Have Daylight, Will Ride
Even though clouds were building in the skies, there were still a couple of hours before dark. So the general consensus was to refuel and make a loop out and across the Finger Mesa, as this was the last area that Getz really wanted us to see. It also meant we would have tomorrow as an open play day.
This time we left the ranch in the opposite direction, down the trail back toward the parking area. After approximately four miles, Getz hooked a left just past Horse Thief Pasture and found an old trail that switchbacked its way up the south side of Finger Mesa, ending up at Stage Station Flat. From there we cut our way on up to Lost Lakes and tracked up some big meadows around the lakes. Then we boondocked up to the top of the mesa. At an elevation of more than 12,200 feet, the views from the top of the Mesa are breathtaking in all directions. And if your breath is hard to grab then ease over to the edge of the Mesa on the westernmost half-these cliffs will steal it away. After a bit of playing around on top, we bashed our way through the trees off the north side of Finger Mesa. This brought us into the North Clear Creek meadows for the same final leg back to the ranch just before sunset.
After a long day and just more than 100 miles, Getz had shared his favorite places to ride with us. I must mention that these mountains are rich with stage coach and mining history, making this ride interesting right along with incredible. The country that we cruised through in one day would take a month of Sundays and an endless supply of gas to explore.
The morning of Day 3 was overcast with snowfall. This was good for the area as it had been about 12 days since a substantial storm. This was bad for us as the weather put a kibosh to our day of play plan. Good thing we finished our work yesterday. We definitely will take a snow check for another day of riding around Lost Trail Guest Ranch.
The Lost Trail Guest Ranch is a quaint, yet accommodating recreation destination of 160 acres that sits at a secluded elevation of just less than 10,000 feet, 18 miles up U.S. Forest Service Road 520. USFS 520 branches off of Highway 149 (also known as the Silver Thread Highway) approximately 40 miles above Creede, CO. The ranch is a third generation family operation that epitomizes the term "getaway." The atmosphere is a nice blend of rustic and modern among the four different-sized cabins with solar and/or generator power along with propane and/or wood heat.
So, the next time the boys at the SnoWest office suggest we head south to the Creede area, we won't even hesitate to say yes. This little piece of snowmobile paradise is too good to pass up.