Pitkin Lake Hike - Carpool from Wooly Mammoth

This hike will be a first for me… it looks like an amazing…but a tougher hike. We will plan to hike at an average moving pace of about 2 to 2.5mph (slower up…faster down). Everyone is expected to wait at all intersections, stream crossings, and periodically otherwise so that no one is left behind or hiking on their own for safety purposes. Plan to have lunch at the lake & we will stop as needed along the way for water, snacks, pictures, etc. CARPOOLING IS REQUIRED DUE TO LIMITED PARKING. SEE FURTHER DETAILS BELOW. Hikes are always subject to date/time change or cancellation due to weather, trail conditions or closures, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Difficulty: Considered Hard in alltrails and in all the reviews I read. It is about 10.5 miles with about 3,000 feet elevation gain. Max elevation at the lake is about 11,400 feet.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: This gorgeous trail starts off steep, but after 1/2 to 1 mile, it becomes less steep…though there is an incline all the way to the lake. The trail ascends the valley, past two waterfalls (the first about 2.5 miles in and the 2nd about a mile later) and finally to the stunning Pitkin Lake…dramatically surrounded by tall, gray craggy granite walls and alpine tundra. East and West Partner Peaks reside above the lake. There is a possibility to see various wildlife: marmots and pikas, elk grazing in the meadows, and bighorn sheep or mountain goats in the higher elevations. Also trout swim around just below the surface of the Lake. See the following hike in Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/pitkin-lake-trail

DOGS: No dogs on this hike please.

ADDRESS/DIRECTIONS: CARPOOLING IS REQUIRED. Parking at the trailhead is very limited…I read potentially only 10 spots. Therefore if you want to attend this hike, you will be required to carpool. We will meet at Wooly Mammoth Park N Ride across from the Exxon Station in section AA…which is way at the top of the hill. There are other gas stations in the area, but look for the Exxon Station. I HAVE POSTED A PHOTO OF THE MEETING SPOT. Look for my blue Subaru Outback Wilderness. To get to Wooly Mammoth, if you use Google maps or Apple Maps, you can type in “Wooly Mammoth Park-N-Ride” for directions.

We wait 5 minutes for late arrivals…but no longer as that is inconsiderate to those arriving timely. So please allow extra time to get to the Park N Ride.

FOR CARPOOL DRIVERS: The carpool drivers will meet at the Pitkin Lake Trailhead. To get there, you can click on the alltrails link above and click directions. Or if you use Google maps, you can type in “Pitkin Trailhead” for directions. In Apple Maps, you can type in “Pitkin Trail” for directions. Here is a link to the trailhead website which includes directions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=41395&actid=50

IMPORTANT: This is a participate at your own risk event! Life is risky. I am not a professional guide and am simply hosting this event. By signing up for this hike you acknowledge that you are capable of performing this hike and that you are solely responsible for your own safety.

NO SHOWS: If you are a no-show to 2 hikes, you will be booted from this meetup group. So please change your RSVP to “not going” if you are unable to make it.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: Water, snacks, layers of clothing, good hiking shoes/boots, sunscreen, bug repellant, sunglasses, hat, gloves, hiking poles (if you find them helpful), and anything else you deem essential.

WEATHER: Here is the NOAA forecast for the hike location. For hourly temps, wind, precipitation, etc., click “Hourly Weather Forecast” in the upper right: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.69432000000006&lon=-106.28852999999998

REQUIRED WAIVER: if you have not already done so, you must sign the updated waiver with our new meetup name prior to this hike. I will have copies at the trailhead that you can sign or you may print, sign, and bring it with you from the following website: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p728z28jjuwdzws/Waiver%20Corona.pdf?dl=0
If you choose to sign at the trailhead, please arrive early so that we can depart for the hike timely.