Holy Cross

This weekend (July29-30), we backpacked and hiked in the Holy Cross Wilderness area, Whire River National Forest near Vail, CO. The mountain is named "Mount of Holy Cross", due to a white cross formed by the snow in summer making a shape of a cross.We started Friday afternoon around 4:00 pm, but reached the trialhead only around 8:00 pm. 70 W to vail then 24 S towards leadville, left on Tigwon road to Holy Cross Wilderness area. The last part of the drive is Tigwon road (unpaved) goes through a thick grove of aspens for 8 miles. Trailhead elavation 10320 ft. Others were even slower and we could not start until 9:00 pm when it was already dark. We had flashlights and did not want to camp at the trailhead but at the half moon creek about 2.5 miles away. We started climbing in flashlight with our backpacks and ascended about 1200 ft and 1.5 miles to half moon pass. It was starry night and nice view of sky. Then there was a steep descent into valley with narrow trail and cliffs. It was scary. Somehow around 11:00 pm we reached the creek and camped in the dark (10700 ft). Night was usual in the tent after a tiring day - turning and tossing. It was not cold but quite chilly. Woke up around 7:30 am and started hiking around 8:30 am. First part with several switchbacks was quite steep. But there wasn't much trouble to get above treeline (11700 ft). After this, it was a ROCKY ride all the way. My knee started aching as we climbed but somehow reached the summint (14,005 ft) around noon. There was a picnic on the summit. I am sure there were more than 40 peple. You could see many 14ers including quandry, maroon bells and snomass and many more. Some cliffs were so deep that I couldn't even dare look down. Spent about 45 minutes there and then started climbing down. It was even tougher on my knees to climb down. Once we reached the treeline around 2:00 pm, it was much better. We reached at the campsite around 3:00 pm and were exhasued. By the time we reached to the creek a "monsoon" storm had already built up near the peak. Lot's of lightning and thunder. In mouantains I guess with echos and all it is very loud and is an experience. I tried to relax in my tent as it thundered. There was only a slight drizzle. Around 5:00 pm the storm was gone away although it was still cloudy. We folded the tents and started our hike back around 5:40 pm. The steep hike up about 1000 ft from was ok due to the rest. There were amazing wild flowers around half moon pass. I had never seen so many before. Too bad I packed my camera in due to the storm :( Anyways reached back safely around 7:15 pm to the trailhead.

For details of the Mount of Holy Cross check out
http://www.14ers.com/photos/MtHolyCross/p_mtholycross_route1.html

Enjoy!

ye roshani ke saath kyoun - dhua utha chirag se?

Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander - Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong is truely a real life hero. He battled one of the deadliest diseases - cancer to become 7 time champion of Tour de France. 33 years old Lance announced his retirement today. After winning the 7th consecutive tour, Lance said, "Vive le Tour! Forever." His record may never be matched. He is an inspiration for everyone. He plans to work towards curing cancer via his Lance Armstrong Foundation. Some say he may even run for Texas Governor. All the best wishes to Lance for whatever is next.

Backpacking in Rawah Wilderness Area

Summary -

When - Friday July 15th evening through Sunday July 17th evening
Where - Rawaj Wilderness area, west of Fort Collins off highway 14
With - David Miller, Emily Anderson, Tanya Hass and Elena Maksimova
What - Backpacking, hiking, camping
West Branch Trail to Rawah Lakes
Trail Profile - about 16 miles elevation gain up to 2500 ft
Camping - Friday night: tunnel campground, Saturday night, Rawah lake #3
Fun - campfire, cooking, pictures, mooses, fox, lakes, snow
Adventure - swamp, crossing swampy land and creeks, mosquitoes, wind, too much weight
Disasters - Backpack strap stitch breaking, slipping one leg in creek to get wet, getting stuck in mud, losing sun-glasses
Best view - where small trail for Rawah lake # 4 starts before grass pass
Food - apples, yogurt, khakra, rassam bhat, upama, snickers, trail mix, bread jam, eggs, fajitas (thanks to emily) etc
Carrying - water, 12 granola bars, 6 snickers, 2 noodle packets, 1 trail mix packet, 1 "khatta-meetha" snack, 1 rassam Rice ready to eat package, upackage, khakra, bread, jam, 4 apples, 3 yogurts, 1 sleeping bag, 1 fleece+rain jacket, cap, winder cap, 1 tent, 4 sock pairs, 3 underware pairs, 3 T-shirts, 1 short, 1 trackpant, sunglasses, camera, bug spray, sun screen, spoon, bowl, toilet paper, flash light, contacts, etc
Others carried - scoop, stove, etc

Awesome Xperience!

