OPUS Hut

For "Pie and Beer" Pi-on-eer Day, Dani and I visited the OPUS Hut near Telluride, CO.

OPUS stands for "Ophir Pass Ultimate Ski"

On Friday we hiked from Ophir to OPUS. We were blown away by the beauty of the mountains and the cozy luxury of the Opus "Chateau". Cool clouds like the ones above continually moved through the mountains.

On Saturday Morning we went for a walk. (Above) Dani a step outside the OPUS front door.

Our hike took us past wildflowers and Ruby Lake.

Ruby Lake

From Ruby Lake it was up and over to Columbine Lake, which was still half frozen.

Columbine Lake

From Columbine Lake we headed over the next pass to Bridal Veil basin.

Lewis Lake

Lewis Mill

Built in 1910, Lewis Mill was a 60 ton capacity ore concentration mill location at 12, 450 feet. On May 6 2009 the mill was placed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.

At its peak the Lewis Mill churned out 12 tons of concentrate each day, and was one element in a mining complex that boasted a mine portal, triple/tram house, bunkhouse, and business office. The five-story structure, originally powered by electricity from the Smuggler-Union Hydroeletric Power Plant/Bridal Veil falls Powerhouse, serves today as an outstanding example of timber frame construction.

We found this stove cover laying in upper Bridal Veil. A quick internet search gives the backstory: Garland stoves were designed and manufactured in the late 1800s through 1955 by the Michigan Stove Company and became famous because of the 15-ton wooden replica stove built for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

http://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/garland-stove

Back above Ophir Dani takes a break with the Wilson Complex in the background.

Us on top of the world. Ophir Canyon and the mountains between Ophir/Trout Lake in the background. Brian and I coined - these mountains are called the "Dream Zone". To see these mountains in the winter see our earlier post:

http://utahtransplants.blogspot.com/2015/03/rico-dream-zone-mega-dream-zone-and.html

North Lookout Peak

 While at the top of the world Dani found a throne.

......and back to Opus hut to relax, read, and eat gourmet food.

The OPUS Hut is really a Chateau.

On Sunday our plan was to hike from Ophir Pass to Trout Lake via Clear Lake > Ice Lakes > and Hope Lake. However we made it as far as Clear Lake basin, where we found the exposure and length of the trip too much.

(Above) Dani scrambling out of Paradise Basin - she's had enough scrambling for the weekend.

Clear Lake

The last shot of Clear Lake before we returned to the Ophir Pass to find our car was attacked by a bear in our absence. Never leave any food in your car, or pay the high comprehensive deductible price.

Overall, we had an incredible trip. Props to the Opus hut and the owner, Bob, who made our stay incredibly cozy and relaxing. We will definitely return in the future.

 Thanks to Ophir Family #1 for helping cook the second night's amazing dinner and providing great company. Thanks also to everyone that helped to shuttle us around the mountains - Matt and Becca Percy, Sean, and Ophir Family #2.

Roundabouts, and Volcanoes, and Redwoods! Oh, my!

Wildflowers

Ava and I planned a vacation around the High Cascades 100 NUE mtb race in Bend, OR that included a few days in Bend followed by visits to Crater Lake NP, the Oregon coast, and Redwoods NP.  We arrived in Bend (never seen so many roundabouts in a town!) around noon on Thursday, which gave us time to find a campsite and hiking options around Mt. Bachelor in the Deschutes NF.

Green Lakes 

Camping at Todd Lake

Having never ridden the area before, I wanted to pre-ride one section of the course Friday morning that was considered to be the “crux” of the race.  This was the 4-mile climb out of Lava Lake about 70 miles into the race.  Unlike the hard pack trails back home, this climb was composed of loose lava rock and sandy soil.  This section was surely going to suck and require some hike-a-bike.   Over 370 people toed the start line at 5:30am, with an impressive 25 riders competing in the single speed category. 

Is it too late to poop?

After a short neutral rollout and about 5 miles of pavement, we finally hit the dirt on a NF road north of Mt. Bachelor.  For the first 30 miles or so, I rode in second place behind Ben Shaklee (eventual winner) and with Jace Ives (last yr’s winner) and Tom Flynn somewhere close behind me.   Rather than busting ass on long climbs and resting on the downs, this course was more undulating and required constantly staying on the gas for 100 miles.  Really fun nonetheless, and my 34x19 gearing seem to suit the course well.  In about mile 50, I noticed my rear tire rubbing against the frame (making a buzzing sound), which was due to my thru axle coming loose.  After tightening the axle back up, I picked up the pace to regain lost time…AND I hear the damn buzzing sound again and see that the tire is rubbing!  I pull over, check the axle again, nothing wrong there.  Turns out, the bolts holding the dropouts had come loose and had caused my rear wheel to misalign.  

Frolicking in the forest.

Frustrated, especially after watching Jace and Tom pass by, I rode in anger to catch up (burning matches to do so).  I caught up with Tom as he was leaving the last aid station (around mile 80) at Edison Sno-Park, but I couldn’t pull myself together to pass him.  This was especially true as I started to have nutrition/hydration issues right before the Tiddlywinks descent.  This was not the place to be lightheaded and falling apart, because this trail is basically a roller coaster with giant berms and tables.  I luckily managed to hold on till the last several miles of pavement and to the finish line, where I ended up in 4^th place in 8:58. 

The next segment of the trip was a short drive south to Crater Lake NP, then to the Oregon and California coast for horseback riding and the redwoods, respectively.  

According to legend, there are giant man eating crawdads in the crater.

"Are we safe from the crawdads?"

Oh god, what just touched my foot!?

Contemplating. Bandon, OR

 

Caesar and Reign did not like each other.

Human foot traffic does harm to Redwood roots.

Damnation Creek Trail

Wood

Spring into Summer: Packrafts, Backpacking, and Dad's Moab Visit

July 4th 2015 - Dani with her new packraft "Bluebell" on the Snake River in Grand Teton NP.

We floated Pacific Creek to Deadman's Bar as a roadside adventure to make sure the boats would float before going into the real destination - The "Buffalo Fork".

Soda Springs - this is where our trip down the Buffalo would start. Soda Springs is about a 5 mile hike from the Turpin Meadow campground. From this location it is 5 miles on the North Fork of the Buffalo to the confluence with the South Fork - then 5 more miles back to Turpin Meadow.

We took a break so Dani could do some reading and I could fish.

View from our backcountry campsite. We spent one night camping before floating.

Nice easy meadow section of the North Fork - the closest gage on the Buffalo was running at 650 cfs. There were plenty of tricky low water maneuvers at this level on the North Fork. There is an incredible gorge section on the main Buffalo - with great Class III water.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wy/nwis/uv/?site_no=13011900&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060

 Tetons at sunset - last night before we returned to SLC.

 Over the last weekend of June - Tyler, Shane and I went backpacking in the Uintas. Link here for a better write-up of the trip:

https://kandtadventurizing.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/uintas-east-fork-bear-river/

We hiked to Priord Lake and did some fishing.

The trail crossed the river multiple times. It was about 9 miles from the TH to Priord.

On Day 3 - we hiked over "Yard Pass" into Allsop Basin back to the TH.

Lower Allsop Basin on the left fork of the East Fork of the Bear River.

My Dad finally got the pictures from Spring Break! which we spent together skiing in CO and biking and sightseeing in Moab. We took a aerial tour of Canyonlands NP - definitely worth it! and an incredible way to see the area.

Corona Arch

Arches National Park near the Window Arch.