Finding America: Old Monarch Pass
Starting on the Monarch Pass Loop
JUNE 2023
Hiking High Front country
Monarch Pass offers quick access to hiking, etc. Starting at 10-11,000’ in elevation. There was still considerable pockets of deep snow. I opted to hike instead of getting the ski gear out, primarily due to being solo and playing it safe.
The first hike was a short loop and mostly involved post-holing. The scenery was spectacular and I got a good work out in!
View to the Northeast- Monarch Mountain Ski area and the Colorado Trail.
Snow removal
Duck Tape and chewing gum
Old Monarch Pass to Waterdog Lake overlook
Finally after waiting for a better weather forecast, I set out to hike above Monarch Mountain Ski Area, along the Colorado Trail to a high point of 12,000’ and above the Waterdog lakes.
Special note- I came across a fascinating area called The Monarch Pass Game Drive. The archeological site was a place that had been used with a series of low walls and hunting blinds to trap hunted game in the area. This site was possibly used for thousands of years.
View below of the Waterdog Lakes
Even with a less than a 10% chance of rain, I had to pick up the pace (fortunately near the end of the hike, as a thunderstorm moved into the area