Journey to the Land of the Giants

Bison Peak 12,400′

March 15 and April 17, 2023

This is one of my favorite hikes because of its spectacular rock formations and broad high plateau. In addition, it climbs a South facing slope and melts out quickly. While most of the high country is buried in feet of snow, the snowpack here is surprisingly thin.

I ventured Southwest of home, over Kenosha Pass and down to the high prairie that is South Park.

After a 2 hour drive, Maizy and I bounded from the car. The hike from Ute Creek Trailhead starts gently, in the wide valley of the still-frozen Tarryall Creek. After a mile, the trail turns North as it hits Ute Creek. The creek was flowing and all babbly and charming. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. I was still following the fold in the landscape where the creek should be, but it was now bashfully hiding underground, as creeks in the Lost Creek Wilderness have an odd habit of doing.

Luckily, I had remembered from a previous visit that there is no water past this point, and carried plenty in my pack. On that previous visit, I hiked off trail to the next “drainage” (next valley over) to load up on H2O.

We were here on a reconnaissance mission. I am a trip leader with the Colorado Mountain Club, and I wanted to see how feasible a group trip would be, and whether it could be done without cumbersome snowshoes

The next 2 miles climb steeply on an orange colored fine gravel surface resembling kitty litter. It is somewhat easy to slip here when descending. Today the trail was 80% snow-free up to this point (11,200′).

The next mile was not quite as steep, but had 1.5-2′ of packed snow. Once you emerge above treeline, another world of large and unusual rock formations reveals itself. It reminds me of the land of the giants that Jack discovers after climbing the beanstalk. I imagined that giants were playing hide and seek behind the rocks.

After a long, cold, snowy winter, it was great to get above treeline. The views of Pikes Peak, East and West Buffalo Peak, and South Park were ravishing!