Crater Lake, Maroon Bell Mtns

Sunny and crisp spring hike to the base of the Maroon Bell mountains rising over 14000 ft. Normally this area would be still covered in six feet of snow but due to the drought we easily hiked through snow patches to reach the lake at 10000 ft. Camped in this White River Wilderness area last night but an overly curious marmot, raccoon or possibly rat made it one long night. Better than a black bear who are apparently waking up hungry and mad because there is little food.

Black Canyon of Gunnison Natl Park

Steep deep and narrow is the best way to describe Black Canyon. In an engineering feat in the early 1900s, daring entrepreneurs and their hearty workforce established a rail link through part of the canyon and dug a tunnel with shovels and pick axes through the rock to divert the river water for irrigation in the next valley. Short hikes are mainly around the rim at 8400 ft unless you want to hike straight down 2000 ft to the icy waters of the Gunnison River flanked by poison ivy growing 5 ft high.

Colorado National Monument

Tremendous views over Grand Junction and beyond. The canyons here are almost as dramatic as those in neighboring Utah and Arizona, which are also on the Colorado Plateau.