Sunday, August 1, 2010

Spruce Creek Trail, Summit County

July 30-31, 2010

Richard Stevens:

July 30

Bryan Ehlmann, Gary Weston and I hiked up Spruce Creek Trail from the lower parking area (loosely defined "parking area"). This hike is one of my favorite in Colorado. After going through thick forest for 2 miles, there is an upper parking area. After another 2 miles, the steep trail opens to a box canyon. Along the way, you pass waterfalls and several Mohawk Lakes. The end is a box canyon is formed by Pacific Peak, Crystal Peak, and Mount Helen.

Pacific Peak at the southwest corner is just 6 feet short of a 14,000 foot mountain. I have climbed all three of the mountains over the years (and Pacific Peak twice). Although Pacific Peak is not a 14,000 foot mountain, it is as difficult as at less 50 of the 54 14ers in Colorado.

We split up several times during our trek (kept in contact by radios) in order to cover more ground.

An American Three-toed Woodpecker was found along the trail at 0.2 miles south of the lower parking area. Another American Three-toed Woodpecker was found 80 yards east of the trail and 0.8 miles south of the lower parking area.

A Northern Pygmy-Owl was heard from the trail at 0.2 miles south of the upper parking area.

We detoured along an old pack trail and heard a second Northern Pygmy-Owl 0.8 miles from the Spruce Creek Trail.

July 31

We camped about a mile up the pack trail and started hiking again about an hour before sunrise. A Flammulated Owl responded to our recordings at 0.4 miles south of camp (at 1.4 miles up the eastern trail).

After getting some sleep at the upper Mohawk Lake camp, we climbed the lower levels of the three mountains in search of Dusky Grouse. Unfortunately, none could be found.

After dark, we had a Boreal Owl respond to our recordings played in the extreme southeast corner of the box canyon.

Many other mountain species were recorded over the two days. These included Cordilleran Flycatchers, Hammond's Flycatchers, Dusky Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Wilson's Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Hermit Thrushes, Swainson's Thrushes, and a Veery.

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