Bear Down Wildcats

Yes BD 89!

This is a bucketlist place for me! Awesome photos!

CalStateTempe wrote:Yes BD 89!

This is a bucketlist place for me! Awesome photos!

Thank you! So many trails, peaks, lakes, loops, and options, plus the Boulder White Clouds are a whole 'nother range across the highway. Let me know if you ever want to discuss, I have a pretty good feel for the area - Stanley, Redfish Lake Lodge, etc. Going to get at least one more backpack in for Labor Day and then hopefully something a little more fall/3-seasonish in Sept/Oct. It's been really crowded this summer now that everyone's a Covid outdoorsman, but it should lighten up in the fall.

I've been watching a ton of YouTube in the Sierras lately. Really want to make time for the JMT or thereabouts one of these days . . .

Now that's how you social distance! Looks great!

BearDown89 wrote:

CalStateTempe wrote:Yes BD 89!

This is a bucketlist place for me! Awesome photos!

Thank you! So many trails, peaks, lakes, loops, and options, plus the Boulder White Clouds are a whole 'nother range across the highway. Let me know if you ever want to discuss, I have a pretty good feel for the area - Stanley, Redfish Lake Lodge, etc. Going to get at least one more backpack in for Labor Day and then hopefully something a little more fall/3-seasonish in Sept/Oct. It's been really crowded this summer now that everyone's a Covid outdoorsman, but it should lighten up in the fall.

I've been watching a ton of YouTube in the Sierras lately. Really want to make time for the JMT or thereabouts one of these days . . .

Wow, looks like some awesome hikes! You have any good 1 day hikes around here? We went to Bogus Basin but didn't find anything to inspiring. We did Mt Baldy in Ketchum a few years back.

Excellent! I hope to be visiting some high mountain lakes on the PCT here in the next couple of weeks.

I can almost smell that mountain air. Looks amazing

84Cat wrote:

BearDown89 wrote:

CalStateTempe wrote:Yes BD 89!

This is a bucketlist place for me! Awesome photos!

Thank you! So many trails, peaks, lakes, loops, and options, plus the Boulder White Clouds are a whole 'nother range across the highway. Let me know if you ever want to discuss, I have a pretty good feel for the area - Stanley, Redfish Lake Lodge, etc. Going to get at least one more backpack in for Labor Day and then hopefully something a little more fall/3-seasonish in Sept/Oct. It's been really crowded this summer now that everyone's a Covid outdoorsman, but it should lighten up in the fall.

I've been watching a ton of YouTube in the Sierras lately. Really want to make time for the JMT or thereabouts one of these days . . .

Wow, looks like some awesome hikes! You have any good 1 day hikes around here? We went to Bogus Basin but didn't find anything to inspiring. We did Mt Baldy in Ketchum a few years back.

Have you hiked to Stack Rock? That's a good 9-10 mile out and back. Just past milepost 12(ish) on Bogus Basin Road. Parking area on the right side of road, cross BBR to the trail head that heads west.

This has me missing my work years in the middle fork of the Boise. Gonna have to float the River of No Return again before I get too old.

BearDown89 wrote:

84Cat wrote:

BearDown89 wrote:

CalStateTempe wrote:Yes BD 89!

This is a bucketlist place for me! Awesome photos!

Thank you! So many trails, peaks, lakes, loops, and options, plus the Boulder White Clouds are a whole 'nother range across the highway. Let me know if you ever want to discuss, I have a pretty good feel for the area - Stanley, Redfish Lake Lodge, etc. Going to get at least one more backpack in for Labor Day and then hopefully something a little more fall/3-seasonish in Sept/Oct. It's been really crowded this summer now that everyone's a Covid outdoorsman, but it should lighten up in the fall.

I've been watching a ton of YouTube in the Sierras lately. Really want to make time for the JMT or thereabouts one of these days . . .

Wow, looks like some awesome hikes! You have any good 1 day hikes around here? We went to Bogus Basin but didn't find anything to inspiring. We did Mt Baldy in Ketchum a few years back.

Have you hiked to Stack Rock? That's a good 9-10 mile out and back. Just past milepost 12(ish) on Bogus Basin Road. Parking area on the right side of road, cross BBR to the trail head that heads west.

