Guanella Pass

October 30, 2018

Richard Stevens:

Terry Michaels and I ran up to Guanella Pass (Clear Creek).  We figured the trek would be easier than waiting for the predicted snowstorm coming in the next few days.

High temperature was 20 degrees up there.  Winds were mild for Guanella pass.  Anemometer readings were 15-17 mph with gusts to 23 mph.  I have been up there when readings were over 70 mph (the upper limit of my anemometer).

We eventually found 29 White-tailed Ptarmigan in a group below the eastern side of the Rosalie Trail.  It was not my highest count.  We observed 74 on a trip 2/2001 (later 56 on 4/2001).  Sixty birds were found 3/2005.

Our plans to also climb the Square Top Trail (west side of Guanella Pass Road) were changed when snowfall increased quite a bit.

No American Three-toed Woodpeckers were found.  We rushed back to Denver below the snowstorm reached home.