Baldy Peak
BusaDave9
Always Off-Roading Jeeper
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- Durango, Crawlarado
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- 1979 Jeep CJ5 with 304 V8, T18 Transmission, Dana 20 Transfer case with TeraLow 3:1 gears, 4.88 axle gears, Detroit Locker up front and Ox Locker in back with 1 piece axle shafts, 36" SuperSwamper SX Tires, Shackle reversal, MileMarker Hydraulic winch, MSD 6A ignition.
It's just a few days until December and we still don't have any snow on the ground. Not only that but it's 70° outside. It's too nice out not to get out into the mountains and enjoy the weather while I still can.
There is a trail only a few miles from my home that I have never been on before so I load up my Jeep and head out. The trail is mild.
There are great views. I can see for miles. This next picture is of 3 mountains in the distance. The closest is Menefee Mountain. Next is Mesa Verde that is well known for the ancient cliff dwellings and far off in the distance is the Sleeping Ute Mountain.
Another view of the same mountains:
I drive as far as I can in my Jeep. Then I get to a sign saying "no vehicles beyond this point", not even bicycles. I stop my jeep and continue on foot.
Here is a map of my route. I went off road in the lower right. The spot marked with a "6" is where I parked the jeep and continued on foot. You can see I covered more ground hiking than jeeping.
https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=172015a1b6230c5dcb&hoursPast=0&showAll=yes
This next picture is of Silver Mountain.
Look at that! No snow at all! Not even on the mountains. That is beyond unusual for the end of November. This is bizarre. I can almost expect no snow at the lower elevations but snowless mountains at the end of November, that's freakish.
This next mountain is called Barnroof Peak.
This next picture is looking back toward Durango. The town is hidden by buttes, hills and small mountains. In the center of the picture is the Twin Buttes. People normally look up at them as they drive highway 160. Here they look like very small landforms because I am so much higher than them. It's all a matter of perspective.
Here's another picture with the Twin Buttes in the center.
Another pic of the La Plata Mountains:
Then I reached Baldy Peak. I honestly think there are dozens of mountains called Baldy Peak in Colorado. Baldy Peaks or Baldy Mountains or Mount Baldy. These Baldy Peaks are all small mountains and they are never bald. They are covered on trees because they are not very tall. The Baldy Peak I am on is on the very south eastern edge of the La Plata Mountains west of Durango.
This next picture is of Parrott Peak. Another small mountain on the south side of the La Plata Mountains.
I've been keeping an eye on my watch. The sun goes down at 5:00 this time of the year and I don't want to be out on a trail in the dark that I've never been on before so I turn around and head back.
With the setting sun to my back the scenery is aglow with warm colors.
As the sun dips low not even a breeze blows. The temp is just right for my long sleeve T-Shirt. A skunk waddles across the trail in front of me. Later some elk in front of me scatter and run thinking I might be a threat to them. The wildlife are more active as the sun is going down (also as it's coming up)
I reach my jeep as the sun is setting. I ride back to the highway with my headlights on. I explore a couple of short dead ends. I look down at highway 160 thinking this would make a good picture if there was more light.
Once on the highway it's just a few minutes before I'm home.
There is a trail only a few miles from my home that I have never been on before so I load up my Jeep and head out. The trail is mild.
There are great views. I can see for miles. This next picture is of 3 mountains in the distance. The closest is Menefee Mountain. Next is Mesa Verde that is well known for the ancient cliff dwellings and far off in the distance is the Sleeping Ute Mountain.
Another view of the same mountains:
I drive as far as I can in my Jeep. Then I get to a sign saying "no vehicles beyond this point", not even bicycles. I stop my jeep and continue on foot.
Here is a map of my route. I went off road in the lower right. The spot marked with a "6" is where I parked the jeep and continued on foot. You can see I covered more ground hiking than jeeping.
https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=172015a1b6230c5dcb&hoursPast=0&showAll=yes
This next picture is of Silver Mountain.
Look at that! No snow at all! Not even on the mountains. That is beyond unusual for the end of November. This is bizarre. I can almost expect no snow at the lower elevations but snowless mountains at the end of November, that's freakish.
This next mountain is called Barnroof Peak.
This next picture is looking back toward Durango. The town is hidden by buttes, hills and small mountains. In the center of the picture is the Twin Buttes. People normally look up at them as they drive highway 160. Here they look like very small landforms because I am so much higher than them. It's all a matter of perspective.
Here's another picture with the Twin Buttes in the center.
Another pic of the La Plata Mountains:
Then I reached Baldy Peak. I honestly think there are dozens of mountains called Baldy Peak in Colorado. Baldy Peaks or Baldy Mountains or Mount Baldy. These Baldy Peaks are all small mountains and they are never bald. They are covered on trees because they are not very tall. The Baldy Peak I am on is on the very south eastern edge of the La Plata Mountains west of Durango.
This next picture is of Parrott Peak. Another small mountain on the south side of the La Plata Mountains.
I've been keeping an eye on my watch. The sun goes down at 5:00 this time of the year and I don't want to be out on a trail in the dark that I've never been on before so I turn around and head back.
With the setting sun to my back the scenery is aglow with warm colors.
As the sun dips low not even a breeze blows. The temp is just right for my long sleeve T-Shirt. A skunk waddles across the trail in front of me. Later some elk in front of me scatter and run thinking I might be a threat to them. The wildlife are more active as the sun is going down (also as it's coming up)
I reach my jeep as the sun is setting. I ride back to the highway with my headlights on. I explore a couple of short dead ends. I look down at highway 160 thinking this would make a good picture if there was more light.
Once on the highway it's just a few minutes before I'm home.
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