile hikes with maybe 3,000-ft vertical, let me know. Ive got a few suggestions that will blow your socks off.
I’ll start by recommending Teocalli Mountain. This one gets you to 13,208ft via an easy trail that meanders through a nice forest first then drops you off in miles of tundra that likely has its share of showy wildflowers. It’s a remote mountain with an Outstanding view. Teocalli ranks high on my sunset list. I don't have many 13ers on my re-do list but Teocalli is one of them. The view of Castle Peak from up there during sunset would be downright sick, it’s the perfect location for an evening summit shooting.
You're a strong dude and I have no doubt you can do this technically easy hike; its a class 1 hike and I think it is on the way to Pearl Pass. Just pick a day out that is as close to "Bluebird" as possible and go for it. BTW, the hike down in the dark wouldn’t be bad at all due to the nice trail, especially with a gps.
For more mountain ideas let me know. I can speak to pretty much every mountain along the Kebler Pass road if interested. Marcellina, Ruby/Owen, Anthracites and the Beckwith's.
Here's a great "late July" TR showcasing Teocalli. Notice all that beautiful tundra...and then you get the view!
Lastly, contact me if you need details.
http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=8660&parmpeak=5470&cpgm=tripmain&ski=Include
The mtn bikers at the race last month were talking about the 401 trail. It's supposed to be epic. The Upper and Lower Loop trails also seem quite popular. Mike rode the Deer Creek Trail in the race.
I'd recommend eating at the Brick Oven Pizzeria in CB. Although I didn't order the pizza, it smelled delicious, and the sandwich I had was great. They also have a large beer menu, for further enticement.
You've gotten a lot of suggestions and I'm sure whatever you do, you'll have an awesome time. How can you not in that area?
Hasley Pass -- starts at the same TH as West Maroon Pass in Schofield Park but you take a left on a marked trail about halfway up. You get a view of the back side of Frigid Air Pass and West Maroon Pass
Rustlers Gulch -- TH on Gothic road, I believe at the bottom of the 401. I called this a hikers paradise, nice even grade, tons of wildflowers (not sure about this year) and beautiful tundra creeping up the sides of all the peaks.