Saturday, August 07, 2010

Hike to Hogsback...

Yesterday, Trevor and I hiked to Hogsback. We had never attempted this hike before, but were both tempted by the promise of panoramic views overlooking the city of Durango. We were not disappointed.

The hike - for the most part - is pretty easy. Roundtrip, it is only about two miles. It is challenging, however, if you take the most direct trail over the wooden bridge. 90% of the hike is gradual switchbacks over a dry gulch, but the last 10% is quite steep. I think I completed the final 150-200 feet using my hands to pull myself up. It was definitely the kind of scramble where you have to remember to focus on the destination. Woe to the person who looks down and considers the "what ifs" of slipping or falling. Luckily, there is an alternate route back down the mountain. A route that we were unaware of until we were at the top and saw another hiker climbing up. The look of total and absolute relief on Trevor's face when he saw that we didn't have to go down the way we came up was almost comical.

Now to the pictures:

The Trailhead...


The hike up...


Blissfully unaware of the steepness up ahead
(Perins Peak in the background)...


"Happy Rustic Trevor" sitting at the top...


Looking south...


Looking east/northeast...


The alternate way down...


Neighboring Perins Peak to the north/northwest...


Looking north towards my mother's cabin...


The spine of Hogsback looking south/southwest...


Me and my furry mountain man...


Overlooking Durango, Colorado...


The scramble to the top (if you go up the way we did)...


Trevor and the other hiker
(who hiked up the way we hiked down)
on the rock overlook...


One last shot of Durango from above...

No comments: