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.:Getting to the trailhead:. The Kite Lake trailhead is just a couple hours from Denver. The best route is SW on US 285 to the town of Fairplay (about 80 miles from Denver). From Fairplay, turn right at the light onto CO 9 and drive 6 miles to Alma. Watch you speed - local law enforcement and CSP like to trap around Fairplay and Alma. Near the center of Alma, look for the signed left turn onto Kite Lake Rd. Drive very slowly through a block or so residential area (watch for stray dogs, especially), and then it's on to Kite Lake, 6 miles up the road. The last mile or so is rough and rutted, and a 4x4 is a good idea. There are parking turnouts where it gets rough if you need 'em. Do NOT park on marked private property! Also of note, the Kite Lake trailhead has become a US Forest Service fee area, and day-parking runs $3, with overnight camping at $7. The money is used to maintain the facilities at Kite Lake, including a restroom and camping sites. Small price to pay. .:The trail:. .:Trip Report:. ...continued from the Lincoln trip report... Now as far as the return trip goes, there are two choices. Either return along the same path you climbed, or hike the saddle to Bross and descend from there. They're both about the same effort. I figured what the heck, I'd go ahead and swing over Bross. The hike from Lincoln to Bross is the mellowest ridge-hike you can imagine. The trail cuts in front of Cameron and mixes with a jeep trail system that will take you to the wide, flat expanse of Bross's summit. From there, Lincoln is close to the north, and the whole amphitheater is spread beneath you. From Bross, the trail back to Kite Lake descends from the summit, angling down and to the climber's left until it intercepts a broad ridge line and heads straight down. After crossing a shallow gulley, the trail ambles through the tundra and back to Kite Lake. While these peaks tend to be popular in the summertime, now that we've passed Labor Day the crowds have dwindled quite a bit, and with the first snows of the year they thin out even more. I encountered no more than a dozen other people during the entire day, which was refreshing compared to the summer crush. So it's a great time of year to climb, as long as you're prepared for variable weather and temperatures! |
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