"Buzzard of the Backcountry" Update

Here is another update on Thomas Chapman, "The Buzzard of the Backcountry", and his plans to eventually shut down public access in Bear Creek forever.  

Telluride News

Lone Eagle Adventures
PO Box 721
Tabernash, CO
785-445-5310
LoneEagleAdventures@gmail.com

Colorado Haute Route

Check this out!

The Hillbilly Haute Route

Check out this European inspired Haute Route!  Haute Route means literally "The high route", which definitely holds true for this tour.  There is also a little American inspiration and a lot of hillbilly flair. "Hillbillies, it should be noted, do things that aren’t strictly legal. They are frequently hassled by the Man.", says skiing.com.


Here's a link:  http://www.skinet.com/skiing/backcountry/destinations/2009/12/the-hillbilly-haute-route


Lone Eagle Adventures
PO Box 721
Tabernash, CO  80478
785-445-5310
LoneEagleAdventures@gmail.com

Lone Eagle

 Here's our first Peak of the Week!  Lone Eagle Peak is to some, the most asthetic peak in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.  Lone Eagle can be climbed in a day, but most will make a trip out of it.  The approach to Crater Lake at the base of the climb is about 8 miles, you're really in there.  This is an alpine route!  Take the necessary precautions and let someone know where you are.  It can be climbed semi-technically (4th Class) or technically.  While there are many different ways to the peak, there are a few classic routes.  There's a route up the North Face (5.7), a route up Fair Glacier (another classic), it can also be climbed via Solo Flight, and the ramps on the west side.  Route descriptions can be found in Gerry Roach's Guide to Indian Peaks Wilderness or from our friends at Mountain Project.

Despite the moniker, most of the climbing takes place on the east side of the peak. Scramble southeast up a steep grassy slope for 200 yards from Crater Lake to the base of the east face. The route starts from the talus field just over the crest -- look for a large, tree-filled bench.

P1: Climb wet black rock (5.4) past a pin, aiming between the two large trees on the bench.

P2-4: Follow a 5.0 ramp up and south (climber's left), climbing over, around and through numerous trees en route. You can break this bit up or simul-climb. It's mostly 3rd and 4th class. It helped me to scope this bit out from the valley below and to the east of the peak, since only the final pitches are visible from Crater Lake.

P5: The ramp ends at a grassy gully which splits the east face. Climb broken rock (5.3) straight up this cleft to the base of a deep, water-streaked chimney.

P6: Climb the chimney (5.5), making use of the positive face holds on the right wall to get past a few tricky spots.

P7-8: Grassy slopes interspersed with occasional rock steps (5.4) lead to the top of the cleft, which deposits you on a huge ledge system below the summit cliffs.

P9: 3rd or 4th class south up blocky ramps to reach the summit cliff band.

P10: The crux! This 150-foot pitch follows a pair of twin cracks on the northwest-facing summit headwall, about 100 feet west of the prominent arete where the east and north faces meet. Don't be suckered into trying the diagonalling twin cracks closer to the arete -- it's off route. You'll know you're on route if you pass 4 old pins. Move right from the top of the cracks past a spike. Belay above on a huge ledge.

P11: Move your belay about 75 feet south along the ledge to the base of a left-angling 5.4 corner/chimney. With a 60 meter cord you can reach the top of the peak in one pitch from here. When the chimney peters out either belay or continue wandering up broken rock (choose your own adventure) to the summit.

Descent: Descend the Solo Flight route (Class IV), which heads south along and near the summit ridge before dropping east to Triangle Lake. A complete description of Solo Flight can be found in Gerry Roach's guide to the Indian Peaks.

Protection 

A light rack should suffice for this route. Bring 1 set of stoppers, some mid-range TCUs, Camalots to #3 (doubles in #1 and 2) and plenty of long slings.

If you're interested in the other routes check out Mountain Project.

Have fun!  

Lone Eagle Adventures
Tabernash, CO 80478
785-445-5310
LoneEagleAdventures@gmail.com

Peak of the Week

The Indian Peaks Wilderness is one of the most asthetic wilderness areas in Colorado. Here at Lone Eagle we're lucky enough to have this scenic location in our backyard! The Indian Peaks Wilderness starts at the southern end of Rocky Mountain National Park and continues south down the Continental Divide to James Peak.

With climbing season arriving just around the corner, it's time to get out and explore the great places Colorado has to offer. So starting today we're going to post a Peak Profile once a week! Some pictures, routes, and hopefully firsthand information.

Before visiting the IPWA please check all regulations and restrictions here:
Sulphur Ranger District

Lone Eagle Adventures
Tabernash, CO 785-445-5310
LoneEagleAdventures@gmail.com

Grand Opening!!

Here at Lone Eagle Adventures, we plan custom adventures specifically for you. If you’re really wanting to go camping, backpacking, skiing, snowshoeing, or biking but just aren’t sure where to start or what to pack, let us do the hard work of planning and organizing so you can relax and enjoy being outside! We provide detailed gear lists, directions to the trailhead, custom topographical maps including GPS waypoints and elevation profiles, menus (we can even pre-package food if you would like!), and gear rentals. We plan trips for anywhere in the U.S.! Give us a call to start planning a trip today!

Lone Eagle Adventures
Tabernash, CO
785-445-5310
LoneEagleAdventures@gmail.com

Write A Letter To Your Congressman

Here is a link from the American Alpine Club to help write a letter to your congressman. This is the most influential way to fight development in your national parks!
Click here to write a letter to your Congressman.

Lone Eagle Adventures
Tabernash, CO
785-445-5310
LoneEagleAdventures@gmail.com

Multi-Million Dollar Estates in National Parks! WTF?

For those of you who don't know, "The Buzzard of the Backcountry" is an individual named Thomas Chapman. He's a real-estate developer who has turned to buying up old mining claims within national parks and wilderness areas and selling them for more than the goverment is allowed to pay for them. This practice is causing the closure of public lands and putting multi-million dollar homes in places they don't belong. A simple Google search will pull up many articles about Mr. Chapman. We need help to figure out a way to stop this practice before it gets out of hand.

If you're interested here is a link to get you started:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703743504575493500432327106.html

Lone Eagle Adventures
Tabernash, CO
785-445-5310
LoneEagleAdventures@gmail.com