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Date: (6 days, 5 nights; Sun-Fri) Aug. 8-13Assembly Point: Durango (air service to Durango; Timberline van transfers to and from airport prior to and following tour) Tour Cost: $1,295 (includes all lodging, all meals, train from Durango to Silverton, support van, transfers, leaders, trail maps & narratives) Telluride, Colorado-Rocky Mountain magic in its most eloquent expression. Nestled deep in the rugged San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, the once quiet, mountain village of Telluride today has become the destination of choice for those seeking a high-country holiday. And so the West's best kept secret has been revealed and Telluride is thriving, to say the least. The good news, however, is the ease with which one can escape the excitement of town and emerge in an alpine wonderland as magnificent as that to be found anywhere. Colorado is renowned for its alpine grandeur and the San Juans are generally acclaimed as the state's most spectacular range. Praise of that nature speaks volumes about the utter beauty of the San Juans. In the season ahead, we'll again offer our Telluride Hike, a program that features an exceptional array of backcountry alpine adventures. It's title notwithstanding, Telluride, COLORADO, will assemble in Durango mid-afternoon of Day 1. We'll spend the night in the historic Rochester Hotel and then board the famous narrow gauge train for Silverton early the following morning. We'll hike to Ice Lakes above Silverton that afternoon to acclimate to the region's lofty elevation. We'll climb close to 1500 feet on the way to Ice Lake, situated in a glacial cirque at the end of a trail that passes several waterfalls and traverses meadows ablaze with wildflowers (6 miles). We'll then head to the beautiful town of Ouray and an evening at the Ouray Chalet. It's on toward Telluride on Day 3. Near the Dallas Divide, we'll set off along the Blue Lakes Trail on a 12-mile hike to a series of beautiful high alpine lakes, each more magnificent than its predecessor. We'll approach the base of majestic Mt. Sneffels before returning to the trailhead and heading to Telluride, where we'll spend our final three evenings at the Viking Hotel. Awesome Sneffels again is our focus on Day 4 as we challenge the remarkable Sneffels Highline Trail that skirts the perimeter of the Sneffels Wilderness. We'll hike well above the town on the Judd Wiebe Trail and then follow Butcher Creek upstream as we head for the alpine wonders of Pack and Mill Creek Basins. If you're a photographer, and even if you're not, you won't believe what awaits you in these two basins. The views of surrounding snowclad San Juans are incredible; expect to wade waist-deep through meadows of wildflowers (13 miles). We'll hike the Lizard Head trail on Day 5, climbing through shimmering aspen groves and more meadows with riotous displays of wildflowers. We'll tread gently through the alpine tundra to the base of the Lizard. Once above timberline, views of the surrounding peaks, including Sneffels and Vermillion, are incredible (9 miles). Following a final overnight at the Viking, we'll ride the tram to the top of the Telluride ski mountain and hike the ridge atop the mountain for yet more of the spectacular views of the amazing San Juans. We'll descend along the backside of the mountain back to town and van shuttle to Durango where our program concludes.
Date: (6 days, 5 nights; Sun-Fri) Sept. 19-24 Assembly Point: Aspen (air and bus service to Aspen; Timberline van transfers to and from transportation terminals prior to and following tour) Tour Cost: $1,295 (includes all lodging, all meals, transfers, leaders, trail maps & narratives) Aspen Colorado! The mere mention creates a ripple of excitement. Everyone knows Aspen-it's forever being thrust in our consciousness. If it's not reports of Jack Nicholson or Goldie Hawn seen linking turns down the face of Ajax, then it's Sly Stallone, Don Johnson and the boys taking the wraps off another Planet Hollywood. That's not the Aspen that will be the heart of our Aspen Hike. The Aspen we promise is the magnificent high-alpine setting whose beauty enraptures everyone with the opportunity to bask in its glow. Aspen, COLORADO, assembles in Aspen late-afternoon of Day 1 and following our orientation dinner, we'll spend the evening at the Limelite Lodge. We'll leave Aspen early-morning on Day 2 and shuttle up the Castle Creek Road beyond Ashcroft to the Cathedral Lake trailhead. Shortly into the 6-mile hike, we'll enter the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness as the trail climbs to timberline and beyond. Our destination is beautiful Cathedral Lake where we'll picnic along its protected shoreline. We'll head up the Crystal River Valley following the Cathedral Lake Hike to historic Redstone and our first of two overnights at the Redstone Inn. On Day 3, we'll challenge Avalanche Pass above nearby Marble, a physically engaging 10-mile round-trip hike with an elevation gain of 3,040 feet to its 12,100' summit. The Avalanche Pass trail is the quintessential Colorado hike, meandering initially through pine forest to magnificent meadows studded with aspen that turn a Rocky Mountain autumn into a golden spectacle to behold. The trail crosses Lost Trail Creek before ascending to the alpine tundra that announces the approach of Avalanche Pass. The reward awaits at the summit-an incredible panoramic view of snowclad peaks in every direction, including magnificent Maroon Bells near Aspen. We'll spend a second night at the Redstone Inn, and then return down-valley toward Mt. Sopris. Our hike for this day is somewhat of a "breather" after Avalanche and before Buckskin. A moderate 7-mile encounter is planned as we traverse the wooded slopes of Sopris to Dinkle and Thomas Lakes. It's then back to Aspen for our final two evenings at the Limelite. Early-morning of Day 5 we'll return to the Maroon Bells area and hike from the Maroon Lake trailhead to Buckskin Pass. We'll come to understand the magic of Aspen-the Aspen whose photos adorn coffee tables throughout the world. This is the Aspen of the Maroon Bells, golden, shimmering aspen and indescribable beauty that will penetrate your soul. This 9-mile hike, into the heart of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness with an elevation gain of 2,860', promises breathtaking views of Colorado's mighty "fourteeners." Our final day in Aspen is pure leisure and we've earned it! We're headed for the summit of Aspen Mountain-the famed Ajax that lures skiers worldwide. Our mode of bagging this summit, however, is the Silver Queen, the high-speed gondola that transports skiers to the top of the hill. We'll hike the trails atop Ajax, with its magnificent views of the surrounding alpine landscape, enjoy lunch on the sundeck at the summit restaurant, and then catch the gondola back to town where our program concludes.
7975 E. Harvard Suite #J Denver, Co. 80231 Telephone: (800)417-2453; or (303)759-3804 Fax: (303)368-1651 E-Mail: timber@boulder.earthnet.net
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