Baby Lakes Trail, WY, 8/19/2005

Here is a shot of driving along the gravel road (heading towards Rand, CO) that I used to bypass Walden. Bunch of horses up ahead.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:11:22 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Here is a shot of driving along the gravel road (heading towards Rand, CO) that I used to bypass Walden. Bunch of horses up ahead.

Not really sure what they see that is so neat standing at the entrance to the ranch. Maybe they are just watching tourists (like me) go by : ) You can see a truck in the background coming ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:13:28 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Not really sure what they see that is so neat standing at the entrance to the ranch. Maybe they are just watching tourists (like me) go by : ) You can see a truck in the background coming ...

More nice scenary.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:15:40 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
More nice scenary.

This is an area right on top of Rabbit Ears pass. Nice lake, camping, hiking, etc. It was very pleasant. They don't show in this picture, but there were some kayaks going around the lake.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:17:57 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
This is an area right on top of Rabbit Ears pass. Nice lake, camping, hiking, etc. It was very pleasant. They don't show in this picture, but there were some kayaks going around the lake.

OK. This is after I've headed east from Baggs, WY towards my camp for the night. About 10-15 miles out of Baggs, this is the kind of country you get into. Pretty darn nice. This is looki ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:20:30 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
OK. This is after I've headed east from Baggs, WY towards my camp for the night. About 10-15 miles out of Baggs, this is the kind of country you get into. Pretty darn nice. This is looki ...

As you come up to the Lost Creek Campground (on the north side of Hwy 70), you will see another sign on the south side of the Hwy that points to the Baby Lake TH. I just drove up to the begi ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:39:42 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
As you come up to the Lost Creek Campground (on the north side of Hwy 70), you will see another sign on the south side of the Hwy that points to the Baby Lake TH. I just drove up to the begi ...

Set the camper up and then went out hiking while it was still some light left. Across the road from me was a Forest Service campground with toilet, water, stream, and very nice campgrounds ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:23:10 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Set the camper up and then went out hiking while it was still some light left. Across the road from me was a Forest Service campground with toilet, water, stream, and very nice campgrounds ...

Found a logging road (shut with a gate and just used by the Forest Service). Mostly grown up with brush, but easy walking. So, had a hour of light left and took off to see what I could bef ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:26:40 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Found a logging road (shut with a gate and just used by the Forest Service). Mostly grown up with brush, but easy walking. So, had a hour of light left and took off to see what I could bef ...

Saw a lot of deer, but a few things kept me from getting many pictures: 1. My camera does have limitations, that's why it is (relatively) cheap. 2. I'm still learning how to use it. 3. ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:30:49 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Saw a lot of deer, but a few things kept me from getting many pictures: 1. My camera does have limitations, that's why it is (relatively) cheap. 2. I'm still learning how to use it. 3. ...

And, a couple of shots of sunset.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:28:41 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
And, a couple of shots of sunset.

It was a very nice evening.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:32:20 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
It was a very nice evening.

Next morning, I got on the trail just after 8am. Which turned out to be a good thing since it took over 9 hours before I got back (walk slow, take lots of pictures, etc.). Was only around ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:42:11 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Next morning, I got on the trail just after 8am. Which turned out to be a good thing since it took over 9 hours before I got back (walk slow, take lots of pictures, etc.). Was only around ...

The trail goes down first. I'm headed towards the valley that's at the base of the far ridge. So, go down to the bottom of this valley, up over a ridge, and down into the Baby Lake trail. ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:45:58 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
The trail goes down first. I'm headed towards the valley that's at the base of the far ridge. So, go down to the bottom of this valley, up over a ridge, and down into the Baby Lake trail. ...

I decided it was time to take a break. So, took a shot of these blue looking things : )

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:48:38 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
I decided it was time to take a break. So, took a shot of these blue looking things : )

Getting close to the bottom of the first valley. Lets see, I head all the way to that far valley, and take a left? By the way, the map I was following is the same one in the first email. ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:21:42 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Getting close to the bottom of the first valley. Lets see, I head all the way to that far valley, and take a left? By the way, the map I was following is the same one in the first email. ...

