Ascending Hikes – Basic Snowshoe to Lost Lake

Carpool Place & Time: Meet at the CMC Building Parking Lot at 7:45AM for an 8:00AM departure (Colorado Mountain Club - Google Maps)

We'll carpool to the Hessie Trailhead parking (Hessie Trailhead - Google Maps)

An additional carpool meeting place could include a location further north.

Ascending Hikes Section (AHS) - Winter Edition: A ~ 4 mile snowshoe/microspike hike to Lost Lake in the Roosevelt National Forest. We'll leave from the Hessie Trailhead and follow the Devil's Thumb and Lost Lake Trails.

This will be an out-n-back snowshoe (or microspike hike) from the Hessie Trailhead (~4 miles and ~850 ft elevation gain). We'll follow the Hessie Trail to Middle Boulder Creek crossing and then head northwest along the Devil’s Thumb, Devil’s Thumb Bypass and Lost Lake trails to Lost Lake. We’ll hike mostly in the trees, with a few sections of moderate elevation gain, but our reward will be spectacular views of Chittenden Mountain (10,860’) and the South Arapaho (13,397’) and Bald Mountain (11,342’) massif when we get to Lost Lake. We will stay to the east and south sides of Lost Lake to avoid avalanche danger. We have a lunch/snack at Lost Lake. Depending upon the conditions and the group, we may find our way off-trail for some portion of our return to the trailhead. Our pace will accommodate all participants. (Lost Lake Snowshoe Hike - CalTopo)

The Colorado Mountain Club's Ascending Hike Section (AHS) provides an opportunity to make new friends and explore new places in Colorado's backcountry, while increasing your personal hiking speed, strength, and stamina. The section is administered by CMC volunteers. There is no cost, fee, or scheduling commitment. There are no dues or elections. Open to all CMC members. To join the section, contact the CMC office. (Ascending Hikes Section — The Colorado Mountain Club (cmc.org))