Took a spontaneous 3-day backpacking trip up into the high country “just because”. Because I had 3 days un-scheduled, because I had ultra-lite ideas and gear I wanted to test, because bicycling will take up most of September, because I could talk friend Mike and his dog Ryler into it and I hadn’t been hiking (in the San Juan’s) in several weeks.
We threw a dart at the local map of the high country and chose Highland Mary Lakes as a starting destination with all that country above tree level (11,400′) to wander around. The trailhead is just north of Silverton off the Stony Pass road and just west of the Continental Divide. The area we planned to hike is almost at the junction of the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Stanna actually took her Wednesday hiking group up to the Highland Mary Lakes for a day-hike in June.
I keep paring down my weight on the ultra-lite gear list and this time wanted to see what camping above timberline with a sub-10-pound base weight would feel like. I’d read about a better layering system that would eliminate a fleece jacket by just including a wind shirt (savings of 6 ounces and considerable space), leaving home a ground cloth (5 oz), and switching to some cuban fiber stuff sacks (4 oz). I figured temps would be below 40° so I wanted to test if I’d be warm enough in my 18-oz sleeping bag as well. Ended up having ice on our gear in the mornings and hail during the afternoons and nights. With a silk liner in my sleeping bag I never realized it was below 32°. If I’d leave home the electronics – Spot Locator 4.2 oz and separate GPS 6.5 oz and a head lamp 3.25 oz – I could get down below 9 pounds. I actually think I can break that by trimming all my small essentials an ounce each and still be able to carry the Spot.
Mike’s pack was considerably heavier, but he’s training for a 50-pound load into the Grand Canyon on some volunteer trail and weed-eradication work next month. Slowly Mike is getting down below 20-pounds base weight when not testing for volunteer work. Amazingly, out of the 12 or more backpackers we saw going up the trail for Labor Day weekend (as we came out), none was less than 35 pounds and probably most above 40.
For the San Juan’s in Monsoon Season the weather was almost perfect. You can always count on afternoon showers and thunderstorms with mostly clear skies by late afternoon or evenings. First night with the Blue Moon was spectacular, not a cloud in the sky, nor a breathe of wind, nor a sound. You could almost read by the light. Second night had a few showers pass over, one of which was heavy and the tent worked great even without a ground cloth.
Second day we explored the shortcut to Lost Lake and found that there’s now a decent trail cut across a talus slope down to the lake. Camp there was excellent, save a solo neighbor who thought since he got to the lake first it should be his private camp only. A rare request in either of our life-times of camping experiences. 
We stayed and enjoyed the lake despite his attitude and shot of anger. It was pretty weird when he marched over just before diner time and cooked his fish in our fire ring which he claimed was his kitchen (located one hill and 150 yards from his tent). Fortunately that was during a light shower and we’d taken to our tents for shelter and a subsequent laugh out loud.
We didn’t manage a lot of miles, covering only 10 miles in 3 days with our packs. But we probably hiked another 3 or 4 just wandering around our camps exploring and taking in the vistas, lakes and waterfalls. Wish you’d join us for some of San Juan hiking experiences. We’ve got enough gear to outfit at least two of you. Here’s an ariel view of day two hike above timberline.