Yayyyy. Made it down to the bottom of the first valley. And, there is the sign telling me I'm entering the "official" wilderness area. No motorized nothing and they don't like mechanical ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:15:30 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Yayyyy. Made it down to the bottom of the first valley. And, there is the sign telling me I'm entering the "official" wilderness area. No motorized nothing and they don't like mechanical ...

This was the last sign I saw until I got up to the intersection with the CDT (Continental Divide Trail). Yep, I'm hiking up to the continental divide.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:19:01 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
This was the last sign I saw until I got up to the intersection with the CDT (Continental Divide Trail). Yep, I'm hiking up to the continental divide.

Little picture of the stream running under the bridge. Battle Creek I think it was. Looks as if it might have some fish in it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:12:35 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Little picture of the stream running under the bridge. Battle Creek I think it was. Looks as if it might have some fish in it.

After I crossed over a small ridge (1/2 mile or more; not too bad of a climb), the trail got to be pretty level and was very nice for just strolling. Kinda thought I might see a hobbit.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:51:15 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
After I crossed over a small ridge (1/2 mile or more; not too bad of a climb), the trail got to be pretty level and was very nice for just strolling. Kinda thought I might see a hobbit.

One of the reasons I was interested in this trail was that there were supposed to be LOTS of meadows along the trail. In point of fact, the one person (and the only person I ever saw) I saw ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:53:58 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
One of the reasons I was interested in this trail was that there were supposed to be LOTS of meadows along the trail. In point of fact, the one person (and the only person I ever saw) I saw ...

Baby Lakes Trail, Wy August 19, 2005. This is quite a ways up the trail. Also, in case you are wondering, there were lots of fresh deer and elk sign. But I did not see any of the animals ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:56:58 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Baby Lakes Trail, Wy August 19, 2005. This is quite a ways up the trail. Also, in case you are wondering, there were lots of fresh deer and elk sign. But I did not see any of the animals ...

And then, the trail just disappeared. That said, there were 3 things that made it not "too" difficult to keep (mostly) on the trail. One is that there were occasionally posts stuck in the ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:59:48 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
And then, the trail just disappeared. That said, there were 3 things that made it not "too" difficult to keep (mostly) on the trail. One is that there were occasionally posts stuck in the ...

Here is an example that is pretty clear. You don't have the "sign" on most of the trees with blazes. Only saw a couple of those. Mostly what you see are the 2 slash marks. Usually a "dot ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:03:50 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Here is an example that is pretty clear. You don't have the "sign" on most of the trees with blazes. Only saw a couple of those. Mostly what you see are the 2 slash marks. Usually a "dot ...

The other thing you do if you lose a trail in a meadow, is just head to one edge of the meadow and walk along the edge until you run across the trail where it enters the trees again. Depend ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:07:12 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
The other thing you do if you lose a trail in a meadow, is just head to one edge of the meadow and walk along the edge until you run across the trail where it enters the trees again. Depend ...

Time for a "picture taking" break. When I took the picture, I did not notice a spider had been there before me : )

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:09:20 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Time for a "picture taking" break. When I took the picture, I did not notice a spider had been there before me : )

It was not all meadows. There were the occasional sections that I had to do a little steep trail climbing. But, at least it let me look back at the view. This is (roughly) looking back to ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:35:36 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
It was not all meadows. There were the occasional sections that I had to do a little steep trail climbing. But, at least it let me look back at the view. This is (roughly) looking back to ...

Finally, I break out on "top". This is basicly the continental divide. So, no steep peaks, etc. Just rolling forests and meadows. I travel along another half a mile or more before I get ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:35:38 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Finally, I break out on "top". This is basicly the continental divide. So, no steep peaks, etc. Just rolling forests and meadows. I travel along another half a mile or more before I get ...