Yellow Stone, Grand Titon and Camping

This 4th of July long weekend, I joined my friends for a trip to the Yellow Stone National Park, WY. It is the first and the largest of all the national parks in US. We left Boulder around 5 pm Friday evening. Just before leaving I bought a Wenger 4 person tent from Gart Sports. There was some traffic and road construction that slowed us down in addition to our stops at fire cracker shops in Wyoming and for eating. It was a nice drive with grass meadows, ranches, deer, cows and a wonderful sunset. We reached a place called Pinedale south of Yellow stone around 1:30 am in the morning. Stayed in the Best Western there, woke up at 7:00, breakfast and left not before 9:40 am. Drive from Pinedale to Yellow stone via Jackson and Grand Tetons is very scenic. Hills, rivers, lakes, greenery, view of Tetons (mountain peaks) and wild flowers.


Had a nice lunch near the West Thumb lake just inside the Yellow Stone area and then moved on to a geyser basin nearby. It was close to the lake. Hot water springs, blue ponds with white limestone and also some red and yellow coloring with the lake and mountains in backgrounds, it was an awesome view. Then we went to the Old faithful geyser which irrupted quite high and was a wonderful sight. Middle basin, Firehole waterfalls, Golden gate were other nice spots we visited before reaching to out destination Mammoth Springs campground around 9:30 pm. I assembled the tent for the first time and it was very easy. Had a nice dinner at the only restaurant there. We reached the campsite when it was very dark and we could see the night sky lit with millions of starts and the Milky Way.

Got a good night's sleep but woke up at 5:00 am with the birds chirping quite loudly. It felt very fresh and we went for a short ride to see some wild life. On earlier day during our drive we saw a bison, deer, elks, elks with furry antlers, bear cubs. The elk calf was drinking milk from mother and then followed mother to cross a small creek. A bison baby drinking milk too! Saturday morning we saw some more elks and bison but also a coyote. It was quite furry and big and crossed road in front of us without any hesitation. We got a good view this time! We returned to the same restaurant at Mammoth around 8:30 pm and had a nice breakfast buffet.


Then we went to the Canyon area via Roaring Mountain and Norris geyser basin. Yellow Stone River flows through the grand canyon of the yellow stone area. There are two spectacular waterfalls upper (~70 ft) and lower (~300 ft). The views from the north and south rims are spectacular. We enjoyed a short hike along the rim in addition to the 328 steps at the Uncle Tom's point. The view of the waterfall from there was awesome. Even grander was the view from Artist's point, where you can see many colored walls of canyon and the waterfall.



Then we drove towards the Yellow Stone Lake area. We were just around the Hayden valley area when Sun was about to go down. The slant sun rays shining on Yellow Stone River and the lush green grass in the valley with little hills in the backdrop were a perfect place to be! We saw some more elks and bisons. A couple bisons swam through the river to the other side and then lying on ground sideways and moving vigorously to dry themselves. Then we reached to Yellow Stone Lake and the fishing bridge where we saw several Americal White Pelicans fishing. Just after the sunset the sky was spectacular from the lake shore. Dinner at an expensive French Restaurant at the Lake Village. Fortunately I had eaten a veg burger earlier in canyon village and ate only salad there.

Then returned back to Mammoth. It was scary driving in dark with a fear of some animal getting in way. But we had no trouble. Also, tent was there as we left. Another night in the tent. This time we woke up late around 7:30 and folded the tent, same breakfast. Mammoth springs is also a nice area with hot water springs and lime stone formations. We saw the two bear cubs again while on our way back.

We drove through Grand Teton National Park on our way back stopping at many places including the ski resort place “Jackson Hole”. Then a long drive back. Reached home around 1:30 am on Tuesday.