Believing The Bird

Once or twice our neighbors mentioned spending some time at Big Meadows but only today did we come to appreciate why.

Big Meadows Reservoir and Campground is just on this side (north) of Wolf Creek Pass on the Continental Divide (Remember C. W. McCall’s song: “Wolf Creek Pass way upon the Great Divide, truckin’ on down the other side”?)

It is not that far off the highway but it feels secluded and it looks absolutely gorgeous. Wooded mountains surround it on three sides and pine trees adorn the fourth. We read that it is famous for its good fishing (salmon and trout); there were fisher folk there from Texas, New Mexico Kansas, as well as from different parts of Colorado.

Before we knew what the place looked like, we were hoping for a trail around the reservoir. Archuleta Trail fit the bill perfectly. After a quick stop at the restroom (very clean!) we took off up the slope of the trail and breathed deeply in anticipation of the adventure.

I was hoping to spend some time near a wooded stream, so was delighted when we came upon one just about the time we were ready for our first break. Sun shone through the various kinds of pine and highlighted ripe raspberries. Joe even found a couple of strawberries, so tiny and perfect. We spent some time with the raspberries that were all over this part of the slope near the trail. So good!

I also spent quite a bit of time just watching the water of the stream move over the rocks. I observed how the flow differed ever so slightly each time. Just below a little bridge a few of the rocks were dressed in bright green moss.

Here, too, we explored the shoreline of the reservoir, observing the little rocks and vegetation through the clear water.

Joe got interested in a bird ahead of us on the trail, maybe a flicker, so we started off again, refreshed.

The bird had a friend and kept us moving to try to get a better look. When these two birds disappeared, a couple of gray jays took their place, teasing us forward. They flew to the highest parts of the fir trees where we could only see them in silhouette, calling loudly the whole time.

We came across a fire circle near the opposite side of the lake from where we’d started. It looked like a perfect place to camp. An Abert’s squirrel darted about this area and refused to pose for a photo. He was too busy with the Ponderosa tree’s pine cones, his favorite food.

We perched on a couple of logs there for a while, taking in the far view of the reservoir, the deep blue sky, the tall firs on the bank to the south, and the late summer’s soft sun. At this altitude, that sun burns quickly so we put on some more sun screen. We’re in the sub-alpine region here at 9,250 feet.

On the trial again, we notice the vegetation changing somewhat into more a meadow as we move around the reservoir but off to the south. Crossing the broad meadow the trail forks near the tree line and we spot a Forest Service sign just inside the trees. If we continue straight up this slope we would eventually come to Lobo Lookout, a fabulously high and windy spot where one can look down on the mountain tops. We’d been there before.

The trail we want is just down at the edge of the meadow.

We sit and eat lunch. It has taken about an hour and a half to two hours to get to this point. The sign points out various cautions: mountain lions, bears, ticks, mosquitoes, etc.

Just as we’re about to take off again, a young woman with a dog comes up the trail from the direction we’ve come and starts up the trial toward Lobo Pass. She is the first one we’ve met on this trail.

We cross a small stream on a rustic bridge down into what looks like prime moose country. The field here is nearly covered in old, brown and decaying Colorado false hellebore, a strikingly attractive tall plant with white flowers that is quite poisonous. We feel like we are entering Dismal Swamp.

But soon the trail bypasses a beaver dam and we begin to climb again. We are in the deep forest of the north side of the mountain. Sumac, dark purple berries, and various little wildflowers decorate the sides of the trail and we can easily see down into the water.

At one point we pass over a spit out into the lake on which a tent has been pitched. Beyond, out in the water a little ways, a fisherman in a small boat casts his line.

Twenty minutes or so later we pass through a scree field and hear the high-pitched cry of a pika. Sure enough there he is near the top of the rocks. See his picture at the top of this blog. He stayed there the whole time we passed over the scree, making sure we were up to no mischief that would concern him. We are near the bridge that spans the breast of the reservoir and a little sad that the hike we’ve so enjoyed is nearly over.

The campground rests on the side of a mountain and is nicely laid out. (We made a point of driving through it before we left that afternoon.) Some of the campers have boats of various kinds. We watch one older couple haul their inflatable raft up the hill from the shore.

Near this point, we talked with a mountain biker from Lyons and a hiker from Arvada, both from Colorado. It was a nice touch to the end of our time here.

This is definitely a place to which we plan to return. Check out this website for some great photos: [https://www.uncovercolorado.com/activities/big-meadows-reservoir-swa/]

As we near the car I spot a squirrel with a marshmallow in its mouth. Sweet ending!