| Written by: | Matt Adams | |
| Trail ran: | August 1998/August 2005 (1998 pictures have "borders" around them, while 2005 pictures don't) | |
| Vehicles in attendance: | Two stock F-150's in 1998, two lifted F-150's in 2005 | |
| Trail difficulty: | About 3/10. Trail is mostly easy, with a few obstacles. | |
| Location: | Near Buena Vista | |
| Directions: | Take 285 out past Buena Vista, a few more miles until you reach 167. Take 167 for quite a ways, it will reach Highway 292 (a dirt road). You will have a fork in the road, one goes to St. Elmo and one goes to Hancock. I recommend taking both (at different time of course). St. Elmo is a really neat town (though it doesnt have a gas station), with antique authentic buildings. A real neat place! Once you cruise around and take some pictures, take the Hancock fork. Thats the way to the peak! |
There shouldn't be much question about this trail. It's a really beautifal trail that a stocker can run without problems. There's some great mining remnants along the way, and lots of great scenery. If you are into fishing, there are lakes at pomeroy and hancock lake.
If you follow the directional signs along the way, they will take you to a dead end. You have to hike about half a mile beyond where the trail stops to get to the lakes, but I'm told there quite beautifal (I'm just too lazy to walk it). If you want to go by way of Hancock Pass, which will end up at Tomichi and drop you into the town of Pitkin, then you will want to take the road for 299 when you see it, it branches off about 100 yards past the town of Hancock.
Here are some shots from along the trail. In 1998, we actually took the fork up 299 to the pass. In 2005, we decided to go to the lake instead just following 292.
This is the trail heading away from Hancock pass. If you follow it, it eventually takes you to Tomichi Pass and into Pitkin, near Salida. The trail becomes extremely narrow and more challenging after that, so use caution if you plan to proceed!
This is a waterfall that travels by the trail. The water travels over the road, so hopefully it won't erode away the trail...
This is the Allie Belle Mine. It is one of many mining remnants you will see along the way and its worth stopping to take a look.
