Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > O well, in the summer I would have considered walking across in my bare feet (I really need to start carrying a pair of kayak booties : ), but it was too cold for that now.  So, as I find myself doing quite often, we hiked downstream hoping to find a convenient log to cross on.
However, after a short ways of trying to walk alongside the river, we found ourselves in the middle of the orc marshes.  Since it was daylight, we were in no danger, but it was still hazardous in attempting to keep our feet dry (in fact, my feet did get wet : ).
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > Hmmmm.  Or not.  Yes, well, this is definitely not Rocky Mountain National Park.  If it was, there would be a bridge.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > Here we are crossing the meadowland that follows a lot of Douglas Creek.  In fact, it stretches upstream from here for a good mile or more.  Very nice for photos and fly fishing.  This is looking downstream right before you get to the bridge......
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > As can be seen from above, we were able to make it over the first stream without too many problems.  But, my first real view of Douglas Creek a made me think twice (or more) about the possibility of trying to cross it today.   More water in the creek than I was expecting for this time of the year.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > Will and I took a trip to Walden, CO to see his grandma and aunt in early October of 2007.  It wasn't the best weather, but we decided to stop and do a little hike on the way since there was not much time left in the year for walking around the mountains (without snowshoes or skis : ).  So, we took off early (relatively) Saturday morning and I introduced Will to the Pelton Creek valley which you drive through on the way to the Douglas Creek trailhead.  You head NW up the Pelton Creek road (forest access road # 898) by turning off of Wyo 230/Co 127 right where the highway crosses the border back into Colorado from Wyoming (on the road between Laramie, Wyo and Walden, Co).
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > I have been here before (see http://orrn.wordpress.com/2007/06/28/platte-ridge-trail-platte-river-wilderness-wy-may-27-2007/ ) and relayed my thoughts on the general area, so I won't repeat myself other than it is a gem of an area.  Last time I had headed up another trail and this trip I actually wanted to hike a short distance down the Douglas Creek trail just to get an idea of the layout of the trail.
The trailhead does begin very close to the boundary of the Platte River Wilderness area, so you don't have to worry about seeing anyone on motorized vehicles.  Actually, from what I have seen, you don't really have to worry about seeing anyone at all : )  As I found on the previous hike in the area, it's not a heavily used trail system.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > Variations on a theme.
Anyway, Will and I continued on downstream about another half mile or so, but we never did find a log (or rocks) to cross over to the other side (where the trail was).  So, as we needed to get to Walden in a timely manner, and the weather was beginning to look as if it might start dropping water on us, we headed back to the truck.
So, I did not get very far in my investigation of the trail, which means I will just have to come back sometime with enough time (and the correct footwear to cross the river) to hike a good section of the trail.  If I do an overnight trip, I think there is a good loop for the hike.
Nice way to spend a couple of hours and some pretty country.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > Variations on a theme.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > Here is another photo of the area (looking back upstream).
O well, in the summer I would have considered walking across in my bare feet (I really need to start carrying a pair of kayak booties : ), but it was too cold for that now. So, as I find myself doing quite often, we hiked downstream hoping to find a convenient log to cross on.
However, after a short ways of trying to walk alongside the river, we found ourselves in the middle of the orc marshes. Since it was daylight, we were in no danger, but it was still hazardous in attempting to keep our feet dry (in fact, my feet did get wet : ).
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > O well, in the summer I would have considered walking across in my bare feet (I really need to start carrying a pair of kayak booties : ), but it was too cold for that now.  So, as I find myself doing quite often, we hiked downstream hoping to find a convenient log to cross on.
However, after a short ways of trying to walk alongside the river, we found ourselves in the middle of the orc marshes.  Since it was daylight, we were in no danger, but it was still hazardous in attempting to keep our feet dry (in fact, my feet did get wet : ).
O well, in the summer I would have considered walking across in my bare feet (I really need to start carrying a pair of kayak booties : ), but it was too cold for that now. So, as I find myself doing quite often, we hiked downstream hoping to find a convenient log to cross on.
However, after a short ways of trying to walk alongside the river, we found ourselves in the middle of the orc marshes. Since it was daylight, we were in no danger, but it was still hazardous in attempting to keep our feet dry (in fact, my feet did get wet : ).
See photo in gallery

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