Cataract Creek

Description

Elevation: - 12,800'-13,000' approx. highest elevation gained
Location - Southwest of Lake City in Colorado in the San Juan mountains.

Trip Report(s)

This is the third of three segments to a trip Mike and I made in the third week of September, 2004.

The following is extracted from my trip journal. Photos follow.

Thursday, Sep. 23, 2004 (continued)

This morning (Thursday) we were up and out and at the Cataract Gulch trailhead at 8:30AM (again!) We marched up the switchbacks, making the (mining) cabin at two miles in one hour. Past there we started the first of five stream crossings of varying degrees of difficulty. None life or limb threatening, but more how to avoid being wet and cold the rest of the day.

We broke into open country past Cataract Lake after about five miles, and spent 45 minutes in this huge alpine bowl, bounded dramatically by Carson Peak (13,657') on one side and down Cataract Gulch and across to Sunshine Peak on the other. It was beautiful - no> wind, no> clouds, about 50 degrees, and it was just perfect. We were surrounded by 13,500+' peaks and discussed how a week could easily be spent just doing traverses around the head of the gulch and all the peaks there. It is big country. We left the top sadly at 12:15PM, and soon came across the perfectcampsite, which was quite evident coming down, but hadn't been on the way up. It was on the flat top of a rock outcropping, and each end was framed by Carson or Sunshine. It would be a good base camp!

Now we are camped and resting after the 10-11 miles today on our "rest" day. We are camped at a campsite in Mill Creek campground, with great views up valley at Handies and down valley at aspen and anonymous majestic basalt cliffs. It is beautiful here, too, with a slight breeze and a few clouds now, but sitting in the sun all afternoon and not feeling hot or uncomfortable. It is between 55° and 60° here at camp at 9,605' at 5:25PM. Nice day!

Trusting that the weather is supposed to be even nicer tomorrow we will either try Handies (unlikely - Mike's heel is bruised and bothering him, I am feeling the 23-25 miles and 8,000+' elevation gain in the last few days) or Wilson Creek trail up to timberline.

Photos

Typical Colorado fall day

Another typical Colorado fall day. :-)
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


Cataract in Cataract Gulch

One of the many cataracts that give Cataract Creek its name. This is above the old mining cabin quite a ways. The trail then crossed the creek about 15' behind where it is going over the top of the falls. Fun!
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


Jim and Carson Peak

Me in the big alpine "bowl" at about 12,800', with Carson Peak (13,657') behind me. For scale, I am about one and a half miles away from the summit. This was by far the best weather day I ever had in the mountains, period. There was no clouds, no wind, and the temp was about 55° or so. Perfect. We lounged around in this area for at least 45 minutes just soaking in the sun.
(Photo by Mike Slinkard)


Point 13,580'

Point 13,580', a big volcanic ridge to our south. Mike and I both commented on how this alpine bowl would easily occupy a week of time for backpacking in and out and doing traverses around the valley, and at least one of my guidebooks ( Colorado's High Thirteeners) agrees.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


East from Mill Creek campground

Looking east from our camp site at Mill Creek campground. I actually tried to frame this shot, using the aspen in the foreground, the split rail fence in the middle distance, and the volcanic peaks under the clouds in the distance.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


West from Mill Creek campground

Looking west from our camp site at Mill Creek. Note Mike pumping water (really!). Cataract Creek goes up the gulch just in front of the far peak, about three miles away.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


Lake San Cristobal reflection

The last of Jim's "art shots", this is on the drive out of the Lake Fork valley, at the headwaters of Lake San Cristobal. It was still out, and I wanted the reflection of the peaks in the water. Did pretty good if I do say so myself.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


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