St. Elmo Area, July 3-6, 2008

[Frank Z]

Great Weekend! We made it to our campsite a little later than we expected and started setting up camp...only to find that we were short 1 stabilizer jack on the pop-up. After stacking a few rocks we were in good shape.

We started out on Friday morning in St.Elmo feeding the chipmunks and waiting for anyone to show-up.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/July%204%202008/July042008037.jpg

No one did so we headed up to Grizzly Lake. We didn't take any pics on the way up since we;ve done this trail numerous times. We did take a few at the lake though.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/July%204%202008/July042008016.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/July%204%202008/July042008018.jpg

Lots of Columbines along the trail too.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/July%204%202008/July042008027.jpg

Saw Diggers rig but not Digger. I think he was floating around the lake fishing.

Saturday we had hoped to run Iron Chest but decided that since we were alone we'd opt for soemthing a little more scenic. We headed down to st. Elmo again just to see if anyone else was going to show up....nada.

We picked Mt. Antero for our first trail.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/July%204%202008/July042008052.jpg
View from the top of the trail.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/July%204%202008/July042008065.jpg

Wild flowers along the trail.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/July%204%202008/July042008068.jpg

Mt.Antero as seen from Mt.White.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/July%204%202008/July042008079.jpg

Daniel in the snow on Mt. White.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/July%204%202008/July042008083.jpg

Heading down Mt.Antero with Grizzly Mountain in the background.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/FrankZ_2006/July%204%202008/July042008088.jpg

We decided that since we'd finished Mt.Antero early enough we'd head up to Baldwin Lakes. By the time we got there the weather turned and we were pelted with gropple above 12,000ft. We headed back down in the rain listening to the thunder roll off the mountains and down the valley...simply awe-inspiring!

The only carnage was lower control arm nut and bolt that went AWOL on the way home early Sunday just outside St. Elmo.

[MountainJeep]

Love Colorado

[Frank Z]

Amen to that!

[ricktjx]

Nice pics!!

[byron4]

thanks for sharing. i love that area...i havent been back since i was a kid. i need to take some time off and head that direction.

[mytxan]

awesome pictures, thanks for sharing.

[Big Dave]

We were really thinking about trying to make our way from the Almont/Taylor Res area through there today on our way home, but I didn't have the Wells book with us and couldn't find a for sure route on my topo, so we went over Monarch. With the weather that came through early this afternoon was probably better that way anyways.

[Frank Z]

I was amazed at how few rigs were around. Lots of ATVs and a few bikes, but hardley any 4x4's. We got stopped by 2 rented jeeps in St. Elmo and the wanted to know how to find the trail to Grizzly Lake. I looked at the "All-Terrain" tires and asked if they had any recovery equipment. Of course the answer was no. I strongly advised finding a more suitable trail but they continued toward Grizzly. Saw them later in the day on Baldwin Lakes Trail and asked if they made it to Grizzly Lake, their response was "No, we got to the creek and saw that huge rock and knew we were in way over our heads!" Smart people.

[Digger]

Yep.. we were there fishing just off the end of the lake when I saw you leave...too bad we missed each other.

Shot of Grizzly
http://www.colorado4x4.org/gallery/files/5/1/0/dsc02112medium.jpg

My son out fished me, 3 to 1. his first was a nice male brookie.
http://www.colorado4x4.org/gallery/files/5/1/0/dsc02126medium.jpg

Found this nice overlook of Grizzly at the top of Pomeroy lake trail.
http://www.colorado4x4.org/gallery/files/5/1/0/grizzly_overlook.jpg

[Frank Z]

The fishing was great! We caught 15, kept 7.

[Matt]

Sounds like a great trip. I need to get up to Grizzley lake for some fishing/camping/R&R.

[tantonio]

Amen to that!


Frank...great pics!....just beautiful stuff...wish we could have been there to...we had a great time on the Spring Creek run today...caught some major rain and lightening for a bit but all in all a blast...looks like the Liberty trip was a good one as well....and so back to reality.....reality sucks!! :D:D