Pathrat
July 4th, 2009, 10:26 PM
We took off to trails around Breckenridge today. First on the list was Crystal Lakes, found on traildamage.com, but not included in the Wells book. The traildamage directions are adequate. The turn onto Spruce Creek road is off Hwy 9, south of town and past the hamlet of Blue River or blue whatever it was. There is a stop light and signage. After traversing through the hiking trail parking lot, at about .2 miles, head right uphill. The trail is rated as a 4 but I think it is more like a three. You could compare it to Yankee Hill without the hill. There are no rocks higher than six inches. A good stocker can do this trail as long as it has some power for the inclines. It is a good climb to above the tree line. The last bit above the lake is steep and rocky but completely optional as you have arrived at the destination. I do caution larger rigs though as the willows are pretty close in on the last half mile.
The trail is VERY wet and waterlogged after 1.5-2 miles this season. The creek has overflowed and taken the path of least resistance, which is the trail itself. Watch for hikers. They were mostly friendly and polite. The scenery is amazing.
On to Georgia Pass for the way home. Again, there is water on the trail, partly from run-off and partly because beavers dammed the creek and the water is running down the trail. There is now a decently challenging mud pit. I had to lock and lower. Next time I need to aim. I am lucky I didn't break anything. Gatemonkey filmed this and I will add the link.
Karma is such a wonderful thing. I have just gone up the mudpit. Next up is a right turn over some more mud. Coming down are two stock Toyota trucks and a Jeep with two guys standing up in the back. The lead truck is starting to come down. I am trying to wave him off as I am positioned up hill, just up from the mudhole (I got out to examine my tire tracks to see what exactly I did) and yelling at Hugh to ask him to wait. That guy starts heading down! I gun it up over the next mud obstacle, taking the quick left line then swinging around to a spot where these yahoos can pass me. The lead guy gives me a dirty look for my trouble. The second truck may have nodded. The Jeep says hi and his passengers make conversation. Lead goes down the mud hole and puts a new dent in his bumper, drivers side. Second guy goes down and puts a new dent in his bumper, drivers side. Jeep goes down without a hitch. There were a lot of mannerless people out there and on I-70 but also a number of polite and nice hikers, bikers, atv-ers and drivers.
The trail is VERY wet and waterlogged after 1.5-2 miles this season. The creek has overflowed and taken the path of least resistance, which is the trail itself. Watch for hikers. They were mostly friendly and polite. The scenery is amazing.
On to Georgia Pass for the way home. Again, there is water on the trail, partly from run-off and partly because beavers dammed the creek and the water is running down the trail. There is now a decently challenging mud pit. I had to lock and lower. Next time I need to aim. I am lucky I didn't break anything. Gatemonkey filmed this and I will add the link.
Karma is such a wonderful thing. I have just gone up the mudpit. Next up is a right turn over some more mud. Coming down are two stock Toyota trucks and a Jeep with two guys standing up in the back. The lead truck is starting to come down. I am trying to wave him off as I am positioned up hill, just up from the mudhole (I got out to examine my tire tracks to see what exactly I did) and yelling at Hugh to ask him to wait. That guy starts heading down! I gun it up over the next mud obstacle, taking the quick left line then swinging around to a spot where these yahoos can pass me. The lead guy gives me a dirty look for my trouble. The second truck may have nodded. The Jeep says hi and his passengers make conversation. Lead goes down the mud hole and puts a new dent in his bumper, drivers side. Second guy goes down and puts a new dent in his bumper, drivers side. Jeep goes down without a hitch. There were a lot of mannerless people out there and on I-70 but also a number of polite and nice hikers, bikers, atv-ers and drivers.