Nice TR! That's one of my favorite loops in Colorado! We ran the loop a week before you guys and had pouring rain and clouds the entire day... it's nice to see you all had great weather.
my wife and i are planning a trip to colorado this summer and were thinking about this loop...any suggestions? is it worth the whole thing? or is any portion of it in particular really spectacular? we thought if we did only part of it, we would do the buckskin pass part to snowmass lake and maybe try snowmass peak before heading out...
happy climbing,
stinkycheez
I realize this is pretty late--but yes, if you were only going to do one section the Counter clock wise over Buckskin to Snowmass lake would be perfect. I thought about Scrambling Snowmass Peak as well, but I was so dead from coming around the clockwise direction there was no way---I was too tired and had some real nice blisters to show for it.
This is one of my all time favorites. Locals sometimes do it in a day. Its a pretty long day--14 or 15 hours for a very fit and acclimated person who traveling light (lighter, perhaps, than he should). Its about 26 miles, but the killer is the 9,000 feet of vertical at high altitude.
Your trip report was great. LMAO in a few places. I'm planning on doing this trip the week of Labor Day. I'm reading everything I can on it. Happy hiking
No, no permits are needed, but you will see several "No camping" signs along the route---that would of course be PERFECT camping spots...so be prepared for that, and just observe proper backcountry etiquette--make sure you wrap your car in the chicken wire they have in the parking lot else the porcupines will get under it and eat your brake cables, wiring, etc...you'll see quills all over the place...
Dude, doing this loop in 3 days from sea level is one hell of an accomplishment. You should be damn proud of yourself and your wife/girlfriend. 3 passes in 1 day is pretty much beast mode comparatively speaking.
I too have come across the 'joggers' and while it can be deflating, I don't live out there, nor do I have the time to train like that, and probably wouldn't if I did. When it comes to stuff like this, people can get very competitive and I am there to enjoy it, not kill myself--The current record for jogging this loop is an insane Four Hours and 14 minutes..
Doing it in three days is also VERY good--
You should try the Grand Teton next...Hire a guide at Exum, Im sure you will be able to do it--the record for climbing it from parking lot to parking lot is UNDER 3 Hours...
It would blow your mind to realize that when your there.
Keep up the good work!
Chris - Sep 7, 2007 11:08 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice!Nice TR! That's one of my favorite loops in Colorado! We ran the loop a week before you guys and had pouring rain and clouds the entire day... it's nice to see you all had great weather.
- Chris
tdogge - Sep 11, 2007 6:27 pm - Hasn't voted
ThanksThanks for the comment. Maybe one day I'll be in good enough shape to come run it with you.
Tyler
stinkycheezman33 - Mar 22, 2009 8:10 pm - Voted 10/10
great TRmy wife and i are planning a trip to colorado this summer and were thinking about this loop...any suggestions? is it worth the whole thing? or is any portion of it in particular really spectacular? we thought if we did only part of it, we would do the buckskin pass part to snowmass lake and maybe try snowmass peak before heading out...
happy climbing,
stinkycheez
Mike_Trail - Oct 14, 2013 9:59 am - Voted 10/10
Re: great TRI realize this is pretty late--but yes, if you were only going to do one section the Counter clock wise over Buckskin to Snowmass lake would be perfect. I thought about Scrambling Snowmass Peak as well, but I was so dead from coming around the clockwise direction there was no way---I was too tired and had some real nice blisters to show for it.
glenn1 - Jan 7, 2010 8:43 pm - Hasn't voted
nice hikeThis is one of my all time favorites. Locals sometimes do it in a day. Its a pretty long day--14 or 15 hours for a very fit and acclimated person who traveling light (lighter, perhaps, than he should). Its about 26 miles, but the killer is the 9,000 feet of vertical at high altitude.
thatgalfromtexas - Aug 14, 2011 6:59 pm - Voted 9/10
love itYour trip report was great. LMAO in a few places. I'm planning on doing this trip the week of Labor Day. I'm reading everything I can on it. Happy hiking
Archangel2424 - Apr 9, 2012 5:33 pm - Hasn't voted
campingDo you need a permit to camp along the trail? I am a bit new to the whole hiking and camping thing.
Mike_Trail - Oct 14, 2013 10:02 am - Voted 10/10
Re: campingNo, no permits are needed, but you will see several "No camping" signs along the route---that would of course be PERFECT camping spots...so be prepared for that, and just observe proper backcountry etiquette--make sure you wrap your car in the chicken wire they have in the parking lot else the porcupines will get under it and eat your brake cables, wiring, etc...you'll see quills all over the place...
Mike_Trail - Oct 14, 2013 9:53 am - Voted 10/10
Well DoneDude, doing this loop in 3 days from sea level is one hell of an accomplishment. You should be damn proud of yourself and your wife/girlfriend. 3 passes in 1 day is pretty much beast mode comparatively speaking.
I too have come across the 'joggers' and while it can be deflating, I don't live out there, nor do I have the time to train like that, and probably wouldn't if I did. When it comes to stuff like this, people can get very competitive and I am there to enjoy it, not kill myself--The current record for jogging this loop is an insane Four Hours and 14 minutes..
Doing it in three days is also VERY good--
You should try the Grand Teton next...Hire a guide at Exum, Im sure you will be able to do it--the record for climbing it from parking lot to parking lot is UNDER 3 Hours...
It would blow your mind to realize that when your there.
Keep up the good work!