We spent three nights camping at Brown's Lake, a small lake nestled between Tabeguache Peak and Mount Antero near Salida. In order to get there, we had to drive up and over 13,000ft on a rough 4WD that, at times, was a narrow shelf road. While camping, we attempted to hike both Mt. Antero and Tabeguache Peak...those photos are still to come!
The switchbacks of Mt. Antero's road ahead of us in the clouds Our camp at Browns Lake was accessible either via a 5 mile backpack hike, or a 9 mile drive up and over the shoulder of Mt. Antero. This is a narrow, winding road that climbs up the side of the mountain, topping out at 13,000 ft before dropping quickly into the Brown"s Creek valley at 11,000 ft.
All of this was made more fun by the low cloud ceiling - which was about 12,000 feet.
Another switchback on Mt. Antero
More switchbacks on Antero
A Land Rover stopped on the ridgeline
Nearing the top of the Antero ridge (13,000 ft)
On the road down to Browns Lake (still with no visibility)
Brad's Land Cruiser
Brian performs a little road maintenance
Brad and Brian found some firewood
Brad and Brian with their kills
Our tent, in the fog/cloud of the valley
Shari and Lisa
Brian unloads gear from the car in the fog
"Lonny" joins us at camp Lonny, unfortunately, was in England during our camp outing, so we decided he could visit us in spirit
"Tracy" visits too Tracy, another long time camp/hiking partner, is now living in Seattle, so we had to make sure she could join us too!
Brad works on getting a fire going - not an easy task when it's been pouring for hours
A firey sunrise in the distance
The skies clear briefly to let sunlight fall on the northern slopes of Jones Peak
Three photos taken at once...
Brad looks across Browns Lake
Looking west across Browns Lake
Lisa
There are 10 mosquitos on or around Shari...can you spot them?
Tabeguache Peak (on the right)
Light shafts fall across the Tabeguache/Jones Peak ridgeline
Light shafts fall across the Tabeguache/Jones Peak ridgeline
Browns Creek valley
Another sunrise over Browns Lake
Twin tents We discovered that the Post"s have the same tent as we do (Davis"s on the left)
Breaking down the tent in the pouring rain...under the rain shelter
Packing up the car
Driving up out of the valley
Brad's Land Cruiser in action
Brad's Land Cruiser in action
Large rocks in the road
Approaching the 13,000ft Antero shoulder While it may look like the road drifts off into the background, it really doesn"t...about 200 yards away, the road pitch moves up to about 30%
Mt. White, through the low hanging clouds
The switchbacking road leading down Antero
A Land Rover on the road below us
A deer next to the road snacks on an aspen tree
Alpine Lake, visible from the road
A small burro in Buena Vista
The last finisher of the Gold Rush Days Burro Race in Buena Vista
