Moments in Dirt and Ink

Uncompahgre National Forest San Juan National Forest (map link) I don't know why, but yes, it is really called that. It doesn't call itself that, so I'm not holding it against it. The sign at the trailhead suggests this is a popular loop with the Cross Mountain Trail and, if you can't get together a shuttle, about 2.3 miles of highway. Ugh. But that's what I set out on, with a plan to divert over to the pass above Bilk Creek to check out that distinct view that is rather close to the trail. The weather, so far as I knew, had a slight chance of thunder storm all day. There's trees up there, so I decided to risk it. I walked over from my dispersed camp at the corral across the highway (a large area set up for the purpose) to the trailhead to start the loop. The weather, so far as I knew, had a slight chance of thunder storm all day. Lizard Head Pass from the trailhead. The sign below marks the boundary between San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forest. Th...

San Juan National Forest (map link) As I was wandering and looking about near my campsite, as one does when one is in a beautiful place, I spotted a huge waterfall in the distance. Do you see it just above the trees at the arrow? Waterfall! I pondered the maps and the landscape and decided that this waterfall might be somewhat near a trail and that trail was the one up to Navajo Lake. There was a second one near the trail. Both seemed to face a bit to the west, so I made a plan to start at that trailhead, take the Groundhog Stock Driveway and Kilpacker Trail up for the variety, then pass by those waterfalls coming down when the sun would also be somewhat to the west. Signs, trail register, and even a bench at the Navajo Lake Trailhead. The trail splits almost immediately with the Groundhog Stock Driveway (Groundhog Trail) climbing off to the right through meadow and aspens. One of the things my informant at the Priest Gulch Trailhead mentioned was that only trails getti...