ScoutColorado
08-16-2010, 09:12 PM
The Castle - Lost Creek Wilderness, CO 8/15/2010 Evergreen Dean, Rick Rock
36387The Lost Creek Wilderness is a gem in Colorado, and only about an hour from our houses. I had always wanted to visit "the Castle", a prominent rock formation by Wellington Lake, and eventually I talked my good friend Evergreen Dean into this foolish endeavor.
Our Destination - The Castle from the trail
36378
We met in Aspen Park at LoafNJug at 7am. We drove to Wellington Lake, and as Dean had heard, we found the whole lake closed and fenced off. I was hoping to start the climb from the west side of the lake. It was bushwhacking on a very steep slope, but less than a mile to the rocks. No such luck. So we backtracked to the Colorado Trail, and drove to the Rolling Creek Trailhead. Beautiful, sunny day to be in the 70's.
Evergreen Dean
36391
Now it was said to be about 1.8 miles of good trail, then the death hike to the rocks. But it turned out to be more like 3 miles of good trail, then the death hike.
36388
Ran into lots of "shroomers", groups gathering trashbags full of mushrooms. It was the most mushrooms I had ever seen, due to a favorable spring/summer.
36377
We then struck out off trail to the south and started up the slope, angling slightly to the east as we gained altitude. Slow going. Downed trees, rocks, bushes, a real trek. Hard to avoid the many drainages.
Start of the Death Hike - it got much more twisted - logs, rocks, bushes, steep etc.
36389
But we hit our destination of the western saddle almost perfectly. Now it's gettin cool...
36386
Evergreen Dean scouts for the crack up
36381
First, let me say this rock formation is probably 100 times bigger and more majestic than I had imagined. Huge rappels were possible. Hundreds of spires, hanging gardens, lush as I've seen. You could spend a lifetime exploring, and climbing is unlimited. We decided we needed to backpack to here, then explore for 2 days.
Incredible hanging gardens
36385
RickRock on Spire Top
36380
Evergreen Dean on Top
36390
After chillin' for a while, we started down, and downclimbed a couple of cracks. When we hit the saddle, we realized that we had to bushwhack and hit the trail perfectly, or would end up in a drainage well below our destination, possibly costing us miles.
By perfect luck and probably some skill we hit the trail on the exact corner where it turned away.
Another hike back, and we found a beautiful campsite, river below, and a beautiful view of the Castle.
36382
Lots of Cool Tree Fungi
36379
Lush Trail Out
36383
Last view of the Castle from the trail36384
Stopped in Aspen Park and had Ribs and Catfish..........
36387The Lost Creek Wilderness is a gem in Colorado, and only about an hour from our houses. I had always wanted to visit "the Castle", a prominent rock formation by Wellington Lake, and eventually I talked my good friend Evergreen Dean into this foolish endeavor.
Our Destination - The Castle from the trail
36378
We met in Aspen Park at LoafNJug at 7am. We drove to Wellington Lake, and as Dean had heard, we found the whole lake closed and fenced off. I was hoping to start the climb from the west side of the lake. It was bushwhacking on a very steep slope, but less than a mile to the rocks. No such luck. So we backtracked to the Colorado Trail, and drove to the Rolling Creek Trailhead. Beautiful, sunny day to be in the 70's.
Evergreen Dean
36391
Now it was said to be about 1.8 miles of good trail, then the death hike to the rocks. But it turned out to be more like 3 miles of good trail, then the death hike.
36388
Ran into lots of "shroomers", groups gathering trashbags full of mushrooms. It was the most mushrooms I had ever seen, due to a favorable spring/summer.
36377
We then struck out off trail to the south and started up the slope, angling slightly to the east as we gained altitude. Slow going. Downed trees, rocks, bushes, a real trek. Hard to avoid the many drainages.
Start of the Death Hike - it got much more twisted - logs, rocks, bushes, steep etc.
36389
But we hit our destination of the western saddle almost perfectly. Now it's gettin cool...
36386
Evergreen Dean scouts for the crack up
36381
First, let me say this rock formation is probably 100 times bigger and more majestic than I had imagined. Huge rappels were possible. Hundreds of spires, hanging gardens, lush as I've seen. You could spend a lifetime exploring, and climbing is unlimited. We decided we needed to backpack to here, then explore for 2 days.
Incredible hanging gardens
36385
RickRock on Spire Top
36380
Evergreen Dean on Top
36390
After chillin' for a while, we started down, and downclimbed a couple of cracks. When we hit the saddle, we realized that we had to bushwhack and hit the trail perfectly, or would end up in a drainage well below our destination, possibly costing us miles.
By perfect luck and probably some skill we hit the trail on the exact corner where it turned away.
Another hike back, and we found a beautiful campsite, river below, and a beautiful view of the Castle.
36382
Lots of Cool Tree Fungi
36379
Lush Trail Out
36383
Last view of the Castle from the trail36384
Stopped in Aspen Park and had Ribs and Catfish..........