Monday June 4th-Thursday June 14th

 

The San Juan Mountains continued to be gripped by late spring storms as I battled through deep snow. Snowshoes were essential. A 12 hour rain storm turned the snowpack into mashed potatoes and then a 12 hour snow storm followed as the temperature dropped. It was a struggle to make headway as I sank into the snow up to my waist where my pack stopped me from going in deeper.

 

A wind event on June 6th knocked down thousands of trees throughout the Rocky Mountain region. I was forced to stay hunkered down for 36 hours. The days on either side of the wind event were heavily windy up high but I had to  make some progress so I kept walking.

 

I took great care to stay away from the edge of ridgelines that are holding rotten cornices of snow. I had to skirt around three sections of extremely rotten rock that is too dangerous for me to climb.

 

Elk are moving up above tree line as snow melts out, sometimes by the dozen. At one of my camps an elk was bugling through the night every couple hours and we are still 4 months away from the fall mating season. In a heavily treed area I surprised a Porcupine that sprinted as fast as I have ever seen one move. They usually waddle as their prime mode of transportation. In high mountain valleys Moose are moving upwards as new  browse becomes available (see photo on Mammal List page). Pikas and Marmots are alert calling from most open rocky areas as I approach.

 

Birds are defending territory and building nests. Bird song fills the morning and evening air. The maniacal laughing calls of Ptarmigan (see photo on Bird List page) carry eerily through the mountains at all hours including the night. Crossbills, Siskins, Grosbeaks, and Finches are feeding on the large numbers of cones from last years bountiful evergreen crop.

 

Flowers are popping out of the ground anywhere the snow has melted out. The moist spring is making for great displays of flowers!