Sally Barber - True Romance Mine Snowshoe

Distance: 3 miles out and back to the Sally Barber Mine, 4.6 miles out and back to the True Romance Mine, 4 miles for the loop
Elevation: 10, 280 ft - 10, 685 ft (Sally Barber) - 11, 000 ft (True Romance)
Elevation Gain: 405 ft (Sally Barber), 720 ft (True Romance)

The ruins of the Sally Barber Mine

The road to the Sally Barber Mine is a short, easy snowshoe to a interesting mining ruin near the town of Breckenridge. The route itself is uninspiring except for some nice meadow views as the beginning but for history buffs or cross country skiers, this is a great choice. If you are going only to Sally Barber, you might want to leave the snowshoes in the car and walk up on Yak Traks since this popular route is well packed.

The French Gulch parking lot

Trailhead sign

The route to Sally Barber starts in the same parking lot as French Gulch. 500 ft up the road, is a spur road with a gate. Follow this for 1.5 miles to the obvious ruin on the right hand side. Interpretive signs provide history of the mine itself and the local area.

This spur road that leads to the Sally Barber Mine

This route is popular with skiers because it is wide and gradual.

Across the road from Sally Barber is another gate and post indicating the route to the True Romance Mine. The route to the True Romance Mine goes straight up the hillside 300 ft through deep snow. There are no trail markers and lots of backcountry ski trails to avoid, so only do this if the route has been tracked or you have a GPS.

Snow mushroom along the route

Meadow view at the beginning of the route

Head upwards to the 11,000 ft contour which dead ends at a small bluff. Tracks led both right and left from this point, but the True Romance Mine is off to the left. From this point on the route is flat and follows what might be an old flume around the side of the hill. A few views of the northern Gore Range present themselves along the way.

Passing a serene winter creek

Just a few of the winter revelers at the Sally Barber Mine

At 2.3 miles is a small plateau with a post with the works "True Romance" inscribed on it. There is no other ruin to mark the spot. At this point you have the choice of turning around and retracing your steps (4.6 miles total) or following what appears to be a road off to the right. Having never been to the area, we did not take this path and ended up on a less than pleasant bushwhack straight down the hillside.

Post at the start of the route to the True Romance Mine

View to the north from the 11,000 ft contour

We made this poor choice because someone had sprinkled the trees with pink reflective tape indicating a route down the mountain. We thought this was the route to the unnamed road we passed on the way up to Sally Barber. After trudging through trees, willows, and deep snow we finally intersected with the road that probably starts to the right of True Romance. I can not guarantee this, but the track on the GPS makes it a high probability so I feel comfortable sending you that way. Being able to take the road makes this snowshoe a loop, which is always preferable. I am guessing this route would be around 4 miles.

True Romance Mine marker

So, for a short snowshoe just travel to the Sally Barber Mine. For a longer loop or out and back head up the hill for some increased cardiovascular activity. The True Romance Mine is not a destination spot, but your body and cholesterol levels will thank you for the extra effort.

Ice in the Sky

The ice crystals on these shrubs are mirrored by the ice crystals in the cirrus clouds hovering over Mt. Lincoln (14,286 ft) near the Breckenridge Ski Resort. I took this shot on a recent snowshoe to the Bemrose Ski Circus.

For more great pictures of the sky, visit Skywatch Friday.

Bemrose Ski Circus Snowshoe

Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
Elevation: 11, 541 ft - 11,989 ft (highest)
Elevation Gain: 1,173 ft (cumulative)
Dogs: Off Leash (National Forest)

The views looking west from the Bemrose Ski Circus can't be beat

The Bemrose Ski Circus is a series of winter trails on the west side of Hoosier Pass near the Breckenridge ski resort. For the most part, the trails are unmarked and the skier or snowshoer can go where they will. We were in the Ski Circus to try out the Flume Trail, a flat trail that bisects the area. Our plans changed dramatically upon arrival, a fortunate event because the best views in the area are up high and NOT on the Flume Trail.

Trailhead sign

Map of the area courtesy of the US Forest Service

Both guide books we were using indicated that the Flume Trail was the only marked trail in the area and was marked with blue diamonds. Additionally, the National Geo and Forest Service Maps both showed the Flume Trail splitting off from the right border trail a couple of hundred yards from the trailhead.

