Getting to this trailhead is a bear. It's like half the Poudre Canyon but one third on dirt at less than 30MPH. With focus I can get this drive in under an hour. But just barely.

Android Stats:

Minimum Elevation: 8,253 feet
Maximum Elevation: 10,305 feet
Elevation Gain: 2,120 feet
Total Mileage: 5.93 miles
Total Time: 4hr 31min







I was close enough to being on time that I was practically on time this time! Then we hit the long slog of Larimer county back roads to arrive at some trail parking near Buckhorn Ranger Station.

The wind and half cloudy sky made it feel nasty cold and I over layered like no one's business. Following a forest road to the summit made route finding quite simple here. Simply go up...




Limbaugh's harness in first time work mode...








Right about here we decided to break out the shoes. On the drive there was very little snow to see even in the trees on northern aspects. With the lack of snow in the hills it was looking a little too crunchy and brown for late January. Snowshoes were definitely useful for over half the hike...




T'was a wee bit blustery up there today. But the southeast facing approach proved to be a good choice...


At about 9,600 feet we reached the saddle between East and West Pine Mountains. The road goes to the summit of the higher west peak. The east peak looks like it would be a choose your own adventure. Keeping with the road route, the trail busting began. About knee deep sugar with a two inch crust breaking up to a foot away. The dogs quickly realized that staying behind me was the key to moving forward...






The summit was unbearable. Just snapping off a few pics and getting back on to the south side to hide from the wind...










The trench...


Jenn falling. At least I got a few chances to catch a shot of it...






Signal Mountain...


The tree damage was incredible. This trail was mostly saved from route blocking logs across the way. But nearby hillsides and meadow edges were just about leveled. The wind left trails through the forest where 90% of everything standing is now flat. If we don't get a BUNCH of snow here soon, this is setup to be a nasty fire year...


Seems that the weather really hampered my pictures this time. And the relentless foot plowing from the saddle left me thinking about my camera least of all. First summit of 2012!

Great looking trip, Harisse.
It's finally started to snow here this week.
So hopefully some will drift SE to you.

i took some pictures and will try not to double any. thanks for breaking trail Eddy!!! since the last 2 hikes i was on were not to real summits i did not even realize yesterday was the first of the new yr!








trail marker


break that trail!


Limbaugh and Sierra kept getting ice under their pads, left the wax in the car since we started with no snow i did not think of packing it.




the remains of the fire look out




Summit


till the next one....