Wonderful Wednesday at Four Mile Falls

[Wednesday pictures]

Wednesday brought a little different agenda with it.  Instead of an early morning bike ride for Matt and a "whenever we get up" schedule we decided today to tackle the toughest hike on our list - Four Mile Falls.  Amy opted out and so Matt and Isaac saddled up and left at 7 AM.  The trailhead is about 22 miles north of town on some winding gravel roads so we knew it would take about 40 minutes to get there.

We were distracted by some dramatic mists and clouds over the lower parts of town and took a few pictures.  Last night we had more rain in the early morning hours so everything was kind of drippy.  And humidity was still high.  No worries as the temperature was 50 degrees and it felt wonderful!



The Four Mile Falls trailhead is literally the end of the road for "Four Mile Road" also known as Forest Service Road 645.  There is a horse trailer parking area and a car parking area - both with nice new unisex cement outhouses.  Upon our arrival there were two horse trailers and several cars already there - so our fears of it being too muddy and wet (after yesterdays deluge) were unfounded.

There are actually two trailheads here - they form a large 12 mile loop.  The Anderson Trail is a steep strenuous trail that climbs from about 9000 feet to 11600 feet - just 800 feet below the summit of Pagosa Peak.  It sounds like something we may try someday if we're up to it.  It's a "stock trail" and is recommended for people on horseback.

The other trail is Four Mile Trail.  We're not sure how everything got the "Four Mile" name.  There is a Four Mile Road, Four Mile Trail, Four Mile Lake and Four Mile Falls - all in different places.  Our destination was Four Mile Falls - which is about 3 miles from the trail head.  It's described as a moderate hike (on the Easy / Moderate / Strenuous scale).  We chose our walking sticks from a nice collection that kind hikers had left behind.  (and we're glad we did...they came in handy)

Let me tell you - it's a great hike and a fantastic workout.  A lot of up-and-down and everything in between (rocky bits, meadows, flat dirt bits, water bits).  Isaac said it's a life trail - lots of ups and downs (wise words from one so young...).  Matt and Isaac were both hoping (upon our return from the falls) that that next hill would be the last hill (and it eventually was).

Overall the hike climbs about 600-700 feet to the base of the falls.  So it's much more "up" on the way there than it is on the way back.

Even though the parking lot had vehicles in it - we only met one group of three guys (a dad and two boys) on their way out as we were coming in - we were probably 1/3 or 1/4 mile from the falls at that point.  We did see a LOT of horse "nears" (if you've seen the movie Private Eyes you'll know what I mean) on the trail.  Had to watch our step all the way.  But never once did we see a horse.  They don't recommend horses on the Four Mile Falls trail because beyond the falls the rest of the trail is too dangerous (steep rocky stuff) for them.

There were several small water crossings on the way in.  The rainstorms come pretty much daily here in August - usually in the afternoon/evening hours (they call it the "monsoon" season).  So there were muddy bits to avoid and/or enjoy (depending on your perspective).

We saw a lot of little ground-based birds on this hike - perhaps grouse or plover or some such (we're not birders...).  Lots of mommy birds out with the kids.  The mom would fly up and make lots of noise attempting to distract us from the kiddoes - who remained running on the ground.

We hiked this trail for the first time last year in early June.  There was still snowdrifts on the trail and the water crossings were reasonably exciting.  The falls itself was flowing heavily and had a huge ice/snow drift at it's base that the water ran into, through and out of.

This time - though it was a whole different story.  There was no snow in evidence and all the water flows were down considerably.  As you can tell from the pictures - we walked right up to the falls and could practically have taken a shower in it.  It's still falling from 300 feet up the cliff but it takes several steps on its way down and creates a dramatic "weeping wall" in addition to the lower falls bit.  It was a privilege to get so up close and personal to something that quite honestly was "raging" last June.

We're very glad we started early - because though it felt a bit chilly at the start - we warmed up quickly and the day did too.  By the time we finished (11:30 AM) it was getting warm on the trail.  We met several groups coming in as we were coming out.

We hit the road and got home by about 12:15 for lunch.  A soak in the hot tub was very welcome after today's strenuous activities.  After that Matt and Isaac watched the Kraftwerk Minimum-Maximum concert DVD.  If you're a Kraftwerk fan you'll love it.  If you are not - you will wonder just how nuts these Kraftwerk fans are.