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    Incredible backcountry trip this past weekend to Lower Blue Lake near Telluride, CO

    Incredible backcountry trip this past weekend to Lower Blue Lake near Telluride, CO

    3.2 mile out-and-back to Lower Blue Lake via Blue Lakes Trailhead. Starting elevation around ~9300 feet with a ~1700 feet elevation gain to finish around ~11000 feet.

    Single night camp, temperatures were never super cold and the stove became far more of a luxury than a necessity. Incredibly enjoyable brisk-but-not-too-cold high country fall weather.

    Currently Lower Blue Lake is not requiring permits for backcountry camping, but this will change most likely within the year according to their website.

    Tent is a Seek Outside Cimarron 2.0 with accompanying floor, condensation liner, and stove integrations.

    Learned from Texas pitmasters they seal freshness of their barbecue when traveling by finishing their smoke, vacuum sealing, chilling in the fridge, and then freezing. Packed these frozen vacuum bags in to my cooler and was able to reheat some Texas-style beef cheeks with 95% freshness, it was amazing.

    Solo trip, but an amazing trip!

    EDIT: 3.2 mile legs, 6.4 mile total out-and-back trail!

    by barkingfish01

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    19 Comments

    2. SeventyFix on

      That little stove is adorable. It’s still 100F where I’m living – so interesting to see another side of the country.

    7. scarydoor on

      Not trying to be a killjoy but remember, pretty much everywhere is still under fire restrictions. Still no fires in the backcountry. Been a dryass summer, keep it safe up there. Looks beautiful though

    10. Yojimbo54 on

      Long time stove/tent user. Nothing like temps being in the 20s outside and you have to step out to cool down because the inside the tent is in the 90s.

    13. Uzi4U2 on

      I dig a hot tent. Question though: if you’re cooking in there, is that a problem in bear country? We had to sling EVERYTHING with a food-ish scent or anything that could’ve came in contact with food (including our water bottles) up in bear bags at night. Cooking inside a tent seems like it would put those scents on the tent itself. Or are bears not an issue where you use this tent?

    14. landonop on

      Were there 47,000 other people up there? Last time I was there it was packed like a music festival. It’s a beautiful spot, though.

    15. Aprilfoolgirl7 on

      This has been on my bucket list! I live in Colorado and I’m planning to backpack this trail next year when it’s permitted. What did you think? Any advice or tips?