Crater Lakes Hike with Jessica

 

IMG_7824

Jessica and I headed up to the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel.  It is the starting point for a wide variety of hikes into the James Peak Wilderness.

IMG_7825

 

As we started up the trail, we saw a Union Pacific coal train exit the tunnel heading east toward Denver.

IMG_7827

 

An old cabin up the trail.  Jessica and Roxy heading up the raised trail.

IMG_7828

IMG_7829

 

The aspens here have almost all lost their leaves here.

IMG_7830

IMG_7831

IMG_7832

 

Alpine meadows in the fall.

IMG_7834

 

Snow in the woods from the first heavy snowfall of the year.

IMG_7835

 

The continental divide through the trees.

IMG_7836

Going up through the snow.

IMG_7839A little wet meadow below the lower Crater Lake.

STA_7840 - STJ_7849Upper Crater Lake in all its glory.

IMG_7850

What a great little lake!  It was incredibly windy here.

STA_7854 - STI_7862The little rocky meadow at the outlet of upper Crater Lake.

STA_7863 - STI_7871_blended_fused
Another beautiful view of the lake.

IMG_7881

 

Logs floating in the lake.

IMG_7884

 

It got windy enough that I needed a coat.

IMG_7885

Yes, I hiked through the deep snow in my Five Fingers.  It was a wee bit chilly.

IMG_7888
STA_7889 - STI_7897

STA_7901 - STJ_7910_fusedLower Crater Lake.

IMG_7911

IMG_7914

 

Heading back down toward the car, we saw this great view.

STA_7916 - STH_7923
IMG_7924

We stopped in Rollinsville at The Stage Stop for dinner.  The sky was absolutely on fire.

Tolland Road Toward Rollins Pass and the Moffat Tunnel

IMG_2022

We headed up the Tolland Road toward Rollins Pass and the Moffat Tunnel where the railroad plunges through the Continental Divide.

IMG_2023

Big storm clouds covering the view of the continental divide.

IMG_2024

Frozen pond.

IMG_2025

An odd out-of-place green and yellow building.  Maybe they support the Oregon Ducks?

IMG_2026 IMG_2027 IMG_2028

Snow was blowing across the road like a dust storm!

IMG_2029IMG_2032IMG_2036 IMG_2037

We didn’t go up the Moffat Road toward Corona Pass and Rollins Pass.  Perhaps another time when I have a high clearance 4×4…

IMG_2038IMG_2041

Old abandoned workers quarters at the entrance of Moffat Tunnel.

IMG_2042

The entrance to Moffat Tunnel.

IMG_2044

It is an impressive construction and a very long tunnel.

IMG_2048

The old wye where helper engines and snow plows used to turn around.

IMG_2049

I need to investigate further to see where the water in this river comes from.  It appears on the satellite view that there is a tunnel and pipe coming from the west side that feeds this stream to provide water to the farmers on the east side of the continental divide.

IMG_2052

An icy river.

IMG_2054

Heading back east through the growing twilight.

IMG_2055