50-Plus Clamber in the Collegiate Peaks, Colorado

The Trip

Escape the crowds found in national parks and join other 50-plus-year-olds as we clamber around Colorado’s Collegiate Peaks and surrounding areas experiencing some of the wonders of the Rocky Mountain Region while creating new friendships with amazing people from across the country. The leader, as well as the assistant leader, are both from the area and therefore have local knowledge of the best places to hike. They promise to take you to some of the most awe-inspiring areas in and around the Collegiate Peaks, so named after the famous American Ivy League Universities that form the Continental Divide in the central Rocky Mountain Region.

The Collegiate Peaks area was inhabited by Native Americans as long as 12,000 years ago by hunters who roamed the lands in search of food. Projectile points, knives, and charcoal from campfires tell a story of occupation. More recently, the Mountain Ute Nation lived in this area and adopted cultural traits that were different from Native Americans who lived on the Great Plains.

We'll stay in luxury resort accommodations with natural hot springs located at the base of Mount Princeton, one of the 14,000+ foot Collegiate Peaks. The resort provides breakfast & sack lunches, hot springs (outdoor pools and a natural hot spring creek), horseback riding (not included in trip price), fishing, and internet service. The lodge also has other recreational facilities available for our use, including workout facilities and a spa.

From the resort we will take day trips to our various hiking destinations. Hikes are designed to be suitable for those of us that have reached the half-century mark and beyond and therefore will allow for an easier group pace. On the days that longer hikes are offered, a trip participant may choose to stay behind to rest, go horseback riding, or take advantage of the resort’s outstanding amenities. Each day’s hike will end with plenty of time to enjoy a wonderful dinner back at the resort or at one of the many well-respected restaurants located in nearby Buena Vista or Salida. In addition, the trip will incorporate a rest day mid-week to ensure that trip participants can enjoy the resorts amenities. Note that dinners and breakfasts are not included in the trip price. The evenings are then free to spend time on your own or with the group while enjoying the resort’s amenities and recreational facilities.

Day one of the seven-day trip starts with a 4:00 pm orientation at the resort, which is within a stone's throw of 14,000+ Mount Princeton. Following the orientation, you'll have the chance to unpack, explore the resort grounds, go for a short hike or just relax in the hot springs or pools before dinner. During dinner, we will gather to review logistics and answer any last-minute questions before starting our hiking adventure the next morning.

Hikes are planned so that longer day hikes are typically followed by an easier day hike whenever possible. Participants should understand that mountain weather is often unpredictable, which makes each day's route somewhat weather dependent. When the weather is stormy, we will hike in the lower elevations and enjoy the lakes, streams, and waterfalls. When the forecast calls for blue skies, we will try to head for the high-country peaks, meadows, and snowfields!

All participants are invited to gather after dinner on the last night of the trip to celebrate the week by going into Buena Vista or Salida for dinner, ice cream, refreshments, and/or souvenir shopping. The last morning, following breakfast, participants can head directly back home or to the Denver International Airport for travel connections.

Possible destinations include:

