Mount Evans Wilderness 2001

When: August 12-15 2001

Crew: Dad, Meredith, Alicia, Me

Summary: We began our trek into the Mount Evans Wilderness at the Deer Creek Trailhead late Sunday morning. As we hoisted on our packs, the clouds overhead began to sprinkle us with rain and hail as we ascended the Tanglewood Trail.

After a grueling 2700 foot climb in intermittant precipitation, we lunched where the Tanglewood Trail crosses the Pegmatite Points and becomes the Roosevelt Lakes Trail. Our intended destination was the Beartrack Lakes, so we continued on past the Roosevelt Lakes and then descended 900 feet to the junction of the Roosevelt Lakes Trail and the Beartrack Lakes Trail.

Though we had only travelled about 5 miles, the elevation gain had exhausted us and the sun was setting, so we made camp in a nice wooded spot about a quarter mile from the first Beartrack Lake. We cooked dinner in the dark and retired to our tents soon after.

We all slept late the next day, and then Dad and I headed down to the first Beartrack Lake to do some fishing. The lake was full of brook trout, and we caught five of them, taking four back for dinner. Dad fried them in olive oil and oregano making a delicious addition to our otherwise bland meal. It started raining after dinner and continued most of the night, keeping us from sleep for several hours.

The next day, Alicia, Meredith and I set out to find the other Beartrack Lakes, for which there are no trails. After waiting out some rain in a thicket just above the first lake, we started climbing in the direction of the second. We soon found it, and watched trout hit the water for a little while before continuing on. Nearby, we discovered a waterfall not marked on the map. As we neared the treeline, clouds started tumbling over the peak, signaling a coming storm. We knew we were close to the third lake, but decided to turn around rather than risk a storm above the treeline.

Back at camp, Dad had six trout filleted and ready to cook. We waited out the rain in our tents and then I went back to the nearest lake to do some fishing. The fish weren't biting after the storm, so I only caught one before the cold drove me back to camp.

Once again, Dad fried our trout and we sat around the fire as the sun set and the coals burned down. It rained again during the night.

We struck camp quickly Wednesday morning, ate a cold breakfast, and got on the trail around eight. The climb back up the Pegmatite Points was not too difficult, and we made good time on the long descent back to the Deer Creek Trailhead. We were rained and hailed on one last time before reaching the car at 12:30.

Other: Mount Evans Wilderness Waypoints