Colorado Marine Officer

Posts Tagged ‘Rite of passage’

Welcome to colorado. In the Weminuche wilderness area, even seasoned adventures know that there magic here. As the largest wilderness area in colorado at 492,418 acres, it certainly has the kind of natural pyrotechnics that leave backpackers speechless. There are massive spires, mind boggling glacial valleys and gorgeous limestones mesas  all worthy of an Ansel Adam Gallery. But it’s the subtler things that draw you into the real power of the Weminuche. Snowshoe rabbits scampering across your path. The sound of beavers slapping their tails as they build their homes. The shaking of a tree branch from which a rosy finch has just departed. Days upon days of this and you ‘ll undoubtedly feel, cliche aside, at one with nature. Practically speaking, the Weminuche is simply awe inspiring. It’s home to three of Colorado’s fourteeners, peaks that top 14,000 feet:Mount Eolus Sunlight  Peak and Windom Peak. Its average elevations rests at 10,000 feet, making it one of the highest wilderness areas in the country. Visitors  can set out on popular day hikes to chicago Basin or head 500 miles of solitary trails. Eighty one lakes are nestled in mountain thrones. And the legendary continental Divide Trail rips through the Weminuche, providing high altitude solace for gung-ho backpackers with lung capacities to spare. Been there, done that ? not yet . This is a rite of passage. You go in one person and come out another. That’s sort of what backpacking is all about.