Starting out directly behind the trailhead sign. Blue diamonds could be seen in the trees.

The reality is the Flume Trail starts right at the trailhead with an immediate left. The right border trail, in contrast, starts directly behind the sign and is marked with blue diamonds. Of course we did not know this until much later.

There were lots of interesting views to the south from the trail

We followed the blue diamonds as anticipated, continually looking for when they might split off to the left and start the Flume. We never saw this and kept climbing higher along the right border of the area. One other party had broken trail for us, so it was not terribly difficult to keep climbing. We knew we were not where we were supposed to be but the views of Mt. Lincoln, North Star Mountain, and Quandary Peak that were filling the sky line behind us, which drove us higher.

Out of the trees now and heading upwards. We knew we had missed our turn off by this point but the route look too interesting to back track.

The tracks we were following cut north near 12K feet and headed for the top of a small rise. Below was a Sprint cell phone repeater. The rise was covered in willows that made for rough going as the snow collapsed around them. The tracks headed back down the mountain via the antennas but we decided to turn back around and retrace our steps to see if we could find the Flume Trail.

Higher up both North Star Mountain and Quandary Peak form a winter tableau.

Once back down we kept looking for any blue diamond that might lead off to the right. Finally, we saw one on a telephone pole out in the middle of a meadow. We could see no others but dove into the knee deep snow to see.

Our tracks coming down the unmarked but highly inviting hillside that finally dumped us on the the Flume Trail

Standing beneath the pole the meadow dipped down sharply in two directions. One followed the transmission right of way and the other headed down into some trees. Deciding to just play, we headed down the slope, sliding, laughing, and enjoying the fresh powder. After a bit we could see a well trod trail heading north. We figured this had to be the Flume. Blue diamonds were quite plentiful for 50 yards or so.

The recessed Flume Trail. The ditch reminded me of a Civil War era sunken road.

After a quick lunch we headed up this trail that immediately dove deep into the trees in a sunken ditch that is the flume. 5 minutes of this monotonous scenery, and we were ready to turn around and go up again. Fortunately, the Flume Trail crossed a drainage and we immediately turned up it, breaking trail as we went.

Our second journey upwards

We kept going right up the gut until we crested a small rise where we could look down onto the Bemrose Creek Drainage. To our right was a ridgeline that looked easily scalable. Our GPS told us we were farther east than our turn around point on the other side. Had we the time we might have gone over the ridge to make a loop. We'll save that for another day.

The open meadow through which we climbed was bordered by a ridge to the south and trees.

Back down to the Flume Trail, we retraced our steps and at the junction where we came into it, we took the obvious turn to the right and followed this out to the trailhead. We did not see any Blue diamonds in this section, so who knows what the real route is supposed to be.

Our final turn around point. A small pass with Mt. Lincoln (14,286 ft) and North Star Mountain (13,614 ft) in the background.

The Belmose Ski Circus turned out to be a nice surprise. The view above the trees is stunning. The routes one can create are varied in both views and difficulty. Unless you are a total novice, do include a route that goes up the hillside, you won't regret what you see.

Our GPS track. We started on the lower part of the map then did the upper.

Altitude Profile

Wheeler Lake Hike

Distance: 6.8 miles round trip
Elevation: 10,980 ft - 12,162 ft
Elevation Gain: 1,182 ft
Dogs: Off Leash
Critters: Bubbas in Jeeps

Wheeler Lake

The trail to Wheeler Lake near Breckenridge, not to be confused with Wheeler Lakes (plural) near Copper Mountain, is a narley trail that travels up a gulch at the base of Mt. Lincoln (14,286 ft) (north side). It is narley because it is also a jeep trail and is mostly loose rock. It is also narley because much of the road contains deep ponds that never seem to dry out. The hiker can either slog through these ponds or bushwhack through the willows on the side of the road. So many people have chosen the bushwhack option, that social trails have developed through the shrubbery. Many of these short trails are easy to follow, others require true shrub stomping skills. Save the skin on your legs and wear pants.

Parking area. The trailhead is around the bend and up to the left.

Looking up the creek while standing on the metal bridge over the diversion.