• Ptarmigan Lake: Climbing through the trees the hike continues up through moderate grades to beautiful Ptarmigan Lake, cradled at the base of Jones Mountain. The trail offers intermittent views of Turner Peak and the Gladstone Range and can be extended by climbing the short, steep trail to a saddle between Gladstone Ridge and Jones Mountain, with stunning views of the peaks to the north and a bird's-eye view of Ptarmigan Lake below. Miles: 6.8. Elevation gain: 1,600 feet. Highest altitude: 12,180 feet.
• Waterdog Lakes: The Waterdog Lakes trail is a moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Salida, Colorado that features a lake below tree line. The trail is rather short, but it is a bit steep. Miles: 3.2. Elevation gain: 1,062 feet. Highest altitude: 11,475 feet.
• Lost Man Lake: This hike traverses two scenic valleys with pretty lakes separated by a panoramic pass. From the pass wonderful views extend to the peaks and ridges along Continental Divide, the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness and the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. If you love mountain peaks in every direction, water, flowers, lakes and passes, then this one has it all. Miles: 8.8. Elevation gain: 1,387 feet. Highest altitude: 12,810 feet.
• Hunt Lake:  A spectacular hike along the Continental Divide to a glacial tarn and picturesque Hunt Lake. Miles: 7. Elevation gain: 1,945 feet. Highest altitude: 11,484 feet.
• Old Monarch Pass:  Hike along the Continental Pass Trail with 14,000 peaks visible in all directions to a spectacular overlook of Waterdog Lakes. Miles: 8.5. Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet. Highest Altitude: 11,385 feet.
• Lost Lake: This is a beautiful 3.3-mile point-to-point trail near Buena Vista, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1h 23 min to complete. This is a very popular area for fishing, hiking, and running. The best times to visit this trail are June through November. Miles: 3.3. Elevation Gain: 423 feet. Highest Altitude: 9,800 feet.
• Spout Lake Overlook: Hike along the Continental Pass Trail near Cottonwood Pass with 14,000 peaks visible in all directions to a spectacular overlook of Spout Lake. Miles: 7.5 Elevation Gain: 900 feet. Highest Altitude: 11,385 feet.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.

Getting There

The closest major airport to Buena Vista, Colorado, is Denver International Airport, approximately 160 miles from our resort. From the airport, you can rent a car or carpool with other trip participants to the resort. The 3-hour trip to Buena Vista is spectacular, so you will want to make the trip during the daylight hours. Please plan to arrive at the resort no later than 3:00 pm on day one of the trip. Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

The trip price includes lodge accommodations Sunday night through Friday night and lunch Monday-Friday. Each room sleeps up to two people and has a private bath, gas fireplace, two queen beds, small kitchen area and telephone. All towels and bedding items are provided. Wireless service is available in your room and in other public areas of the resort. The facility also offers a variety of recreational activities to enjoy on your free time, including a hot spring, hot tubs, swimming pools, horseback riding (not included in trip price), hiking trails, fishing, a spa and a lounge.

The trip includes all sack lunches. The group will eat all breakfasts in the lodge dining room or in your own lodge room (breakfast not included in trip price). Dinners will be in the lodge dining room or at local restaurants (not included in trip price). All lunches will be prepared for us by the resort staff and eaten on the trail. Vegetarian options are available.

Note: Single trip participants (one person in a room) will be charged a single room supplement of $1,200.

Trip Difficulty

The various day hikes will typically be of moderate difficulty. We will hike both on and off-trail, although the vast majority of the trip will be on very well established and maintained trails. We will be hiking between ~7,500 and ~12,810 feet. Although most of our hiking will be below the tree line of ~11,000 feet, we will spend a portion of our hiking time above tree line on the tundra. Each of our hikes should last no longer than eight hours; there will be plenty of time to rest and enjoy the amenities each night at the lodge.

Trip participants should have experience hiking with a backpack or day pack over long distances. High altitude experience is not necessary, but you must be comfortable hiking at a high altitude on steep trails. In order to fully enjoy the trip, participants should participate in a regular aerobic exercise program prior to the trip. Because of the relatively high altitude of this trip, those people coming from at or near sea level are strongly encouraged to arrive in Denver a day or two before the trip to help with acclimatization.

Equipment and Clothing

Trip members are expected to furnish their own daypack and personal gear, including raingear (pants & jacket), lightweight insulating layers, and adequate hiking boots or hiking shoes. Please make sure all gear has been field-tested, especially hiking boots. The leader will send a more detailed equipment list to registered participants within a month of the trip.

References

• Collegiate Peaks trail maps can be obtained from the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association: https://garna.org/, or via telephone at (719) 539-5106, or by emailing info@garna.org
• Greater Arkansas River Nature Association: https://garna.org/

Conservation

Our discussions will center on the following wilderness themes:

• The importance of clean air and water.
• Global warming: Are changes coming to the Collegiate Peaks?
• Wilderness areas: Why are they so important for our future?
• Wildlife & exposure: Know when to play it safe!
• Local topics of special interest.

Sierra Club is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. Sierra Club operates under special use permits from the USDA Forest Service, White River National Forest, and the San Isabel National Forest.