I don't think so. I'll check it out

Seriously looks amazing

Planning a September trip through western Colorado roughly from Durango up to Dinosaur Nat. Monument. Anybody got suggestions?

dovecanyoncat wrote:Planning a September trip through western Colorado roughly from Durango up to Dinosaur Nat. Monument. Anybody got suggestions?

Maybe get over to Mesa Verde.

azgreg wrote:Heading up north in the morning. We decided to just hang around the Page area. We will do SE Utah and SW Colorado later this year.

be alert to fires - at least two could affect the route (Pine Ridge & Grizzly Creek)

the first part through the San Juans is really awesome - high mountain roads and passes, and each town is worth a stop...

azgreg wrote:

dovecanyoncat wrote:Planning a September trip through western Colorado roughly from Durango up to Dinosaur Nat. Monument. Anybody got suggestions?

Maybe get over to Mesa Verde.

Did that and a bunch of stuff all around the Four Corners last year. Loved it.

pc in NM wrote:

azgreg wrote:Heading up north in the morning. We decided to just hang around the Page area. We will do SE Utah and SW Colorado later this year.

be alert to fires - at least two could affect the route (Pine Ridge & Grizzly Creek)

the first part through the San Juans is really awesome - high mountain roads and passes, and each town is worth a stop...

Thanks. I'll drill down into Pine Ridge & Grizzly Creek. For now I'm just considering the best road trip angles to take. Day hikes planning come later.

dovecanyoncat wrote:

pc in NM wrote:

azgreg wrote:Heading up north in the morning. We decided to just hang around the Page area. We will do SE Utah and SW Colorado later this year.

be alert to fires - at least two could affect the route (Pine Ridge & Grizzly Creek)

the first part through the San Juans is really awesome - high mountain roads and passes, and each town is worth a stop...

Thanks. I'll drill down into Pine Ridge & Grizzly Creek. For now I'm just considering the best road trip angles to take. Day hikes planning come later.

I shared that info BECAUSE of possible road closure/delay concerns....

Million Dollar Hwy between Silverton and Ouray is a must. Black Canyon of the Gunnison Natl Park and Crystal Mill if you head a little further east. Both amazing sights.

pc in NM wrote:

dovecanyoncat wrote:

pc in NM wrote:

azgreg wrote:Heading up north in the morning. We decided to just hang around the Page area. We will do SE Utah and SW Colorado later this year.

be alert to fires - at least two could affect the route (Pine Ridge & Grizzly Creek)

the first part through the San Juans is really awesome - high mountain roads and passes, and each town is worth a stop...

Thanks. I'll drill down into Pine Ridge & Grizzly Creek. For now I'm just considering the best road trip angles to take. Day hikes planning come later.

I shared that info BECAUSE of possible road closure/delay concerns....

I-70 just recently reopened after being closed for around 2 weeks near Glenwood Springs because of the Grizzly Creek fire.

They are saying any rain whatsoever will cause mudslides and could cause another closure.

Another weekend backpacking in the White Clouds Wilderness near Stanley, Idaho. Weather was really unstable and obscured much of the sweeping views of this range, but it was still atmospheric and cool. Topped out and 10,107 feet at this high point on this ridge.

Dude, that’s fucking amazing.

Chicat wrote:Dude, that’s fucking amazing.

Thanks Chi. Was up there with 4 kids half my age. Kicked my ass scrambling around after them. It's cliche, but these pics don't even begin . . .

Already snow geez. Meanwhile still 100 in Tucson. Looks beautiful

ASUHATER! wrote:Already snow geez. Meanwhile still 100 in Tucson. Looks beautiful

Yup, seasons change fast up there. Stanley is 6,200 feet. This was my set up at the trailhead Friday night at 8,700 feet. It poured rain for hours and then by Saturday morning it turned to a wet snow. The tarp is for Jeep/car camping, but it's new so I set it up to check it out and provide some extra cover for my tiny backpacking tent so I'd have a place to hang out underneath. I wasn't careful when I took it down Saturday morning and the weight of the snow snapped both my trekking poles.

