Snowshoeing – Black Canyon of the Gunnison
We woke up on a Saturday in the late am with a 6″ blanket of fresh snow and blue bird conditions. We decided to take the alternative route; as skiers and snowboarders charged up to Crested Butte and Telluride to get some fresh tracks, we did the same but with snowshoes! But our destination was the 2 mile loop cresting the edge of the Black Canyon. With about a 20 minute drive from Montrose Colorado, this adventure is exceptional considering the short drive.
Heading clockwise, this trail began with a steep traverse down into a the canyon. I was surprised how steep the traverses actually were. Poles were a must. As we finished our decent, we could look up at the walls of the observation center and the sun baked sandstone. We continued through beautiful oak brush tunnels with powder perched upon them. The best views were looking across and down toward the river and the pre-cambrian painted walls. A wild mixture of rose quarts and schist rock create this amazing view as well as the rivers woven path through the deep canyon passage.
The loop took about 1.5 hours to complete as the fresh snow and breathtaking views slowed our pace.
Cheers!
