Bushwhacking in the Sangre De Cristos, Colorado
Head out on horseback through Sangre de Cristo range of Mountains in central Colorado. Depending on the time of year, this can be a rugged horse trek. In May, when the snows are still on the ground guides are cutting the first trails of the year through the thick forest.
This is a ride for the adventurous: it climbs up through mountain passes with awesome visas of alpine Colorado. With nearly two hundred miles of rough trails, majestic glacial valleys, and summits reaching fourteen thousand feet, it’s a wonderful place for a real ‘bushwhacking experience.’
***************************************
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Horse packing through pristine wilderness of the Sangre de Cristos
▪ Visiting buffalo ranches in the area
▪ Early morning snow shoeing to Lake Goodwin
***************************************
THE ROUTE
Head west from the Bear Basin Ranch, near Westcliffe in Colorado, to the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. The Sangre de Cristo range stretches over eighty miles in southern Colorado and runs parallel to the Continental Divide. Winding up through the forest, the trekkers followed the Alvarado Trail towards the beginning of the snow line. Wheyou can go no further, slip on snowshoes and head further in, finally reaching your destination, Lake Goodwin.
***************************************
TRAVELLERS TIPS
▪ Packing for a trip into the backcountry takes precise planning. Go with a guide who knows the area is key, as they can advise you on exactly what you’ll need. The horses can only carry a certain weight, so you have to make sure you’re not carrying any extras.
▪ It can take three days to make the trip to Lake Goodwin. Even in early spring, the nights are still cold. You need to dress in layers, with warm clothes for cold nights.
▪ The snow stays on the higher levels of the Sangre de Cristos well into late spring.
▪ Snowshoes are the only way to get to the summit.
***************************************
DID YOU KNOW?
▪ The Sangre de Cristo mountain range was designated an official wilderness area in 1993.
▪ Two centuries ago, buffalo herds of up to a million roamed these plains and were nearly wiped out by modern man. Today, buffalo herds are making a comeback.
***************************************
FURTHER INFORMATION
Adventure Specialists, Inc.
▪ Bear Basin Ranch Westcliffe, Colorado 81252 USA
Tel: (719) 783-2519 or (719) 630-7687
Fax: (719) 783-2076
e-mail: discovery@AdventurSpec.com
www.gorp.com/adventur/default.htm
Destination: Colorado and Utah