Thanks for posting those photos. Had some good times around there in the Sawtooths. Is that high peak in your pics Castle Peak?

KaibabKat wrote:Thanks for posting those photos. Had some good times around there in the Sawtooths. Is that high peak in your pics Castle Peak?

You bet! No, that is just an unnamed peak at 10,600 feet to the southwest of Castle Peak - not far away though. I'm looking southwesterly there so Castle Peak is to my left and back towards me. In fact, Castle Peak is on the same ridgeline that I'm climbing in the pics, but farther to the east and separated by another 4 or 5 peaks in between. If not for the weather, I would've had 360 degree views of the whole range, including Castle Peak, and would've taken some pics for sure. It was under clouds.

She fought a goddamn bear...

Don't fuck with my dogs.....

Heading up to Montezuma Castle National Park tomorrow for a day trip.

azgreg wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:33 pm Heading up to Montezuma Castle National Park tomorrow for a day trip.

Weather should be perfect. Go to old town Cottonwood for pizza at Bocce or a brisket cheesesteak sammy at Colt BBQ.

azgreg wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:33 pm Heading up to Montezuma Castle National Park tomorrow for a day trip.

Also (since you're kind of a gear head iirc) Jerome is having a VW van jamboree.

I remember going to Montezuma's castle in about 1995 or so and observing German tourists for the first time. A busload of them got out at the castle and I just remember them all wearing sandals with socks and crowding around a prickly pear and taking dozens of pictures with it.

dovecanyoncat wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 7:11 pm

azgreg wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:33 pm Heading up to Montezuma Castle National Park tomorrow for a day trip.

Also (since you're kind of a gear head iirc) Jerome is having a VW van jamboree.

Mrs azgreg says hard pass.

azgreg wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:33 pm Heading up to Montezuma Castle National Park tomorrow for a day trip.

Nice. I took my kids there last week on the way back from Sedona.
I took the kids hiking last week at West Fork in Sedona. It's a great hike for kids as it isn't too difficult and you cross the creek a bunch of times.
Stopped at Butterfly Burger in Village of Oak Creek on our way out. That is our favorite burger spot.

Montezuma Castle

Montezuma Well

V Bar V Heritage Site

Climbed 1500ft yesterday to summit and an awesome 1.5mile ski descent.

Hurts so good this am.

Castle Peak CA

If not for stromatolites you wouldn't be here.

Stromatolites: The Earth’s Oldest Living Lifeforms

In Western Australia, 3.5bn-year-old stromatolites built up the oxygen content of the Earth’s atmosphere to about 20%, giving the kiss of life to all that was to evolve.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/stro ... -lifeforms

I thought Merkin was the the earth’s oldest living lifeform?

azgreg wrote: Thu Feb 06, 2025 8:06 am I thought Merkin was the the earth’s oldest living lifeform?

I think I have him beat by a year or so, so show some respect boyo.

dovecanyoncat wrote: Thu Feb 06, 2025 8:13 am

azgreg wrote: Thu Feb 06, 2025 8:06 am I thought Merkin was the the earth’s oldest living lifeform?

I think I have him beat by a year or so, so show some respect boyo.

Youi're all a bunch of spring chickens, AFAIC.

pc in NM wrote: Thu Feb 06, 2025 8:23 am

dovecanyoncat wrote: Thu Feb 06, 2025 8:13 am

azgreg wrote: Thu Feb 06, 2025 8:06 am I thought Merkin was the the earth’s oldest living lifeform?

I think I have him beat by a year or so, so show some respect boyo.

Youi're all a bunch of spring chickens, AFAIC.

I fully expected this to bring you out of the corner.

Bill approves of that tidbit.

https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks ... onaldtrump

Tl/dr , Yosemite and other well loved well traveled NPs are fucked

You see one Yosemite you've seen 'em all.

Just got to ask….are public lands fucked and going to get sold off?

What can be done to protect them now?

CalStateTempe wrote: Sun Mar 02, 2025 10:42 pm Just got to ask….are public lands fucked and going to get sold off?

What can be done to protect them now?

I mock Trump with the notion, but even he isn't stoopid enough ..... isn't he?