Really nice in Durango and the high country.  The above photo was taken along the Continental Divide at 12,500′ this week.  The wildflowers went on for acres and acres as we tramped thru them traversing a figure-eight track along the Continental Divide Trail high above Silverton.

I thought I was UL trim with a 9.1# base weight for this hike, but I was bested by Will who was 30% lighted with 6.5# base weight, however you’ll notice I had to carry his poles when we scaled a rocky couloir.

On only a two day trip (in on the blue track, out on the red one), Will Rietveld and I managed 27.5 miles and 14,000′ of elevation (gain and loss) checking out possible alternatives for a future 6-Day hike skirting the CDT.  As popular as this country is, we only saw 3 groups of hikers, one set of women 33 days out of Denver on their way to finish the 503-mile Colorado Trail to Durango.

At the same time Will and I were east of Silverton, Stanna and a number of her Wednesday hiking ladies were doing a three-day series of day hikes out of Silverton, while staying in the Highlander.  The Amphitheater Loop above Ouray, Ice Lake – Island Lake Loop and the Columbine Lake hike.

Unfortunately the Google Earth screen captures don’t show the real time color, but they do give you a feeling for the terrain and views of the San Juan’s. (Click to enlarge)

Meanwhile the tomatoes and deck garden is flourishing better than we can remember. (As noted earlier, our plant water comes from a Spring rather than the Animas, in case you’re worried about toxic tomatoes.)

Unfortunately our attempt to replicate Swiss hanging geraniums didn’t pan out, so next year we’ll try to get the proper Ivy Geraniums.

You may have noticed that I’m a WIS volunteer for the the San Juan Mountain Association in conjunction with the National Forest Service. It’s been really positive for a number of reasons: getting me in the backcountry more often, trying new trails and regions of our 600 square miles of public lands in the neighborhood, and meeting new folks along the way.

I sandwiched two WIS trips around the GD ride last week, which made for a non-stop couple of weeks outdoors lately. “Hiking with a purpose” is how I’ve described the WIS experience in the past, as we clear trails of minor and not so minor obstacles, do a little water diversion, pick-up litter (amazingly little these days), remediate errant fire-rings, report downed trees and chat up people along the way.

You wouldn’t normally stop and chat with every hiker or group of hikers along a trail, other than to wave a hello and speak a greeting.  But as a WIS volunteer we’re encouraged to chat with everyone and subtly, or not so, making sure they know about the Wilderness requirement of Leaving No Trace and not camping within 100′ of water among other things.

After 3 years of this, it’s getting much easier to find something to say or even open a conversation without it being awkward, forced or authoritative. I generally say, “how’s it going” and “where are you all from” before mentioning LNT or camping.  On a long day hike last week, I came upon two groups of 13-14-year-old girls on four-day adventures with their leaders.  After stumbling thru chatting with the first group of girls I’d wished I’d thought of something better and less inane to say than “did anyone get wet last night,” not knowing I’d have a second chance.

This second group came by about 2 miles up the trail, and I was warmed up and offered a better greeting. I told the story of meeting a group of girls on this same trail the year before and they had said that LNT – Leave No Trace was part of their curriculum. Immediately upon my mentioning LNT they formed a semi-circle around me and began singing and dancing thru this LNT skit they had memorized and practiced. I immediately welled up with emotion (a sign of getting older) seeing these girls dancing, gesturing and singing their 7 rules for LNT.  I hope I don’t forget this experience for a long time to come.

I wish I’d had the forethought or opportunity to photograph or video that skit.  As it was I never took a single photo that day, but the views were super in that part of the San Juan’s.

Then I got drafted to come along with a few Rotarians and friends for an overnight backpacking trip.  Since it was also in the Weminuche Wilderness I hiked as a WIS volunteer and got to chat up still more folks on a very popular Crater Lake trail. My group got caught up in the routine of chatting up other groups, finding micro trash and cleaning aluminum foil out of fire-rings. (We can only guess the Boy Scouts are still roasting baked potatoes in fires.)

What was most interesting on this trip was the contrast in backpacking styles, specifically gear and weights. Two of the guys had 60+ pound packs with the “kitchen sink” compared to my 9.5 pound base weight.  It was a teaching moment when they hoisted my pack and then saw I had more necessities than they at camp.  They’ll be weighing things, investing in lighter gear, and buying new packs in the near future.