Hour Glass Bushwhack

20210720-CO-_7201108

The early portion of the route follows old logging roads, but is overgrown with dense vegetation.

20210720-CO-_7201106

Amanita mushroom (poisonous)

20210720-CO-_7201107

The wildflowers were thick along this early part of the hike.

20210720-CO-_7201109

Death camas, which was very abundant on this hike.

20210720-CO-_7201111

Sue climbing through the meadow

20210720-CO-_7201115

Spotted saxifrage

20210720-CO-_7201117

We hiked through a large area of talus, which has lots of Colorado Columbine

20210720-CO-_7201125

Blimbing to our first veiw point. The blowdown gets a little worse each year.

20210720-CO-_7201126

Dean, Mary Ann and Susan at the first viewpoint, with the upper San Juan valley below. Smoke wasn't too bad today.

20210720-CO-_7201128

Looking down from the first viewpoint, we had hiked across the rocky area immediately below, then followed elk trails to the ridge.

20210720-CO-_7201131

Spotted coralroot orchid, close up

20210720-CO-_7201134

As we continue the hike, Dean is looking to the top of the next ridge, which we will ascend through the visible rock formations

20210720-CO-_7201137

Mary Ann and Sue reaching the top of ridge #2

20210720-CO-_7201138

From here, we have our 2nd great view of the Bootjack Ranch in the San Juan valley. Everyone is checking the GPS app on their phones in disbelief that we've only come a little over a mile at this point.

20210720-CO-_7201139

Nice clump of Indian Paintbrush

20210720-CO-_7201141

Finally, a little downhill, across a high meadow with great views of Treasure Mountain (on the right)

20210720-CO-_7201142

But then we do another climb, through the rocks to the top of Hour Glass.

20210720-CO-_7201147

Rusty and Mary Ann at our lunch spot above the Hour Glass, with great views of the Wolf Creek Valley and Weminuch Wilderness beyond. You can see the highway leading to Wolf Creek Pass, far below.

20210720-CO-_7201150

At lunch, atop the Hour Glass. At the peak, we were about 11,580 ft.

20210720-CO-_7201155

Heading down the "stairway" from the top of the Hour Glass.

20210720-CO-_7201162

After descending from the summit, we had to slog through more blowdown, before coming out to a nice meadow area with lots of flowers. Monkshood, in this case

20210720-CO-_7201165

And plentiful Monkey Flower along a small stream. Total hike was just 4.2 miles, and about 1300 ft of elevation gain, but hard -earned! Great views, great flowers, great day.