Independence Pass BTW 54

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ROF= Ring of fire Odyssey  MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus 

Independence Pass BTW 54

BTW #64 -  54      Back to the West Journey     Tracks of the StoneBear

Monday August 13, 2012   http://sbtbtw.blogspot.com/2012/10/64-draft.html

15 miles west of Twin Lakes, Colorado   

  

Independence Pass 12, 085' elev   ON the Continental Divide 

It took some doing to get here. On the road map it's Colo hwy 82 west from US hwy 24south -- south from Leadville, Colo -- also see the Leadville, Colo posts.

Twin Lakes, Colo is a neat little historical side-out.... pop 100. The lodge has been here for 100 years... a couple blocks of dirt streets. on west 5+ miles is the Twin Peaks camp in the San Isabel national Forest.... a refreshing stop. -- see the Twin Peaks -- Perseid's meteor shower post. 

Head out on Colo hwy 82west. This road will take you to Aspen, Colo. I don't care to see Aspen. I've already seen Vail and Breckenridge, Colo and wanted to throw up after riding through town. Also wanted to take a shower after being violated to seeing these aborations -- tourist ski resorts among grand majestic mountains -- in the Rockies. Maybe it's better in the winter snow. 

Heading west on Colo hwy 82, up this valley, 1,200' mountains on each side. Rock formations are amazing. Thick mountain forest terrain in this valley, wind over the mountain stream on the left,.... over a bridge and then the stream is on the right.

 This is the same Lake Creek I listened to last night 100' from the Twin peaks campsite while watching the Perseid's meteor shower at 3am. This is more than a creek... it's 100' wide most places with a lot of flow over mountain rock bed. The beds are rounded rock from the millennia of erosion. Absolutely beautiful stream flowing down. We're driving upstream -- up the valley.

    

Ascending on a steep pace. At times the road grade is 6% and little Hidalgo II is going 15mph up the mountain road..

Running in and out of rain. Mountain fog. Up and into the fog clouds.... Visibility in a mile ranges from 10 miles to 200 yards. Valley is amazing. Ascending up some switchbacks / hairpin curves.

come to a valley headwaters. Winding creek through beaver dams. Mountains on every side.... up 2,000' vertical... Spectacular. Moist damp, wet road. Can see the road going up the mountain.

Drive on , ascending....stop at an overlook.... phenomenal view looking back down the valley. pix. Can now see the treeline on the mountains.... the point where forest evergreen pine trees grow.... 

and the line -- horizontal line on the mountains that are bare on the top.... just alpine tundra grass. No trees / vegetation will grow above a certain point on the mountain due to altitude ... harsh mountain wind erosion.

Switchback road up into the fog now. Visibility 200' now... press on to the summit.

Independence Pass -- it IS the Continental Divide. 12, 095' elev. Fog / rain... viz 100' at times. Wind 25+

I've got to climb out onto this place. Driving rain.... sideways rain. ... stinging rain. Cold, 39*. wind 30+.    Hike out to the actual peak. Fog. I'm it! ; there is no one else here. ?Where is everybody? 

?Why isn't there anyone else here? Pristine mountain peak. ... raw / surreal. Wind is 25+ gusts. A brief gap in the clouds & can see the actual peak.

About 20 minutes to say a few prayers for Sons,... take in the stark, raw, cold element of this peak / pass. Evacuate and begin to head down.

Descending the peak, stop at an overlook... maybe a thousand feet below... maybe 11,000' now and the clouds / fog part for a few minutes. Can't take pix fast enough. Fantastic view of the mountain ridges and valley with the headwaters. Down from the Continental Divide... this was a phenomenal place to see.

You never drink twice from the same stream. 

StoneBearTracks Copyright Uncle Hargus MCMLXIII ALL blog posts/photographs/video ALL Rights reserved 

ALL Blog posts/photographs/video Copyright MCMLXIII ALL Rights Reserved 

BTW 67 The Journey

Tracks of the StoneBear Copyright MCMLXIII Uncle Hargus ALL Rights reserved

ROF= Ring of fire Odyssey  MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus 

BTW= Back to the West Journey            

Saturday, December 15, 2012

BTW 67 The Journey

BTW The Journey....  extra post --  pix are coming.

This journey between the eternities has been spectacular... only to me. To borrow the phrase / title ... On the road less Traveled, defines it exactly. The roads and trails, the tracks left behind were on paths that were off the beaten path. There were less people,.. and less impact from the plundering of people. ... a preferred route. 

It's not that I don't like people. I've loved meeting people on the many paths from all over the world. Archaeology, Anthropology, and Geography classes and research in and after college made this a living , walking classroom as I've walked around the sun some 61+ times.

I don't like shallow thinking people; I don't suffer the company of fools easily.

I went to college and saw frat boys cheat on tests, and now they are vice presidents of banks here in town. I've met too many brokers and agents that were simply professional thieves that gloated how much they got away with by presenting the illusion of a sharp suit as their legitimacy. Talked and worked with so many of them that I can spot them easily.

Sat with CEOs and presidents of large and small corporations and watched them eat dinner like pigs... handling a fork like a hillbilly stabbing a steak-- almost wrestling it on the plate-- ; all that money... and they didn't even have the simple table manners to eat properly, decently,... at the dinner-table. They were privileged bums. ... slobs,

I don't have any earth shaking quotes of wisdom... the meaning of life or anything of significance. I just shared this walk, like most.... struggled through, battered by the hard parts and come to this place in the road happy to just say it was a good run. I'm glad I got to see it when it was real, Started from the bottom and worked my way up and am proud of what little I accomplished... I should have done so much more. I'm sure the Lord will tell me that. ... that I could have done more.

My heart has been rocked by loss to many times, it helped appreciate the journey... the good things. Getting back up after being knocked down... you get used to it as normal after a while. I think the best compliment I ever got... from my Son.... then grown up and after seeing me work hard and live for years ; "Dad, you limp back to the huddle after every play, then every time you come out ready for the next snap".

I'm not a bleeding heart liberal, but I've looked out for those less fortunate and helped when I could. On the road often offers the chance meeting of travelers, some homeless,...some on their own journey. The times when i give a few bucks to some kids traveling.... those are not just some kids. They are my Sons, my Sons,... my nephews, your Sons , your nephews... that I could help them get through the day with something to eat; to get them a few more miles down the road; that's the least I could do.

I was not worried about the miles counted.... I lived to make the miles count.

You never drink twice from the same stream. 

StoneBearTracks Copyright Uncle Hargus MCMLXIII ALL blog posts/photographs/video ALL Rights reserved 

ALL Blog posts/photographs/video Copyright MCMLXIII ALL Rights Reserved