Here's a summit attempt I forgot about from June 5th, 2011.

We only got about four and a half miles up the trail before it was obvious that we were not prepared for the heat that day. Luckily Sioux did have his swamp cooler.

Can't really remember who watched Limbaugh and Tambi, but I do remember that we had Jenn's b-day thing that evening and that's how we ended up on Signal Mountain Trail. Just a little further up Larimer County Road 43 from Storm Mountain Drive is Road 51B. When we went through the turn was a bit obscured by Aspens. You'll know you're at the trailhead when the road ends at a gate and the parking is plentiful (early in the day)...


There are four trails beginning from this lot. Signal Mountain trail starts off on the gated road for about a tenth of a mile and then heads into the forest on the right just before the ranch entrance...


The trail is easy to follow with very few rocks big enough to force the dogs to jump. After working up through a burn area things get less steep as you head towards an intersection...




The route is clear...




On this day we were prepared for lots of runoff and snow. There was no real water for the dogs and they were traveling light. That made a turnaround decision easy at around 10,500 feet. Once there the snow was obviously going to make the last mile plus a little interesting...


It looked like the drifts were going to be at least knee high until treeline...


We found a nice rock outcropping, took a few shots, had some grub and headed back down in the sun heated forest...










The trailhead sign says the summit is six miles one way. From the tracks we took, the beginning elevation is around 7,800 feet. So getting up this one is gonna be a good 3,000+.




Nice area and only 40 minutes away for us. Can't wait to update this with some summit info. Probably late fall. Should be fun.

According to the tracks and GPS points in the file, we made it just a few yards further this hike than we did the first time. Last hike we had a lack of water with 70 degree temps turn us around. This time we had all of the gear, but dang is six miles one way a long trek. Add the endless fallen tree route finding challenges for a real workout.

Android Stats:

Total Distance: 7.46 miles
Minimum Elevation: 7,797 feet
Maximum Elevation: 10,308 feet
Elevation Gain: 2,580 feet
Total Time: 6hrs 16min







This was Limbaugh's first snowshoe outing. I was worried about his feet and the clumping, but as long as he kept moving things were fine. Turned out to be a nice long day out there. Obviously I need to work on getting to a 12 mile snow endurance. Still haven't reached the ridge crest to see the end goal. Glad this thing is less than an hour's drive from home...
















































Now there's at least another foot of snow up there with hurricane winds in the forecast again. Getting this one is going to require a summer start time. Maybe I will find something slightly more realistic for the next snowshoe hike.

when you find that trail let me know i love the one of Ridik the 5th from the bottom, hes so happy! i would like my first time on that mountain to be a summit with you this summer. starting to sound like ute peak all over.....

C'mon! If you're not missing summits here and there you're not trying hard enough. Biggest problems this week was running out of daylight and asking too much physically from everyone involved. Mom has Sunday open and I'm thinking about a 6:30 start for this one again. I'm going to hike this mountain from all four approaches this year. Need to get this one out of the way.


Ridik was stupid happy this time. He was bouncing around on his back legs and dancing at the trailhead. Then when it was time to turn around he literally threw a fit. Whining and collapsing on the ground refusing to go back. Until I made him think he was getting sardines...

6:30 this sunday you say i will talk to ken, but we were thinking of boarding on sunday cause of the fresh snow......