Got to have a "hero" shot : ) Also, I did take a video at my lunch break. I call it my "almost loses it" video : ) You'll understand when you see it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:38:04 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Got to have a "hero" shot : ) Also, I did take a video at my lunch break. I call it my "almost loses it" video : ) You'll understand when you see it.

As I said, pretty nice hiking up here. Nobody here but me, the meadows, the flowers, the cows. Cows?!?

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:41:22 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
As I said, pretty nice hiking up here. Nobody here but me, the meadows, the flowers, the cows. Cows?!?

Yep. Cows. See a lot of this is Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. If it isn't too difficult to get in and out of without losing the cows (and not too many grizzlys or wolves around), they stil ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:49:25 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Yep. Cows. See a lot of this is Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. If it isn't too difficult to get in and out of without losing the cows (and not too many grizzlys or wolves around), they stil ...

Finally hit the CDT sign.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:44:26 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Finally hit the CDT sign.

Little closer look just to "prove" I made it : )

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:46:46 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Little closer look just to "prove" I made it : )

Nice stream and flowers.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:52:23 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Nice stream and flowers.

So, headed back down the trail. Somehow I missed this shot on the way up, so took a picture break and captured some falling water.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:55:36 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
So, headed back down the trail. Somehow I missed this shot on the way up, so took a picture break and captured some falling water.

Things look a little different when you head back in the opposite direction on any trail. So, I had to basically "refind" the trail all the way back. I especially did not want to miss wher ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:58:44 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Things look a little different when you head back in the opposite direction on any trail. So, I had to basically "refind" the trail all the way back. I especially did not want to miss wher ...

Others were just a little harder to locate. Mostly due to this being an old trail (100 years) and new trees and brush beginning to "hide" the blazes. So, here I am looking right at the bla ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:03:06 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Others were just a little harder to locate. Mostly due to this being an old trail (100 years) and new trees and brush beginning to "hide" the blazes. So, here I am looking right at the bla ...

There they are. Imagine what it's like if you are a 100 yards away (or, just 50) and looking across a bunch of meadows with some scattered trees. Sometimes you have to spend a few minutes ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:06:41 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
There they are. Imagine what it's like if you are a 100 yards away (or, just 50) and looking across a bunch of meadows with some scattered trees. Sometimes you have to spend a few minutes ...

Here is a shot of some "wild" life. This guy "knew no fear". Thought he was going to jump me for a while.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:09:27 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Here is a shot of some "wild" life. This guy "knew no fear". Thought he was going to jump me for a while.

Well, got to my truck a little after 5pm. Was supposed to go see Kate and mom in Walden and drop off some coffee, so I knew it was going to be a little late on getting in to Fort Collins (g ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:23:58 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Well, got to my truck a little after 5pm. Was supposed to go see Kate and mom in Walden and drop off some coffee, so I knew it was going to be a little late on getting in to Fort Collins (g ...

Here we go. I cranked up the power on the camera to pull in the Medicine Bows in a little closer. Yep, lots of country. That's all Wyoming in the picture. Colorado is off to the right (s ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:26:45 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Here we go. I cranked up the power on the camera to pull in the Medicine Bows in a little closer. Yep, lots of country. That's all Wyoming in the picture. Colorado is off to the right (s ...

And here is a shot to the west. Neat country. Not many people. You don't end up here unless you want to, and most tourists are all headed in some other direction.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:29:03 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
And here is a shot to the west. Neat country. Not many people. You don't end up here unless you want to, and most tourists are all headed in some other direction.

And here I am just about ready to cross the border into Colorado (headed south to Walden). I already went through the humongous cities of Encampment and Riverside (population, around 10 in ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:31:24 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
And here I am just about ready to cross the border into Colorado (headed south to Walden). I already went through the humongous cities of Encampment and Riverside (population, around 10 in ...