Rob Scheeler: Jasper Lake Run

I left work and headed straight for the Indian Peaks Wilderness just west of Nederland. Good timing allowed me to get one of the few "legal" parking spaces by the 2WD parking area of the Hessie Trailhead. I didn't have any specific plans today other than taking the Devil's Thumb trail until either the weather or trail conditions forced me to turn around (the latter was the case, with the former a close second). It's about a .5 mile run from the 2WD parking area to the actual Hessie TH, the road is passible with a 4WD vehicle although there is a large amount of water on the trail. At the Hessie TH you cross the Middle Fork of South Boulder Creek.

The trail climbs a rocky dirt road until it once again intersects with the creek after about a mile. This is the trail junction to go to Lost Lake (0.5 mi.). I took a right on the Devil's Thumb Trail.

From this trail junction the trail climbs and opens into a nice meadow.

Much of the trail was very wet, this particular section was the trail with about 5 inches of water rushing down it.

Although it may be 95 degrees on the Front Range today, there is still a lot of snow up in the high country. I didn't see a trail, but the sign said it was there.

After crossing quite a few patches or fields of snow I made it to Jasper Lake.

Next, I planned on continuing up to Devil's Thumb Lake until the trail I was on ended in a large amount of snow with no tracks, it was here that I decided I'd turn back.

Other images from the day: