Eldorado National Forest
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Bassi Falls in the Snow Eldorado National Forest |
May 7, 2024
Looking for my first high-elevation walk of the year, I find myself at a frequently visited trailhead earlier in the season than usual. The route looks reasonable doable despite some snow on the ground, and there even are a couple of other cars parked here.
Opting to start out on the deprecated alternate route
Doubtless there will be more snow farther up
The trail is easy enough to follow, but there is lots of overgrowth that will become a problem in the future unless some dedicated soul trims it.
Clambering underneath is easier than trying to go around
Just follow the existing bootprints
After connecting with the main trail in three-quarters of a mile, the scenery begins to improve.
Bassi Creek
I call this Lower Bassi Falls
At a critical turn, some bootprints lead me astray briefly, but it's not a problem
Finally, some greenery!
As the scene opens up, most of the remaining route is on granite slabs.
First view of the main attraction
There is more running water than usual, as expected
Bassi Falls
There are eight other hikers here, in three groups.
These creekside paintings weren't here last year
A group of four old men is here, and one of them is amenable to a chat. When informed that I am headed to the top of the falls, he says that two of his companions have done that, but he is not up for such a climb himself.
The brink beckons
Hypocreaceae fungi
Ignoring the shortest yet toughest route to the top, I scramble my way up in just ten or fifteen minutes, by avoiding the slippery wet rocks as much as possible.
The four men are leaving, but not before stopping to flirt with the two women
sitting above them on the rock.
That's the same rock that hosts the paintings on the far side.
At the brink
Next is the obligatory stroll up beside a couple hundred yards of cascades.
The potholes usually are not full of water
The three mini-waterwheels are active today
After the usual snack break consisting of the usual nuts, seeds, and a cutie, I head for the easy way down the cliff. This adds some to the trail mileage, but it's a whole lot easier.
No hands-on scrambling required
Safely off the hill
Spreading Phlox
The fact that these are the only flowers to be seen today explains why they
are on my floral A-list.
Water running down the rocks is a favorite thing
Heading back
Opting to stay on the main trail now, I encounter a final unexpected obstacle.
This one will be cleared soon
End of the line
§: Well, that was a very pleasant outing. Tramping through the
snow was fun, but of course I would much rather traipse through the flower gardens
that will appear a month from now.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality | |
| Adventure |  |
| Flowers |  |
