Hiking guidebooks for Colorado's Summit County and Vail Valley
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editorial reviews and samples of The New Summit Hiker
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High
Altitude Tip: Remember
how fragile the alpine tundra is. A plant may be 75 years old
but will die due to trampling under hikers' feet. Stay on the
trail, even when allowing others to pass by. Please respect
the vulnerability of the alpine ecosystem!
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Recreation
User Tip: Avoid
hiking trails in the lodgepole forest on windy days due to
possible falling trees. This includes trails in the Gore Range
and trails around Frisco and Silverthorne, among others. Trees
killed by the mountain pine beetle are subject to blow-down.
If wind comes up suddenly, retreat to a large open meadow
until the gusts subside.
Bring insect repellent with DEET, a necessity due to mosquito-borne West Nile virus. Always remember a wind/rain jacket,
long pants, gloves and hat for autumn storms. The temperature can plummet 30 degrees when
cloud cover and wind
move in.
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For
additional trails information for both the Vail and Summit County
areas, visit the other hiking pages on this site. Take
me to The
Vail Hiker,.
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Updates for Hikers:
The new trail to the Willow Lakes, offered in the
2013 edition of The Summit Hiker, shortens the trail, formerly 8.5 miles one
way, to a more do-able 5 miles one way. Please note that the new edition offers
hikers two options for this trail, No. 41. The first is to hike to the Willow
Lakes using a trailhead at Rock Creek. The second is to use a trailhead in
Silverthorne's Willowbrook neighborhood. Make sure you follow the directions for
the trailhead you chose. The first set of directions on page 96 are for Rock
Creek; the second directions are for Willowbrook. Also, be sure to check with
the Forest Service (970 468 5400) regarding trail conditions. A big wind blew
down trees on the trail. Cleanup is underway but checking conditions is
recommended.
The Wheeler Lakes Trail in The Summit Hiker, has a new trailhead, located just off I-70 at the
Scenic Area parking 1.4 miles south of Officers Gulch. (See the 2013 edition for
details and map.) This is about three
quarters of a mile north of the former trailhead. However, you may wish to
continue to park as The Summit Hiker suggests, at the recreation
parking area. This requires a highway crossing. Be aware that the former parking at the right of
the I-70 exit ramp is now closed.
The Peaks Trail in The
Summit Hiker is becoming dangerous to hikers during its busy days
due to heavy use by mountain bikers. We suggest that hikers save the
Peaks Trail for low use periods. For example, try weekdays in late
May and June, then weekdays again in September and early October.
The Quandary trailhead has moved. Check the 2016
edition of The New Summit Hiker for up to date trailhead info.
Laskey Gulch is littered with fallen beetle kill
trees. This beautiful trail no longer appears in The Summit Hker. See the 2016
edition for new trails to use as alternatives.
Check below for high
altitude and recreation user tips.
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THE SUMMIT HIKER
AND SKI TOURING GUIDE
Popular Colorado author, Mary Ellen Gilliland, introduces
hikers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers to alpine Summit County's great
outdoors, with fifty trails to mine camps, ghost towns, historic high passes,
lakes and waterfalls.
Trails follow 1860s pack train paths, 1870s
stagecoach tracks and 1880s narrow-gauge railway routes.
Nature hikes, peak climbs and trails selected
for spectacular mountain scenery invite all kinds of walkers, from families with
young children to advanced hikers with mountaineering skills, to explore Summit
County, Colorado's exciting high country terrain.
The author walked and skied the guide's
trails, carefully compiled driving directions researched each locale's history
and worked closely with the U.S. Forest Service to produce an accurate,
up-to-date guidebook specifically for Summit County.
Trails for every ability await a range of hikers, from families
with kids to mountaineers:
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Beginners:
Check out the "Special Trails for
Kids" and trails listed as "Easy" in the
"Trails by Difficulty" Section.
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Intermediates:
Look for "Moderate" and
"More Difficult" trails in the "Hikes by Difficulty"
section.
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Advanced Hikers:
Consult the "More
Difficult" and "Most Difficult" listings in "Trails by
Difficulty".
THE SUMMIT HIKER serves as a
companion to Gilliland's lively SUMMIT A Gold Rush
History of Summit County, Colorado.
Mary Ellen Gilliland not only shares information on
scenic trails but helps readers to find and understand evidences of the
past all around us...Rebecca Waugh, former Museum Administrator, Summit
Historical Society.
How to Order
| High Altitude
Tips: |
| Safety Caution: If a
skier, snowshoer or hiker is lost, contact Summit County
Search and Rescue via 911. Hint: Rescue can be expensive. Buy a state
fishing license; it gives one free rescue from the back country. |
| Recreation User Tip: Temperatures
can dip rapidly when the wind comes up and sun goes behind the clouds. Be sure
to keep extra warm outerwear in your pack for winter recreation. |
| Seasonal Suggestion:
Winter days provide a great
set-up for sunburn due to the high altitude. The ultraviolet light can burn both skin and eyes. Make sure everyone in your
party, especially children, wear and reapply sunblock. Be certain
everyone, especially children, have high quality sunglasses.
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How to Order
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