After yesterday’s long “Little Dog Loop” I had in mind an easier day on Sunday. When I woke up and saw snow coming down and dark clouds over 12,000 feet I scaled back my plans even further.
I decided on a gentle walk while taking photos through Pennsylvania Creek. New snow dusted the scenery as I hiked up the Pennsylvania Creek Road.
After a mile or so, the valley opened up and the road walked alongside an active beaver construction zone. Willows were starting to bud while those signs of spring were topped with a dollop of fresh snow.
Clouds started to lift and disperse revealing the mountains to my south on the continental divide.
After a quick look at the map, I decided to make a loop out of my hike and ascend the low ridge to my north and reach the summit of Mount Argentine. Argentine isn’t one of Colorado’s lofty peaks, it’s only 11,412 feet and surrounded by neighbors 2,000 feet higher. Still, reaching the top wasn’t a cake walk with this late winter. Once I left the road on the ridge top, a single-track trail took me northwest towards the summit. In the thick trees the snow was still piled high, drifted and shaded in patches interspersed with bare ground. Hiking over the mounds of snow was rough going – as my snowshoes would alternately hold me on the surface and then posthole into the bank on the next step.
Following the trail took some detective work – looking for cut branches on the trees indicating the route and connecting together bare spots which confirmed the treadway below the snow.
I held low expectations for the summit, expecting only a forested top, I was surprised by the semi-open views all around. The Tenmile range was clearly visible to the west, while Red Peak and Mountain, Boreas Mountain and Bald Mountain dominated the south through east landscape.
I took several photos and enjoyed the morning, then headed down from the summit to continue the trail finding forensics until I rejoined the road and completed the short hike back to the trailhead.
