The loop started at the Stewart Creek trail head, went over the saddle between San Luis and Organ Mountain and then dropped into Cochetopa Creek. Back down at the Eddiesville Trail Head we just had a quick quarter mile back to the truck. We would be dropping the packs at the saddle and climbing San Luis, and then hiking down Cochetopa Creek instead of up it as we did on the Colorado Trail. The loop was about 12 miles, and the mountain would add an extra couple.
We started at the Stewart Ck trail head on the Friday afternoon. Getting there was half the fun as the trail head was about 30 miles from the nearest paved road. The dirt road was in pretty good shape, though it got a little narrow in places. We stopped here to eat the breakfast we had brought along and enjoy the serenity - there was nothing around.
We passed the old Saguache to San Juan toll road for the first time. It was built in 1874. All I can say is that I am glad we weren't traveling on that road in a stage coach! Not the most comfortable way to go I'm sure!
From the trailhead we hiked up Stewart Creek into the La Garita Wilderness area. The trail climbed steadily, but it wasn't too steep and we were able to enjoy most of it! We were headed to the "v" in the photo. We arrived at or very close to tree-line much faster than we expected and figured we had better set up camp before the storm clouds moved in. Now I remember this area - we got rained on every night! When we were hiking up Cochetopa Creek on the Colorado Trail we barely got the tent set up before the rain came down in torrents. We had to dry the fly sheet out on the mountain saddle the next morning...It was lovely to be up high again even with the storm clouds rolling in, so we got the tent set up as quickly as possible and made sure everything was
covered...and the storm hit! We spent the next couple of hours in the tent reading "A Year in Provence"....which only made us feel cold and hungry! Good job I had brought a book though! We were starting to get worried that it wouldn't let up enough for us to cook some hot food and were about to draw straws on who was heading out in the rain to get some of our snack supplies so we could at least eat something, when it started to get perceptibly lighter...finally the sun broke through, so we dashed out, heated some food and ate quickly in case another storm came through...note the Hull FC hat: true fans wear their colours everywhere - they are even famous in the Colorado Rockies!
The sun was welcomed with open arms, and the views were lovely now we were at tree line (about 12,000 feet). We passed the time spotting Big Horn sheep on the mountain sides before retiring for an early night snuggled in our sleeping bags - it was obviously going to be chilly!
And it was! The next morning everything was covered in ice (including Nick's fishing rod!) and it took me everything I had to get our of my sleeping bag to have the cup of hot chocolate that Nick had made for me!!! It was a beautiful day though, as usually happens in the mountains here, and so we enjoyed hiking up towards the saddle stripping down as we went as the heat built! It was a steep climb up, especially with the packs, but we had an early start and not too far to go so we took it easy.
Yup, we're going up there to the saddle. That's the one thing I'm not sure I like about hiking here - it's always up!
Once we reached the saddle we dropped the packs (yay!) and headed for the peak...
As always, the views were lovely from up high and we could see for miles in all directions. We had a well deserved snack and then headed down for Cochetopa Creek.
What we hadn't realized is that the trail across the saddle and down to Cochetopa isn't a trail at all but a series of posts and cairns which we often couldn't see through the willows. Hiking across and down turned out to be harder than expected, and we almost wished we had taken the packs and just hiked up and over the mountain and down the other side. Although it would have been a lot further, there was at least an established trail that is far easier going on the feet...and you know how I like to take care of my feet after the Colorado Trail!
Yep, we were up there early this morning! It's amazing how fast you come down from these mountains...even when it's hard going...I think it took us as much time to come down as it did to go up...
We made it back down the the Colorado Trail and headed down the creek. where Nick was finally able to get some quality fishing time in - though I don't think the fishing was as good this weekend as it had been three years ago when we were last up here. I was able to catch up on some reading while I sat by the river and dutifully took photos!!!
We couldn't find the camp site we were planning on spending the night at, but got a good spot and had a great fire to hang out by for the evening. It at least kept the mozzies and biting flies of us for a while! Dinner tasted good after the hurried affair we had had the night before, and we had even packed in a little rum to add to our hot chocolate to make sure we slept well - though that never seems to be a problem on these weekend back pack trips!
As it was pretty much all down hill at this point (much better I say) we had a quick hike out on Sunday and were able to stop for some relaxing fishing/reading time in the sunshine...
And the perfect end was a cold beer and some lovely cherries waiting for us in the cooler when we got back to the truck!
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