Hiking – Raspberry Mountain

tk

***No Hares Please***

****I just checked out the trail.  The gate on FS 383 is closed just past the Mennonite camp.  We will have to walk a 1/2 mile up to the trailhead and back again.  As parking on the road past the Mennonite camp is at a premium, I highly suggest we carpool.  Let's meet at the Woodland Park Safeway at 8:45 am to carpool - in the east end of the parking lot.  I'll be driving a tan Toyota 4 Runner and I can take 4 other people.  Otherwise I'll see you just past the Mennonite Camp at approximately 9:30 am.

 Please bring ample food and water (at least 2 liters) as part of your 10 essentials.  Also, we may need to bring ice walkers/microspikes due to snow conditions. 

We'll cross Four Mile Creek via the pedestrian bridge and head sharply up the ridge.  We'll then head down into the next drainage heading north and east through meadows and forested areas up to the ridge leading to Raspberry Mountain.  Turning to the north, we'll wind our way up Raspberry Mountain.  Towards the top we'll scramble up the rocks to the summit.  We'll return via the same route.

***Should you need to carpool, please contact me at sheindk@yahoo.com or at 719-635-7720 before the day of the hike.  I can pick you up near the Woodland Park Safeway, 1101 E. US Hwy. 24.  I can take up to four people in my vehicle.

Driving Directions from Colorado Springs: Take US Hwy. 24 west to Divide, CO.  Turn left or south onto Hwy. 67.  Go approximately 3.5 miles south past the light, passing Mueller State Park to County Road 62/Forest Service Road 383.  Turn left onto the dirt road at the sign "Crags Campground."  Go past the Mennonite Camp up the dirt and turn left into the large parking lot, approximately 2 1/2 miles.  If you go to the parking for the Crags on the right or the Crags Campground, you've gone too far.