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Can we talk about the Colorado Trail's Collegiate West loop?
I was sure the extra 80 miles and higher passes were just a flex for hardcore people, but my buddy talked me into it last fall (starting at Twin Lakes, you know). The views from Hope Pass were so wild I actually stopped to take a picture, which I never do. Anyone have a favorite section on that loop they'd do again?
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bettym896mo ago
Remember that time on Hope Pass when a marmot tried to run off with my whole bag of trail mix? Had to chase the little bandit down a scree field. Makes me wonder if evac82's bad photos were because he was busy guarding his snacks from wildlife the whole time. You get so focused on the climb you miss the weird little moments that make a place stick in your head. Maybe the payoff isn't just the view from the top, but the whole silly story of how you got there.
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evac827mo ago
The Collegiate West is totally overrated. Those high passes are just brutal climbs with no real payoff, just more rocks and wind. I’d take the trees and creek valleys on the East loop any day. Hope Pass was a dusty slog, and my photos came out looking bleak and washed out. The extra miles felt like punishment, not some epic adventure.
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the_nathan7mo ago
Honestly, the light after a quick afternoon storm up there is what sells it. That washed-out look evac82 mentioned? It flips completely when the sun hits the wet rocks and the clouds break. Makes the whole brutal climb feel worth it for that one hour of crazy color.
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