Sugarloaf Summit at Dawn. Colorado, 2014 (Green Mountain to the right above the fog)
OK, folks, here is the scoop…
Date: May 14, 2014
Time: 5:45p.m. at the 6th and Canyon parking lot (by the Kid’s Fishing Pond…we will car pool/caravan, leaving at 6:00p.m.) –OR– 6:30p.m. at the Sugarloaf Mountain Trailhead
Sugarloaf Trailhead: Head up Boulder Canyon (Colorado 119). At about one mile past the tunnel, turn right onto the steep Sugarloaf Road and note your odometer. When the road tops out at about 4.8 miles on your odometer, turn right on Sugarloaf Mountain Road (good two-wheel drive dirt, unless snowy/icy, then AWD best). You’ll find the trailhead parking area about one mile up this road. Time from Boulder to the trailhead is about 30 minutes.
The hike: A bit less than one mile up, the same one mile back, 400-500′ elevation gain. Summit is at 8,917′ with a great 360-degree view–Great Plains to Continental Divide (Indian Peaks Wilderness and Longs Peak). The trail has some steep, rocky sections. Beware of ice or snow in the shady spots unless temps have been high. Depending on your motivation and what you see, this hike can take from 15 minutes to 45 minutes…I have even failed to make the summit, being distracted as I was by photo opportunities along the way.
Recommendations: Wear sturdy footgear. Check the weather forecast and bring appropriate clothing–you can get hot hiking up, then cold as you sit on the summit in the wind. Hiking poles for balance are not a bad idea due to the rocky nature of the trail. A headlamp or flashlight is useful for the hike back down after sunset (although we should have some good moonlight).
Photo gear: Bring whatever you normally use when out and about in the mountains. Lenses I have used range from super wide angle (14-24mm) for the panoramas up to telephoto (70-200mm, 500mm) to isolate details in the distance or wildlife/birds. I am usually up there with my 14-24, 24-70, 70-200 zooms and a tripod.
Celestial details: Sunset (behind Mt. Audubon) is at 8:08p.m. and the full moon rise (just left of Green Mountain summit) is scheduled by the Universe for 8:18p.m.
Guests and friends (even the canine kind) are welcome!
Island. Above the fog on Sugarloaf Mountain, Colorado, 2014
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