Trails in Colorado

1. 
   2007 March 8

   charlie Tombras permalink

   I really enjoyed your website. Particularly the photos on the Lake Katherine Trail. I own the North Fork Ranch at the bottom of Sheep Mountain next to Lone Pine Ranch. My ranch is the one where you took the photo of the hawk on the fence.
   I live in Tennessee during the winter and am usually at my ranch from April 1 through mid November.

   Thank you very much for this spectacular web site!!

   Charlie Tombras

   Reply
2. 
   2007 March 8

   orrn permalink

   Thanks for the comment.
   Have to say that area is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen (of course, that was in the summertime : )
   I could probably spend a whole summer just checking out that part of the Zirkels. I will probably be there again this summer. My mom and sister live in Walden, so I’ve got a great excuse to visit : )
   Anyway, you have a great place to spend the summer and fall. The views of the ranches and hay fields in the summer made the travel time to the trailhead very worthwhile.

   Thanks,
   Geoff Weatherford

   Reply
3. 
   2008 April 21

   John Hunter permalink

   Great site, thanks. I have posted photos of my hikes in and near Rocky Mountain National Park.

   Reply
4. 
   2008 April 23

   Geri Adams permalink

   I have been told the American White Pelican nest in the North Park Area. Your personal and interesting site leads me to believe you might know if this is true and more exactly where they might be viewed. Thanks, Geri

   Reply
5. 
   2008 April 24

   orrn permalink

   John Hunter,

   Great web site. Along with a lot of nice travel photos. I’m going to have to spend a little time checking it out.

   Thanks,

   Geoff Weatherford

   Reply
6. 
   2008 April 24

   orrn permalink

   Geri,

   I believe that I have seen pelicans in North Park area, but I wasn’t sure if they are the “American White Pelican” species. There are quite a few reservoirs and lakes in North Park (around the town of Walden, CO). In addition, the Arapaho Wildlife Refuge is right outside of the town of Walden (a lot of waterfowl nesting and travel happens in the refuge).

   So, I checked the Arapaho NWR web site at http://www.fws.gov/arapaho/ and clicked on the “Bird List” link at the upper left corner of the page. They do indeed have the American White Pelican : )
   In addition, there is a link that you can use to contact them for more info.
   I REALLY like Walden, CO. Nice (very) small town that is a great place to visit, nice people, and an awesome surrounding region of the North Park, the mountains, and the rivers. Oh, and the American White Pelicans.

   Thanks,
   Geoff Weatherford

   Reply
7. 
   2008 August 25

   kate permalink

   Loved your descriptions and photographs. It helped me make up my mind where to hike. Thanks!

   Reply
8. 
   2008 August 27

   orrn permalink

   Kate,

   Glad to be of service : )

   Lots of good hiking in the area (it can even be better in the Fall). So, hard to go too wrong.

   Thanks for looking.

   - Geoff Weatherford

   Reply
9. 
   2009 April 5

   Scott permalink

   I read your blog about the Big Creek Lakes area. I was wondering how many miles it is from Big Creek Lake to 7-Lakes. We are thinking about camping at Big Creek Lake, and maybe backpack up to and camp at 7 lakes. Also, how long did it take to make the hike?
   Did you see any elk along the way?

   Thanks for the help

   Reply
10. 
    2009 April 12

    orrn permalink

    Scott,

    I think it was roughly a 6 mile hike from Big Creek lake to Seven Lakes. That was one way, of course. I’d say it took us around 4 hours to make the hike (again, one way). That was with light day hiking packs. But, we weren’t in any hurry either.
    Although we did not see any elk, we did see lots of fresh elk sign. So, they were up there.
    There is one longish section that has a bunch of switchbacks where you gain most of your altitude for the entire hike. But the majority of the hike is relatively level to slow gains in altitude.

    Hope you have fun. Thanks for stopping by.

    Geoff Weatherford

    Reply
11. 
    2009 April 13

    Scott Crader permalink

    Thanks for the reply. If there aren’t already a bunch of people in the area, we might try to backpack up to 7 lakes during the muzzleloading portion of elk season. Might be a tough hike with 50-60lb. packs though. That would be a fairy-tale hunt, hunt elk during the morning and fish on top of the world in the evening.

    Reply