Ice Lake: San Juan National Forest: Silverton, CO

Distance: 7.44 miles (out and back)  Elevation Gain: 3,148 ft (total) 2,431 ft (net)  Max Elevation: 12,276 ft  Min. Elevation: 9,845 ft This labor day weekend we ventured out of the Front Range to explore the rugged and wild San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. This area of the state still maintains a sense of old time tradition and reflects the mining days of past.

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James Peak via St. Mary’s Glacier Trailhead: 13,312 ft

Distance: 8.60 miles (out and back; spurs, exploring)  Elevation Gain: 3,203 ft (total) 2,922 ft (net)  Max Elevation: 13,312 ft  Min. Elevation: 10,390 ft “Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.” Barry Finlay, “Kilimanjaro and Beyond” While we visited St. Mary’s Glacier in early Spring, it was surrounded and covered in many feet of  snow and difficult to

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