6823, 6176 and Bonner Peak 1/25
9.3mi RT, 2550' EVG
This one started with the revelation that one could drive almost down to the footbridge across the river in Gateway Park, instead of parking at the gate on 14 as I had always thought you had to do(we were making a loop hike anyways, so it didn't matter much for today). Unfortunately the footbridge was closed due to flood damage last fall, so we had to make an ice crossing of the partially frozen Cache La Poudre River. The North Fork of the Poudre wasn't frozen however, so we had to climb the rocky peninsula formed by the confluence to get back on track. At the reservoir, we tested the ice(12"+) and headed for the east shore just north of the one small house on the reservoir. Being the only people at the reservoir on a windless day it was a very quiet morning, but the two dogs who lived at the house blew any audible cover we had as they guarded their ice. No matter, we soon reached the shore and began climbing.
A fire years ago left our long ridge very open and sunny, and we made quick time up the slopes to the brushy summit area. The summit had some very good views of the Poudre Canyon peaks and the land to the north and south. The most interesting view was of Horsetooth Reservoir, where you could see down the axis of the lake from the north dam to the southern end. We then dropped from the summit and began following the long system of ridges that snaked towards the next destination, UN 6176. The ridges were very gentle and had well traveled wildlife trails that made for easy travel on the unseasonably warm, calm day. Passing through some grassy benches we came to a steep overlook of the Poudre Canyon, and climbed the last hill to the open grassy summit. A few miles back we'd remarked about how empty the peaks were of humans, which was funny because we'd meet a person on the summit who was looking for a geocache in the rocks.
After lunch we dropped down a ridge which I'd used two summers ago to make my first summit of 6176, and met the road at the bottom of the canyon. Walking back along 14, we saw many fly-fishers who were enjoying the weather as well. The road walk went by quickly, and we were soon back at the car. Afterwards, we drove up to a small pullout near the private summit of Bonner Peak to tag a quick ascent. We cut across to a very obvious trail followed along the ridgeline and made the climb to the rocky summit, but we didn't stay at the summit for more than a few moments on the exposed summit. In all, the sidetrip took about 20 minutes total.
This one started with the revelation that one could drive almost down to the footbridge across the river in Gateway Park, instead of parking at the gate on 14 as I had always thought you had to do(we were making a loop hike anyways, so it didn't matter much for today). Unfortunately the footbridge was closed due to flood damage last fall, so we had to make an ice crossing of the partially frozen Cache La Poudre River. The North Fork of the Poudre wasn't frozen however, so we had to climb the rocky peninsula formed by the confluence to get back on track. At the reservoir, we tested the ice(12"+) and headed for the east shore just north of the one small house on the reservoir. Being the only people at the reservoir on a windless day it was a very quiet morning, but the two dogs who lived at the house blew any audible cover we had as they guarded their ice. No matter, we soon reached the shore and began climbing.
A fire years ago left our long ridge very open and sunny, and we made quick time up the slopes to the brushy summit area. The summit had some very good views of the Poudre Canyon peaks and the land to the north and south. The most interesting view was of Horsetooth Reservoir, where you could see down the axis of the lake from the north dam to the southern end. We then dropped from the summit and began following the long system of ridges that snaked towards the next destination, UN 6176. The ridges were very gentle and had well traveled wildlife trails that made for easy travel on the unseasonably warm, calm day. Passing through some grassy benches we came to a steep overlook of the Poudre Canyon, and climbed the last hill to the open grassy summit. A few miles back we'd remarked about how empty the peaks were of humans, which was funny because we'd meet a person on the summit who was looking for a geocache in the rocks.
After lunch we dropped down a ridge which I'd used two summers ago to make my first summit of 6176, and met the road at the bottom of the canyon. Walking back along 14, we saw many fly-fishers who were enjoying the weather as well. The road walk went by quickly, and we were soon back at the car. Afterwards, we drove up to a small pullout near the private summit of Bonner Peak to tag a quick ascent. We cut across to a very obvious trail followed along the ridgeline and made the climb to the rocky summit, but we didn't stay at the summit for more than a few moments on the exposed summit. In all, the sidetrip took about 20 minutes total.
