Wed, 8/19/09

West Fork NF CG, Pagosa Springs, CO: Not as cold this morning. Had our last camp fire and burned the last of our wood. Started getting pretty warm. Mike wanted to do part of the Archaleta Creek trail, so we headed out east on Rt. 160, going over Wolf Creek pass via a series of switchbacks. Not too scary. After going over the pass and heading down, we passed the Wolf Creek ski area (pretty nice), went through a snow shed and a tunnel, then turned onto a National Forest road up to Big Meadows reservoir and the Archaleta Creek trailhead. Donned our hiking boots and grabbed my trekking poles and headed out. The trail went along the reservoir for much longer than I remember. The last time we were here, I had a 30-35 lb. pack on my back and Mike had about 50 lbs. We wanted to hike up to the first camping area we stayed at back then, but when it started getting steeper and rougher (equestrian trail also), we doubled back and took the trail that goes all around the reservoir. Stopped in a little meadow and had snacks and then continued on. Passed a beaver pond. A pretty trail, but we hiked a lot further than we had planned. Drove back over the pass and back into Pagosa and had dinner and then back to our site. It was 85 in Pagosa and 68 up at Archaleta Creek. We leave tomorrow for Great Sand Dunes NP. We get to go over the pass AGAIN with the fifth-wheel in tow. Oh goodie.