BLACK BEAR ROAD, July 6, 2019

July 6, 2019

Black Bear Road is still closed to Motor Vehicle Travel due to the excessive snow so it makes for an excellent high altitude hike. It was a beautiful sunny day and we enjoyed laughing at all the foolish Jeepers and ATV’ers that got themselves stuck in the snow. The forest service did report that the road was impassable and closed. The Basin was completely covered in 3-6’ of snow. Not sure if the road will be completely passible this entire summer or not. Happy Hiking…..

Gina, Lisa and Barbara

Gina, Julie & Barbara

Double Waterfalls and snow

Those gals must be famished as they stopped to eat within the first mile

Beautiful Waterfall

Walking up Black Bear Road with the avalanche debris in the background

I"m not sure what Gina is smiling about as it's still a long way to the top

Hum...which one of us do you think these butt prints belong to?

We saw bear prints in the snow

Gina gets the shot like a national geographic photographer

Beautiful flowers with Red Mt #3 in the background

Gina & Barbara catch their breath and enjoy the views

These 3 must all be "Gourmand" Look it up if you don't know what it means

Wildflowers starting to bloom

Barbara, Gina, Lisa & Julie

Lisa scouts the area

Lisa & Barbara

Julie & Barbara

Black Bear Road & Basin

Snow remains across Black Bear Road

Barbara with Black Bear Pass in the background

Barbara and I enjoyed the entertainment of a stuck vehicle on the hike down

This wasn't the only vehicle to be stuck in this location

PORPHYRY BASIN TO COLUMBINE LAKE

August 12, 2016

After surviving the first hike from Porphyry to Columbine Pass that I did with Jane Marie and Penny on July 10th, (see post), I decided to return with Zarita with the hopes of less snow and not getting lost. It was a beautiful sunny day and the wildflowers were Amazing near Columbine Pass. This hike is view filled across open tundra and is now my favorite approach to Columbine Lake. Since the weather was great and there weren't any storms brewing we had plenty of time to hike the additional mile from Columbine Pass over to Columbine lake where we did some exploring and photographing before retracing our steps. We met up for a short visit with Tim and Angela on our return.

OPUS HUT TO RUBY LAKE

July 6, 2016

Today's hike, located off Ophir Pass, was a short but intoxicating ramble that lead the Moxies from Opus Hut (11,600") to the beautiful, pristine Ruby Lake at approximately 12,000'+. The total mileage was about 3.5 miles round-trip including exploring around the lake. The trail is narrow, goes through talus and has "coming around the mountain" type ledges. The entire hike provided panoramic views, wildflowers and even a tour of the Opus Hut. The weather was beautiful although a bit windy. A big Thank-you is due to our leader, Margaret and our drivers: Margaret and Michelle. Poor Michelle had two backseat drivers in her jeep who demanded she hug the yellow line driving along highway 550 into Silverton and wouldn't let her drive faster than 25 mph all day long. This was Michelle's first time driving up to Ophir Pass and she did a wonderful job. The ride down Ophir Road did get much smoother after she remembered to take her emergency brake off. (We love you Michelle!!) Another wonderful day in the mountains with a great group of friends.

(Click on Images below to open in Lightbox-hover bottom of photo for caption)

Wildflowers are blooming all along the trail from Opus Hut to Ruby Lake

Sky Pilots next to trail from Opus Hut to Ruby Lake

Rocky Ledge from Opus Hut to Ruby Lake

Spence "Marianne Pearlman" (Look she matches the Wildflowers)

Peak-a-Boo Jane Marie

Old Man of the Mountain Wildflowers near Ruby Lake

Mary Anne hiking up toward Ruby Lake

Sky Pilots and other wildflowers near the trail

Beautiful Blue and white faux

Spence and Margaret can't resist smelling the wildflowers

Poor Spence, she just can't avoid me catching her in strange predicaments. This time she is smelling the wildflowers.

Old Man of the Mountain Wildflowers near Ruby Lake

Candy, Calida & Michelle hiking toward Ruby Lake

Beautiful, pristine Ruby Lake

Margaret at Ruby Lake

Spence & Candy at Ruby Lake

Candy, Calida and Margaret at Ruby Lake

Mary Anne, Candy, Michelle, Jane Marie, Margaret enjoy lunch by Ruby Lake

Moxies enjoy lunch on the ridge overlooking Ruby Lake

Moxies Candy & Calita enjoying the view of Ruby Lake

Moxies: Candy, MaryAnne, Jane Marie, Spence, Michelle, Margaret & Caleta

Moxies pose for group pic by Ruby Lake

Wildflowers and Snow near Ruby Lake

Kings Crown & Snow near Ruby Lake

Snow Near Ruby Lake

Wildflowers at Ruby Lake

Kings Crown and Snow near Ruby Lake

Snowfield near Ruby Lake

King's Crown and snowfield near Ruby Lake

Top of Waterfall near Ruby Lake

MaryAnne gets the shot

Jane Marie Exclaims " I want to slide down that snowfield"

Kings Crown above Ruby Lake with the snowfield that Jane Marie wants to slide down.

Candy & Mary Anne decide to follow Jane Marie to the snowfield in hopes of getting to slide down.

Mary Anne, Michelle and Jane Marie crossing snowfield

Margaret is all smiles after she wore out a Moxie on the "easy" trail.

Looking down on Ruby Lake

I loved this orange rock above Ruby Lake

Moxies crossing a small snowfield

Moxies crossing the narrow ridge on the trail

Moxies crossing high ridge of trail

Moxies on the trail

"It's time again for the strip tease act" Candy tried to use her hiking stick to pole dance. Too bad I didn't have my camera set to video to catch her in the act.