Montgomery Reservoir from the parking area

The trailhead for Wheeler Lake is located on the western side of Montgomery Reservoir, a popular fishing spot. The access road starts around 0.5 miles on the southern side of Hoosier Pass. If you are coming from Breckenridge, you will see the dirt road coming back towards you before you have to make the very sharp right turn onto it. Stay straight on this dirt road down to the reservoir and then take the road that travels around it. This junction is rather obvious. You can park where a water diversion tunnel enters the lake or continue on the rough, single-lane road around to the back of lake. Here, near a pumping station is an area for about 15 vehicles. The hike begins up the road toward the large aluminum-sided mining ruin.

Heading up the trail. First stop a large mining ruin.

Another antique. North Star Mountain (13,614 ft) in the background.

A typical trail/road segment. Those rocks are trying after a while.

Since you are on a road, the route is easy to follow. It rises steadily through trees and occasional vistas until you reach the broad open valley to the south of Mt. Lincoln. From this point on the views only get better. Mt. Democrat (14,148 ft) is located at the end of the valley and North Star Mountain guards the northern side. All three of these peaks are bare, tallus covered monstrosities. Willows creep up their sides and they quickly diminish as they approach treeline. The entire valley is filled with willows that will look stunning in the fall.

Heading deeper into the valley. The lake is up and to the right.

Looking up at Mt. Lincoln. It is much more imposing that this picture gives it credit for.

Further up the valley

Wheeler Lake is an obvious glacial remnant. It sits atop a broad shelf on the north side of the valley that is obvious from a distance. The road splits on the western side of this shelf with a small two-tire road heading off towards Democrat and a steep, very rocky road heading up the shelf. The portion of the route is like walking on a stream bed. The rocks are large, round, and filled in with dirt, pebbles, and small streams. For every step upwards, the hikers slides backwards an inch or two. As soon as I could, I left the trail to tundra walk across the shelf, which continues to angle upwards. I kept expecting to run right into the lake with each false rise in the ground. The reality is that the shelf is rather large and the lake is nestled at the very back of it, so it took quite a bit of stomping to get there. We stayed on the road on the way back down.

A typical road pond. Note the small trail through the willows on the right.

Turning around and looking back down the valley

A really large pond. Mt. Democrat in the distance

I was quite disappointed to finally see the lake and the 8 or so jeeps parked beside it. We had passed one 4x4 on the way up and figured we might see another, but the road is extreme with huge gullies and boulders. Only jeeps with independent suspensions, extra large clearance and experienced drivers should have been able to make the trip.

Near the turn off to the lake (to the right). It looks like a short walk to the base of Mt. Democrat and then a simple scramble up to the saddle. I suspect it is much harder or there were have been 2,000 people on the trail.

A small waterfall coming down from the lake near the turn off

The road heading up the shelf to the lake. And I thought the rocks below were bad....

I snidely described the body composition of many of the 4x4ers I observed on a recent hike to the General Teller Mine. Well, the characters I observed upon approaching the jeeps on this trip put those other specimens to shame. They were as large as the boulders surrounding the lake. One jeep had three such individuals. I am surprised they could all fit in the vehicle. We Coloradans have lived in blissful bubble of ignorance, totally unbelieving in the obesity crisis gripping the nation. Not so any longer. Not only am I seeing grossly obese individuals on the trails, but I am also seeing them in the urban areas. Whether these individuals are tourists or college students I can not say, but like sightings of Sasquatch, I am starting to believe.

Looking back down the valley from our tundra walk across the shelf

Looking back at Mt. Democrat from our tundra walk

Despite the Jeeps, my sojourn at Wheeler Lake was very pleasant. Wildflowers carpeted the meadows surrounding it, and a small picturesque stream drifted slowly through a rock garden to the right. I found myself crawling around, nose to the turf, taking pictures of the flowers with the mountains in the background. My two dogs raced two and fro, splashing in the water while less energetic creatures lounged in the sun on several of the broad flat rocks that dotted the shoreline.

The hordes of jeeps at the lake. I recently saw a TV commercial that used this setting.

Wheeler Lake, at last...

