{"id":3758,"date":"2004-06-20T09:51:51","date_gmt":"2004-06-20T13:51:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/1_1373377664"},"modified":"2017-06-21T15:58:25","modified_gmt":"2017-06-21T15:58:25","slug":"finishing-our-two-night-backpack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cncadventures.com\/?p=3758","title":{"rendered":"Finishing our Two Night Backpack"},"content":{"rendered":"

 Herrington Creek, CO June 20, 2004 <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Meadow View To Mount Elbert<\/p><\/div>\n

We get up, eat, and break camp. We are on our way at 9:00 A.M. We climb out of Herrington Creek drainage and soon come to an aspen lined meadow with a beautiful mountain view. It would make a great campsite, although it had no water. We stop to talk to a couple out day hiking. The man had a beautiful set of elk antlers he had found near some beaver ponds up ahead. A lucky find for sure. We continue and soon pass the beaver ponds and another trail junction where you could climb up to Mt. Elbert. Once again, Carol and Steven decline the chance to climb Colorado\u2019s highest peak (no sense of adventure). I think Carol has some libations on her mind. Of course, Elbert was not in our plans so we press on. We hit a jeep road and start our descent down towards Twin Lakes. We have walked a little over an hour and stop for a snack break overlooking some ponds and mountains to the west.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

West End of Twin Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n

Shortly after starting out again, we catch our first glimpse of Twin Lakes. We are still walking along a jeep road and looking back west, we are rewarded with views of Mt. Elbert and the surrounding peaks. We veer off the road on a trail through sagebrush, as we head towards the Twin Lakes Campground. Carol starts having visions of a bathroom with walls. As we are hiking through the campground, I spot the elusive bathroom. As Carol stalks her prey, Steven and I wait at a picnic table, which seems like a great place for lunch. So, lunch it is with a view of Twin Lakes and the mountains west of us. After lunch, we cross under Highway 82, where we have a long, fairly flat walk, along the northern shores of Twin Lakes. Luckily, it is partly cloudy, as there is no shade or shelter along this stretch. We are definitely tired, and knowing our destination is within reach, makes this last stretch a bit of drudgery.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Carol North Side of Twin Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n

Carol and I take one last break at the only place we have seen to sit, a lone clump of rocks. Steven has motored on ahead and is probably at the van. Apparently, the warranty on his legs is still in effect. The last couple of miles are all toil, one step in front of the other, walking. Although mostly level, there are numerous small gullies to cross, and the up and down is terrible for our tired legs. Finally, we make it, and celebrate our first complete backpack trip on the Colorado Trail. We walked 8.3 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes. Our high point was 10,600 feet and we ended up at 9,200 feet elevation. <\/p>\n

\n\t\t