Conquering Dyer Creek: Clear Trails, Hidden Camps & Summer Heat
Riding the Dyer Creek Trail in the West Elks this year felt like a true stroke of mountain luck! Word from local hikers had been discouraging—reports of heavy downfall suggested the trail was completely impassable for horses. Refusing to give up on it, CJ, our trail boss, scouted the route with Pamela and Juleen just days before our scheduled outing. To their delight, trail angels Joe & Michele Skerl had done a massive amount of downfall mitigation all the way to our lunch spot!
Although CJ organized this fantastic ride, she unfortunately couldn’t join us on trail Thursday, August 20. Cynthia and Pamela stepped right up to lead the way—thank you, CJ, for doing the legwork to make it happen!
Our group of 7 riders staged in an open spot along Crystal Creek Road, just past the Gunnison National Forest boundary, giving our rigs plenty of room half a mile from the trailhead. Katherine and Dave joined the adventure on foot, hiking in the area.
The ride kicked off with a little extra trail excitement, Emma decided to bolt, and Dobber executed a lightning-fast U-turn! Once everyone settled, we began a steady 4.5-mile climb, gaining over 1,000 feet in elevation. At our first water crossing, Rose questioned whether stepping into Dyer Creek was a good idea, but after several more stream crossings, she decided it was safe after all. The steady incline meant frequent stops so the horses and Dobber could catch their breath in the thin mountain air.
We broke for lunch under a canopy of ancient pines at a site that looked like an old hunting camp. On our descent, we stumbled across a truly mysterious scene: a recently abandoned campsite complete with 2 tents, 2 backpacks, 2 sleeping bags, full water jugs, uneaten food, and empty oxygen canisters??? Remarkably, no bears or wildlife appeared to have created this mess. It kinda creeped us out. We made a Waypoint and reported the GPS coordinates with photos to the U.S. Forest Service.
The return trip was much easier on our mounts, with plenty of chatter and laughter echoing down the trail—likely scaring off any nearby wildlife! Near the bottom, we hit a sudden pocket of warm air radiating off the valley floor, reminding us just how wonderful it had been to escape the summer heat in the high country.
A big thank-you to Robert for jumping off to handle the gates for us gals, and a huge shout-out to Joe and Michele Skerl for clearing the way!
