Summary of Camp Experience:
I took a trip to the Weminuche Wilderness in Colorado a couple of weeks ago. I've been procrastinating saying how it went, so here goes. I brought only a pack containing my tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, food, cooking supplies, bottles for water, clothing (including a sun hat and rain gear), and a fanny pack that holds lunch and water for the day hikes. Most other Sierra Club members basically brought the same stuff, as it was on an essentials list that was given to us so we'd know what to bring. The water we drank was stream water that I purified by using tablets. For each breakfast before the hikes, I had coffee and oatmeal. For the lunch which I took with me on each day hike, beef jerky sandwiches and energy bars. For dinner after each hike, Ramen noodles. We all brought our own food, and sometimes shared. The campsite was mainly composed of tall Engelmann spruces, and some small bushes such as currants. Each night before bed, we hung our food high up in trees so bears won't get it.
Thursday, August 30
At about 4pm, me and about 50 other Sierra Club members boarded a Red Carpet bus parked in the Farmer's Branch Wal-Mart parking lot. It was raining hard when we took off, but later it cleared and I could see some Texas scenery before nightfall. We stopped and ate in Wichita Falls. We also stopped at a Wal-Mart parking lot in Childress, where the bus seats were converted to bunks. It was very difficult to sleep on these bunks, so I didn't get as much rest as I wanted.
Friday, August 31
At the end of the long bus ride, we arrived at Alamosa, Colorado where we had breakfast at a Burger King. The bunks on the bus were being converted back to seats. I was delighted to see this area surrounded by mountains, and it was in the 50's (inconceivable temperature during August in Texas or Florida). After breakfast, we took off toward our destination, the Weminuche Wilderness in the Rio Grande National Forest. We were at least at 9,000 feet elevation. At the trailhead, I was delighted to see some golden-mantled ground squirrels, least chipmunks, and red squirrels. I was hoping to see some tassel-eared squirrels, but they prefer lower elevations with Ponderosa pine trees. Our group (consisting of 12 members; there were 5 different groups) took off and hiked 6 miles to our campsite. It seemed longer than 6 miles, considering I was carrying about 50 pounds on my back. The mountains were covered with Engelmann Spruce, Douglas Fir, and Quaking Aspen trees. There was a stream running parallel with the trail. At the campsite, we caught our breath, and set up our tents. At night, it got to be in the 40's due to the altitude. I never thought I'd experience such lows during this time of year.
Saturday, September 1
I slept relatively well, and got up. I brought coffee with me, but no sugar or any means to make it. So I borrowed some Splenda from someone and made "cowboy coffee" by simply pouring hot water into the grounds. This gave me enough energy for this day's hike. We hiked toward a place known as Squaw Pass. Part of the hike was on a steep cliff, where there were plant species even the plant expert on the trip couldn't identify. On our way back, it was rainy, but I came prepared and used my rain gear. Even when the day begins clear, the weather changes quite rapidly in the mountains. A porcupine was observed near us at about dusk.
Sunday, September 2
I didn't sleep as well as the last night, because rain got in my tent and made my feet really cold. I warmed my feet up by using friction from my hands, putting on wool socks, and wrapping them in pieces of a thermal blanket. We hiked up the mountain near our campsite toward a place called Squaw Lake. It was a smallish lake at an elevation of 11,000 feet. I saw and photographed the numerous least chipmunks and red squirrels that were up there. This was a great place to relax, and I probably will come back there again some time.
Monday, September 3
I slept better than last night, as it was dryer. We packed all our stuff, and headed back to the main trailhead from where we initially departed. I stopped every once in a while to catch my breath and to soak in the beautiful scenery, knowing that I might not experience anything like this again in a long time. We departed at noon, and ate lunch at a place called The Hungry Logger. I enjoyed the Colorado scenery as we were passing through it into New Mexico, where we stopped to eat dinner. Then night came again, and so scenery was impossible to see. We stopped at Dalhart, TX, where the seats on the bus were converted to bunks. Like the arrival trip, I didn't sleep well on our way back.
Tuesday, September 4
This was my least favorite part of the vacation, because it was the last day and it took almost as much time to go from north Dallas back home to DeSoto, than it did to get from Colorado back to Texas. That's because my sister with her busy schedule was the only person who could pick me up (I forgot to ask the other Sierra Club members if they could help), so I had to stay at her house. I tried to make the best of it by visiting the local park until I was able to be driven back home.
Questions?
I'm sure I forgot to include needed info on this trip, so please feel free to ask any questions so that I can edit this blog and add the answers.
Pictures from the Trip:
