Sep 10, 2022, Sat — Today we took an excursion near the base of the Montezuma Mtns that I am calling Castle Creek rock hopping. That’s because when the trail spur we chose ended, instead of turning back, we pressed on stumbling along the dry creek beds hoping they would eventually join with the main channel.
It was exactly my kind of hike. Off trail. But not damaging to the fragile environment because we were mostly walking the dry gullies. We did eventually cut through the brush to find the flowing channel which we knew was to the west. I mean, Castle Creek Valley is not exactly wide. A little strip of low land surrounded by giants towering on all sides. I remember coming home to Northern California last fall after being here three weeks. The mountains around Redding look super wimpy. And we are talking about Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen! Seriously, nothing but wimps. The mountains here are so up close and so utterly enormous you really do feel you are in the land of the giants.
Eventually we found the main channel and L went about engineering a way for us to cross without having to remove shoes and ford barefoot. Which I wouldn’t have minded. I would have loved to feel the snow melt on my legs and feet. But, nope, a project was leaped upon and soon there were big solid stepping stones. More Castle Creek rock hopping was in order.
On that note, I will hop away from the computer. Enjoy this picture from today, which is not of Castle Creek, but later when we were walking up this private road farther up the valley. And features the best part of the trip: my eldest son and his wife.
Ahh, can’t go yet. This thing wants me to write 15 more words and add a link. So being the slave to SEO that I am, check out this original from last year’s visit. When the aspen were golden: Colorado Gold.
