Greetings from wild and wonderful West Virginia! I haven't been to this site in the couple years since I left CO.... coming back makes me miss it something awful. On the upside, I'm going to come back this summer and should get to do some hiking. I'd like to take my family, including my 60-ish and moderately fit parents, camping and up a 14er. My sister lives down in Durango, so I was thinking we could meet up to camp in American Basin and hike up Handies. I guess my question is regarding the wildflower bloom. Does anyone have a sense of when it usually peaks down there and if this year is looking early or late? Any info on that, or other suggestions, are much appreciated. Missing you all,
eco
Wildflowers in Handies/American Basin - when?
Forum rules
- This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
- Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
- Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
- Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
- Ecocrazy
- Posts: 68
- Joined: 7/27/2007
- 14ers: 51 1
- Trip Reports (5)
- kaiman
- Posts: 1365
- Joined: 5/3/2006
- Trip Reports (10)
Re: Wildflowers in Handies/American Basin - when?
It's too early to tell this year but wildflower season in American Basin (and in Colorado in general) "usually" peaks sometime between the last week in July to the first week in August.
kaiman
kaiman
"I want to keep the mountains clean of racism, religion and politics. In the mountains this should play no role."
- Joe Stettner
"I haven't climbed Everest, skied to the poles, or sailed single-handed around the world. The goals I set out to accomplish aren't easily measured or quantified by world records or "firsts." The reasons I climb, and the climbs I do, are about more than distance or altitude, they are about breaking barriers within myself."
- Andy Kirkpatrick
- Joe Stettner
"I haven't climbed Everest, skied to the poles, or sailed single-handed around the world. The goals I set out to accomplish aren't easily measured or quantified by world records or "firsts." The reasons I climb, and the climbs I do, are about more than distance or altitude, they are about breaking barriers within myself."
- Andy Kirkpatrick
- San Juan Ron
- Posts: 1218
- Joined: 6/15/2006
- 14ers: 39
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: Wildflowers in Handies/American Basin - when?
July 25th -- give or take a week in AB......SJ Ron :D
"The mountains are calling and I must go" -- Muir
-
- Posts: 91
- Joined: 9/25/2008
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: Wildflowers in Handies/American Basin - when?
I was up there last year on July 16th and the wildflowers were great.
- Mark A Steiner
- Posts: 1006
- Joined: 4/14/2008
- 14ers: 3
- 13ers: 11
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: Wildflowers in Handies/American Basin - when?
Greetings:
I was there July 19-20, 2008 and a few good blooms were emerging, but nothing like I've seen in photos at other times. I understand 2008 was a late year due to an exceptionally heavy snow winter and the season was delayed somewhat. From what I read here and other sources by inference, may I suggest that San Juan Ron and Going Higher's observations for 2010 will work. There has been a fair amount of blowing dust from AZ and elsewhere that should hasten the snow melt this year. This wasn't as evident in 2008.
I was there July 19-20, 2008 and a few good blooms were emerging, but nothing like I've seen in photos at other times. I understand 2008 was a late year due to an exceptionally heavy snow winter and the season was delayed somewhat. From what I read here and other sources by inference, may I suggest that San Juan Ron and Going Higher's observations for 2010 will work. There has been a fair amount of blowing dust from AZ and elsewhere that should hasten the snow melt this year. This wasn't as evident in 2008.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content - Paul the Apostle.
Like it or not, I am a slow driver. Putt ... putt ... putt ...
Good day.
Like it or not, I am a slow driver. Putt ... putt ... putt ...
Good day.
- Ecocrazy
- Posts: 68
- Joined: 7/27/2007
- 14ers: 51 1
- Trip Reports (5)
Re: Wildflowers in Handies/American Basin - when?
Thanks all! Looking forward to it!