Saddle up and travel to our lakeside mountain base camp in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies. Watch the sun crawl down Devil's Kettle until it lights up the meadow in the valley below. Ride through aspen and lodge pole pine to the Continental Divide and take in the stunning view. Explore new trails through wildflower meadows. Venture to the high country on switch-back trails. Keep your eyes peeled for elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, golden eagles, and the elusive cougar. This is an adventure you'll remember for years to come.
Sample Itinerary
Please note: While the itinerary presented is an accurate depiction of what your trip will be like, it is only an example. Our trips are real adventures in the outdoors--not pre-packaged tours that happen on a schedule.
DAY 1: Meet your group in Denver in the morning for a 5-hour van ride or, if you get to Gunnison on your own, meet the group dinner in Gunnison. At dinner you'll discuss expectations and get ready for an adventure. You will sleep this night at a local hotel in Gunnison--already paid for by your trip fee.
DAY 2: Gather after breakfast and go meet our wrangler. We'll travel to the Mineral Creek trailhead south of Gunnison, CO. Meet your horse, get oriented, and ride to base camp situated on a beautiful lake in the Rockies. Learn about horses and explore the area.
DAY 3: Get up early and eat a hearty breakfast. Just across the valley from base camp is a spire called Devil's Kettle. As the sun rises, the tip of Devil's Kettle lights up first. Review horse packing skills and saddle up the horses. Day trip in the mountains on winding, switch-back trails through aspen and lodge pole pine.
DAY 4: Fish in the spring-fed lake down in the meadow to catch trout for breakfast. Or sit by the lake as the sun rises and watch beavers busily working to construct and maintain their dam. After breakfast you will venture to the high country above the tree line to enjoy the splendor of the Rocky Mountains. You may have the opportunity to sit on the Continental Divide. Keep your eyes peeled and your camera ready to see big horn sheep and elk up here in the high country.
DAY 5: This may be a layover day. You may choose to ride a trail not yet explored, hike through a meadow of colorful wildflowers or sit by the lake and watch the beavers. This is a great day to shoot some spectacular photos of this beautiful, secluded wilderness.
DAY 6: After an early start, ride back to the trail head. Silently soak in the last bit of mountain atmosphere and reflect on your adventure in the high country. The trip officially ends in the afternoon back in Gunnison, CO. Those using WI's van transportation can expect to return to Denver in the evening.
Travel, Terrain, Etc...
TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: The Colorado Rockies have a wide variety of flora, ranging from near-desert vegetation in the foothills to sub-alpine meadows and forests in the high country. There are a wide range of route options from very easy to difficult.
TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will travel by horseback, use saddle bags and pack animals to carry equipment across trails, and sleep in wall tents. An average day's travel consists of 3-5 hours of riding, depending on the weather and terrain. Travel distances vary from 8-10 miles per day. You usually have the option to stay in camp if you choose not to ride.
WEATHER: Temperatures in the summer months range from 25 F to 90 F. Thundershowers are frequent, but last only a short time.
LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: At the base camp, you will sleep in wall tents at night. Typically there are 4-5 people per tent (divided by gender). Other arrangements may be made if necessary. Bathroom facilities consist of a foldable commode chair or outhouse. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness.
GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 8 to 10 participants, 2 wranglers and 1 Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities.
CAMP CHORES: Our trips are cooperative in nature. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however most people pitch in where they can. Part of the adventure involves learning about daily camp activities.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary riding and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing, riding or hiking boots, and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: No previous experience is needed to complete this trip, but you must have the ability to ride a horse in a western saddle for 4 to 5 hours per day.
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Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.
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The LaGarita Wilderness is one of Colorado's more lightly used wilderness areas. "LaGarita" means lookout in Spanish. This is high Rocky Mountain country, and the sensation on this trip is one of being in a watchtower, high above the surrounding landscape. The country our horsepack trip travels through is alpine, above the tree-line. The terrain is composed mainly of gently sloping meadows and picturesque alpine bowls. This is ideal habitat for elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep. Wildlife abounds in this high country where it is common to see black bears, snowshoe hares, golden eagles and coyote. Bobcat and mountain lion live in the area, too, yet they are very shy.
The mountains in this area are composed of layers of volcanic basalt. The manner in which this basalt formed and cooled resulted in long vertical columns of rock, hexagonal in cross section. This has resulted in dramatic vistas filled with towers of rock.
The summers are ideal in this area: cool Rocky Mountain temperatures typically prevail. Sometimes, the daytime temperatures climb requiring a dip in a mountain stream or lake. Cool temperatures arrive as the sun sets on the LaGarita high country.
For more information, visit these links:
VisitGunnison.com
Chamber of Commerce - Gunnison, Colorado
La Garita Wilderness Area
Wilderness.net - La Garita Wilderness
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