Eccles Pass, Part I

After going out with just Taryn a couple of weekends ago and both kids last Saturday, I was able to complete the trifecta today and drag Zak out to the Meadow Creek Trail by Frisco.  I'd learned about it from the Denver Photo Hikers Meetup group a few weeks ago, but unfortunately wasn't able to join them when they went.

With thunderstorms possibly starting as early as 11 a.m. in the forecast, I wanted to get an early start.  So Zak and I were at the trailhead at 7:45.  The low light created some captivating shadows from the densely packed lodgepole pines on the trail's lower portion.

Things did open up enough at one point to provide a nice view of Dillon Reservoir.

The trail is aptly named.  It passes through a bunch of meadows, and never strays too far from the creek.

We kept a close eye on the clouds, but about halfway into our ascent they still weren't especially threatening.

The Meadow Creek Trail ends at the Gore Range Trail, which we had planned to take up to Eccles Pass.  Even though the clouds were growing to the south -- and I especially liked the wispy ones above the fluffy ones (and am clearly not a meteorologist) -- we continued to be blessed with gorgeous weather.

Eccles Pass sits in the saddle between Buffalo Mountain to the east and an unnamed peak to the west, and the ascent to it is fairly straight and steep for most of the way.

The last three pictures were all taken in the same spot.  This is the view to the west.  Just beauty in every direction.

Have you ever taken a hike where every time you stop and turn around, you can't help but take another picture because the view is even more breathtaking than it was the last time you stopped?  This was absolutely one of those.

When we got to the pass and looked down the north side, we were greeted with a vista just as amazing as the one to our south.  We did hear from a couple of through hikers that the ascent from this side was even steeper than the one we came up, so we made the right choice there.  I'd come up that way as far as Willow Falls last fall.

We really couldn't have gotten any more fortunate with the conditions.  Warm, but not too hot.  And enough clouds to add some texture to the sky without blocking out the sun.

A couple of tired but happy hikers, one of whom was still chewing his protein bar.

With a stop at Tommyknocker Brewery in Idaho Springs on our minds we started back down.  Whenever I stopped too long to take pictures, Zak would say, "Buffalo Fries" to motivate me to start moving again.

Click here for Part II.