Hike up West and down Middle Ute Creeks September 2014

Hike up West and down Middle Ute Creeks September 2014


Overlooking Rio Grande Reservoir
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Aspens beginning to turn, reflected in the water
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darker exposure, better colors
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Panorama of Rio Grande Reservoir
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Frank putting on sandals, getting ready to wade the river
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Rocks above the lodge
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Susanna in wading gear, after crossing the Rio Grande
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View back toward lodge
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View up Ute Creek trail
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aspen
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View down to Ute Creek
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Frank among the rocks
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The trail gets steep
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tall spruce killed by beetles
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Black Lake
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High meadow, near trail junction
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Susanna at a rest stop with our packs
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Susanna in hike shirt with hemp hat
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Late season grasses are faded to brown
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near Monday's campsite
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self portrait, bad exposure and focus
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Monday's camp on a hill overlooking Middle Ute Creek
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View up slope toward our tent
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View down to confluence
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Morning sunshine on higher peaks
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Zoomed view of sunlit peak
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View down toward stream
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Rock formations above Ute Creek
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Frank with our tent
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Frank well ahead on the West Ute trail
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Upper Ute Creek, where we stopped for lunch
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The Rio Grande Pyramid
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West Ute creek valley
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West Ute valley
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View up West Ute Creek
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Afternoon clouds building
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West Ute trail with ripe grasses
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Wide meadow with old logs
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West Ute lake
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Frank above West Ute lake
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West Ute Lake
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West Ute Lake
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West Ute Lake
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Mountains shadowed by storm clouds
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tundra pond
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stormy weather
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trekking pole, gloves and tundra flower
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Rio Grande Pyramid and the Window
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View near Tuesday night's campsite
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Reflection off of Middle Ute Lake
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It rained right after we set up the tent
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Frank applying sunscreen Wednesday morning
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Sue with pack and hat
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September tundra view
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Middle Ute trail
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small pond with dwarf willows in the foreground
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Middle Ute Trail sign
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The overcast is starting to clear up!
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View down toward Middle Ute Creek
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panorama above Middle Ute Creek
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Rio Grande Pyramid over Middle Ute Creek
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Tent on the other side of the creek
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View back up the trail
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zoomed view of high country
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Frank's pack with a solar panel tied on top of it
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lunch stop with plastic groundcloth
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Mountains seen through a gap in the spruce
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Rio Grande Pyramid and the Window
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Zoomed view of the Window
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View down valley nearing our third campsite
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The biggest fish I've ever caught, a cutthroat trout in 2 gallon ziplock
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water bottle for scale
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we released the fish, too big to cook and eat
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A very cold Thursday morning, groundcloth shows where we camped
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Susanna with ground cloth, lots of frost everywhere
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close up with down hood and rain parka
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bright sunshine on high slopes, dark trees
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wide angle view
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Frank inspecting a temporary bridge over the creek near hunter's camp
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Yellow aspen on slope, yellow willows in meadow
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View down valley
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Ute Creek
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Black Lake, seen from above
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View down toward reservoir
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Ute Creek Trail, in great shape, few deadfalls
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Cliffs near our Thursday lunch stop
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Chipmonk at lunch stop
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Trail runs along a cliff face
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Frank's backpack
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View of yellow aspens from trail
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trail through aspen groves
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In just 3 days, the aspens have turned brighter yellow
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Some leaves are orange
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Aspen as we approach reservoir
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trail through mixed forest
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Frank walks through aspen forest
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Frank waiting for me at the wilderness sign. Lodge in the background framed by mountains
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Ute Creek joins the Rio Grande
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Aspen groves change color together because the trees all grow from one root system.
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Frank wading across the river
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The water is very cold so he goes quickly
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Carrying boots and wearing his sandals
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