Mount Sopris

Mount Sopris has become the symbol of the roaring fork valley. It is located south of Carbondale, CO and accessible through Prince Creek road. The trail starts near Dinkle Lake, and proceeds 2 miles up to Thomas Lakes at treeline. From there you proceed to the peaks which is about another 3-4 miles of strenuous hiking. From the summits you can see great views of the valley and beyond. This hike can be hiked in a day but the weather usually starts getting bad in the afternoon. To avoid this start hiking in the morning. If you want to make this an overnighter, there are many camping sites at Thomas lakes. Happy Hiking!

Ditch the trails!

Lets all be honest; life is short. Sure you can hike on marked trails an be safe, or you can go out and explore the untamed wilderness! What sounds like more fun? Although it might not be as safe(check previous post about safety tips) and easy going as a short day hike, you might find things you will never forget. So get outside and explore the woods! You might be surprised.

Walking/Hiking Sticks

Also known as "Trekking Poles", hiking sticks are extremely useful when venturing out into the wilderness. One of the first things you will notice when using a hiking stick is that you are using your upper body and taking some of the stress off your legs. This will help you hike faster especially up hills and avoid many injuries due to the pounding of hiking. Everyone one sometime in their life will twist or sprain their ankle or have another injury associated with their legs and hiking poles act as another pair of legs to relieve the pressure. So where do you get a pair of these fancy sticks? Actually a straight, sturdy stick will suffice just fine or you can use a pair of old ski poles before you go spend $100 dollars on a shiny new pair from Northface. Happy Hiking!