Divided We Ride
Here we went back to the north up Pole Creek toward the Divide. This section of Pole Creek was challenging as we had to sidehill the canyon while we were gaining altitude like quick. Once we worked our way out of the lower canyon, the San Juans opened into a testosterone paradise. There is one huge draw or bowl after another that will test the baddest of mountain mashers and jockies with the biggest of cajones. We experienced only a fraction of this playground that included upper Pole Creek, across the Divide into Cataract Lake, back across the Divide into upper Lost Trail Creek and paralleled the Divide up to the Carson Mining District.
The mining district added some extra flavor to our big adventure as riding around the old buildings and tailings piles on the wind-scoured hillsides was way cool, especially at an elevation of at least 12,000 feet. All I have to say is that those folks were wanting those precious minerals in a bad, bad way.
Once again we climbed up the Divide, this time to look down into Wagner Gulch, where just below the timberline sits the ghost mining town of Carson, yet another unique site with many old buildings still standing.
Getz told us the bottom of Wagner Gulch is as close as we would come to a county road and the nearest trail system starts at Spring Creek Pass. The Lake City snowmobile club maintains the system west of the Silver Thread Highway and the Creede club the east side.
After we looked about the Carson Mining District, we traversed one more high ridge in the direction of Spring Creek Divide, then turned south and boondocked our way off of the mountain. After all, we had been in the wide open high country with picturesque views most of the day; it was time for some pick-your-way-through-the-forest stuff. We worked our way down into the North Clear Creek meadows and then to the Lost Trail Creek canyon for the last two miles into the ranch.