Friday started with a hike to Hartenstein Lake, west of Buena Vista near Cottonwood Pass. We started at the Denny Creek trail head at 9900′ and 3 miles later found the lake at 11450′. This hike felt easier than two days prior at Waterdog Lakes so I guess I acclimated a bit. Along the way one passes trails to Mount Yale and Brown’s Pass – interesting trips for the future. On the other side of Brown’s Pass is a cabin built long ago by a miner and still maintained as a hiker’s shelter.
The afternoon was spent at Cottonwood Lake southwest of Buena Vista. Most of the group splashed about on their stand-up paddleboards while I wandered around taking pictures and waiting for one of them to fall in (they disappointed me).
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- The trail gets off to a rocky start.
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- Hartenstein Lake with Mt Yale
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- Cottonwood Lake – my collegues on their stand-up paddleboards
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- Cottonwood Lake – these bluffs north of the lake are reported to be home for some mountain goats but I never saw them
The Compulsive Hiker 