Kin Ya'a, New Mexico

A little over 8 months I paid a visit to Chaco Canyon and within the timeframe that I had was able to visit the ruins witin the park and the outliners with the exception of Kin Ya'a. I wasn't quite sure when or if I'd be able to make it back but a few months later I decided that I would make the drive from Colorado Springs, Co back to Phoenix, Arizona to visit my family for Christmas and take the chance to visit the ruin.

My original plan was to visit Kin Ya'a but also Guadalupe Ruin just outside of Alberque, New Mexico but due to a lack of sleep (due to work) and road conditions coming down (roads between Pueblo, Co and Rantan, NM were bad) I made the call to skip it and just head to Kin Ya'a. When I arrived at the road that lead back to the ruin I found the gate closed and a 'private property' sign up. Not wanting to tresspass I gave the park service a call at Chaco Canyon to verify that the road back was still open and that I could open the gate. After chatting with them for a few moments I undid the rope latch and headed on back.

Medano Pass to the Great Sand Dune National Park

Since I didn't do the much in the way of traveling in October besides some mountain biking around Colorado Springs I started to feel the need to get out and explore some. Earlier in the year I had visited the Great Sand Dune National Park in Southern Colorado but didn't spend much time there due to the limited time I had. So I decided to head back via Medao Pass.

I meet up with a fellow 4-wheeler in Pueblo and after a short chat about the trip we headed on out.

The view and the beginning of the trail.

One of the many water crossings.

 

Into the Great Sand Dune National Park

A man and his dog. Just how small you really are out there.

Blanca Peak, on the 1-10 scale this one rates somewhere between a 7 and 8. I wussed out on this trail and rode along with the other individual.

Jaws 1, to the left theres a narrow area where you can go around the large rock slab in the middle. Take the wrong line however and down the side of the mountain you go. On the other side of the rock slab theres a good 2'-3' drop and to take the upper right hand side would put you in a off camber stituation.

Needless, to say we didn't try it since it was getting dark and no other vehicles where around to assist.

After this we parted ways, both us headed back into the park to take the pass back over. I lagged behind and tried a few night shots.

 

Had a nice surpise Sunday morning when I woke up. Apparently, somewhere along the line I managed to get water sucked up into my front diff causing two seals to go out which lead to this.

 

 

 

Mt. Princeton Hike and Mt. Antero

 

Just a couple of photo's from a short hiking trip this past Saturday up Mt. Princeton in Colorado.

 

The road ahead and my destination

 

 

The trail has mutiple starting points and I decided to park by the radio towers to start my hike up the road to the trail head.

 

 

Looking towards the east.

 

On the trail.

 

Mt. Princeton in the background and I swear there's a trail there somewhere. Which is true up to a point as the trail kind of disappears in one spot as you ascend up.

 

Mt. Princeton

 

Sad to see this. I know this is one of the worries of my family as I'm out and about that something like this will happen.

 

View from around 14,200 ft

 

 

 

Looking back down at the trail I just came up

 

 

After getting back down to my vehicle and taking some time to relax and grab lunch I headed off to my destination Mt. Antero

Mt. Antero from the intersection of Mt. Antero Trail and Baldwin Lake.

 

 

 

Unfortunately, for me about this time I had started to feel the effects of altitude sickness. On the way down Mt. Princeton I probable lost my balance a dozen times in areas that you wouldn't and by the time I got here I had a headache and felt like I was going to vomit. So I packed up camp (I was planning to hike Mt. Antero the following day) and made a b-line back home.

I've attempted six 14'ers in the past month and made four of them. The two I missed were either due to weather and or sickness (ths past one). I'm planning a return trip to Antero sometime this month.