The trip back down the trail was not a difficult as I was expecting. We knew where to find the trails through the willows and the steep road up took less time coming down that I expected. The rock was still very loose however, and my hiking partner slipped and fell at least 3 times and I fell at least once. A fall on this trail won't kill you, but it did suck my breath away for a moment and make me whimper. I had a very stunning bruise on my right hand where I gracefully drove my arm into a pile of rocks. Waterproof boots, poles, ankle-high boots, and a willingness to get scratched and bruised are recommend on this trail.

To the right of the lake is a series of small ponds. Add in rocks and clouds, and you get a view that was more appealing than the lake itself.

Ginger, the hyper one, climbed onto the largest boulder around and gazed longingly up at the "ants" swarming the summit of Mt. Lincoln. Left to her own devices I have no doubt she could run up there in about a half hour.

So in summary, if you like to get down and dirty on your hikes and don't mind being one with the plants and mud, this trail is for you. If you like a trail with a little less adventure and ankle-twisting karma, then stay away or find 4x4 willing to take you up. Wheeler Lake is a worthwhile destination, but not one I will do frequently.

Gold Hill Trail (the one near Breckenridge)

Distance: 5 miles round trip to the summit
Elevation: 9,100 to 10,315 ft
Elevation Gain: 1,215 ft

Views of the Tenmile Range at the beginning of the trail

Gold Hill is an easy trail near Breckenridge that I do whenever I go up for our annual climate conference. I have never made it to the summit because I am invariably doing this trail in the evening after work. I have a general idea of things, however, and feel I can describe it sufficiently.

Clear cutting

The clear cut area was filled with log piles and heavy equipment

The photos in this post are actually from 2008. I have held off blogging this trail because it is too disturbing for me. Like the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand, I am trying to ignore the fact that that vast majority of the Ponderosa Pines in Summit County, and the rest of Colorado for that matter, are dead and or dying. The cause of this destruction is the Pine Beetle. This diminutive little creature, no larger than the nail of one's pinky, is responsible for the death of over 7 million acres of prime forest and it is not done yet.

Looking back down the trail to the east

Standing in the clear cut looking south

While a natural part of the forest ecosystem, drought and overly dense forests have added to the beetle's potency. Huge strands of forest along all the major road ways, throughout the ski resorts, and deep into the wilderness are now a sickly brown. The beetle, sometimes thousands of them, burrow under the bark. The feed, live, and breed there. This chokes off the nutrient supply for the tree, quickly killing it. Since the beetles prefers live trees, they quickly move on, only to kill again.

A close up of the Tenmile Range

Downed trees from a previous attempt to thin the forest

Management of the beetle is impossible over the many acres affected and may not even be a wise choice considering the natural aspect of the outbreak. Restoration now seems to be the main effort. Gold Hill is a prime example of what I have been observing in other parts of the state. The first portion of the trail takes the hiker through a clear cut area in which every tree is being removed. The bare hillside is stark, foreboding, and cluttered with piles of logs. When I hiked this trail in June of 2008, I could not help but ask myself if this was the future of all of Summit County. If so, the future is dire for the locals who live there and the transients who come and spend a lot of money to enjoy Colorado's bounty.

One of the few places on the trail with a view

After transiting the clear cut zone, the Gold Hill trail winds its way through thick forest. Tree trunks litter the ground in droves. These dead trees are not beetle kill but are the results of an earlier attempt to thin the forest. Even with that effort, the forest is like a wall. Only occasional glimpses of peaks can be seen from the dark, sinister interior. The trees still standing are visibly dying, however, like all the others in the state. Their crone-like branches droop, lifeless and austere. A good wind, and they will be flattened, or so it seems.

Crossing a slight open area in the forest. You can see how tightly packed the trees are

We wandered continually upwards through the dark forest until we ran out of time and had to turn around. I am guessing we were within a quarter of a mile of the small bump that is the summit of Gold Hill. It was actually a blessing to be able to escape from the darkness and back out into the clear Colorado evening.

I believe this is Quandary Peak

While Gold Hill is considered a classic Colorado Hike, there are so many other incredible hikes that I am hesitant to recommend this one. Its primary advantage for me is that it is snow free in June, while other trails like Quandary Falls can be a soggy mess. I have also done this trail as a hiking interlude while biking between Breckenridge and Frisco. The trailhead is right on the bike path. Certainly the earlier downed forest is interesting to see.

Heading back down the logging road and returning into the light