crunchy kat explores

backpacking: lost creek wilderness

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distance: 30 miles (loop) | elevation: 6,152’ (8,600’ starting) | difficulty: strenuous

You know those holidays that have expectations? Birthdays, New Year’s Eve… That holiday for me last year? Memorial Day weekend. Kinda weird, yeah? Well, with Covid-19, I barely left my house for over two months (tbh, I still barely do). That included hiking, which I normally do at least every other weekend. That means when I decided to finally leave my house I wanted an epic adventure, but also as few people as you possibly could on a holiday weekend.

What fit the bill? A 30-mile backpacking loop through Lost Creek Wilderness.

Colorado, Mountains, United States

colorado weekend: exploring the san juan mountains

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blue lakes hike Colorado views san juan mountains

2020 was somehow the longest, yet also the shortest year right?! Somehow it’s already 2021, and March (when the US went into lockdown) is just a month away. Covid has really put a damper on travel plans over the past year. Realistically speaking, I’m not sure when I will be going on a traditional vacation again (hopefully by the end of this year???). I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m still holding off on planning a typical vacation for this summer (I’m talking, flying, hotels, not a thought in the world about being around other people, etc). But what do I feel comfortable doing? Road trips.

Lucky for me, I live in the beautiful state of Colorado. That means no shortage of cute mountain towns to visit (safely). Telluride and Ouray have been on my list since I moved here, so I took a long weekend and headed to explore the San Juan Mountains in Southwest Colorado!

Colorado, Mountains, United States

backpacking: high lonesome loop

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distance: 16 miles (loop) | elevation: 3,162’ (8,988’ starting) | difficulty: strenuous

After last year’s stressful (but beautiful) sprint up Lone Eagle Peak the first weekend after permits were no longer required, I decided to pick random summer weekends on January 2nd and reserve some permits in Indian Peaks Wilderness. First up? The High Lonesome Loop.

Open meadows, top-notch views, alpine lakes… what else could ya ask for?! I know I say it about almost every hike in Colorado, but this backpacking loop is another beaut that left me saying I’d put this on my list again next year.

Colorado, Mountains, United States

backpacking: lone eagle peak (crater lake)

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distance: 14.9 miles (out & back) | elevation: 2,693’ (8,350’ starting) | difficulty: moderate/strenuous

Colorado seriously spoils you because almost every hike you go on could become a new favorite.

Lone Eagle Peak had been on my list for a while. Lone Eagle Peak (or Crater Lake) is located on the western side of Indian Peaks Wilderness – one of my favorite places in Colorado (hard to pick a fav!). If you’re a camper and a fan of eating freeze-dried food, you may have eaten Backpacker’s Pantry… and ya might notice a familiar view.