Josephine Lake Trail BCM Course Area Guide Backcountry Trip Code ________________________ Team Leader ________________________ Table of Contents Trail Summary ...................................................... 3 Trail Information .............................................................. 3 Trail Description .............................................................. 4 Route Description............................................................ 5 Trail Distances ................................................................ 5 Trail Elevation Profile ...................................................... 5 Map ....................................................................... 6 Key to Trail Map.................................................... 8 Camp Site Information .................................................... 8 Map Legend .................................................................... 9 Hazards ........................................................................... 9 Recommended Destinations ......................................... 10 Fishing ........................................................................... 10 Summits ........................................................................ 11 Daily Outline ....................................................... 12 Curriculum Checklist ........................................... 13 Team Leader Recommendations ....................... 14 Team Leader Comments .............................................. 14 Team Leader Feedback Form ...................................... 15 Emergency Information ....................................... 16 BCM Phone Numbers ......................................... 16 2 Trail Information Trailhead Name: Savage Lake Trailhead Henderson Park Trailhead Trailhead Camp: Elk Wallow Campground is near the trailhead. Most groups will stay at CRMS base camp. Permit (Expiration): Use Code 153, ID#SOP272 (8/12/2014) Permit Pick-Up: Permit is in the Team Leader Trip Binder. Wilderness Permit: None Permit Pick-Up: N/A Trail Name(s): Savage Lakes Trail Henderson Park Trail Tellurium Lake Trail Josephine Lake Trail Type of Trail: Shuttle Mileage: 13 miles Alternate Routes: Out-and-back (Henderson Trailhead) Alternate Mileage: 9 miles Trail Location: White River National Forest Holy Cross Wilderness Sopris Ranger District Maps: BCM provides USGS &Trails Illustrated Maps: T.I. #126 (Holy Cross/ Ruedi Reservoir) USGS Mount Jackson (optional) USGS Nast (optional) USGS Meredith (optional) Flora/Fauna: Rocky Mountain Wildflowers - Pocket Guide Rocky Mountain Tree Finder (Nature Guild) Mountain State Mammals (NatureStudyGuild) Rocky Mountain Birds (Pocket Naturalist) Weather Trends: Average High 80 °F / Average Low 50 °F 3 Trail Description Whether hiking through the forests of spruce and fir or the large meadows, the two words that best describe this area are lush and green. Some in the Colorado conservation community call Holy Cross Wilderness, the "water wilderness," which is apt given the inumerable streams and creeks, and the lakes flanked by mountain peaks. All this water makes for great fishing and tons of wildflowers. The peaks are a humble gray, speckled by pockets of snow and green vegetation. 4 Route Description Overview From Savage Lakes Trailhead, hike to Savage Lakes, Carter Lake, Henderson Park and finally Josephine Lake, where you can hike to the summit above Josephine Lake. Exit along Tellurium Lake Trail to Henderson Park Trailhead. If you do not have two vehicles either have a pair of adults shuttle the vehicle, on foot, or do an out-and- back to Josephine Lake from Last Chance Creek Trailhead. This out-and-back route is both easier (with less elevation gain) and a couple miles shorter. Details Follow Savage Lakes Trail to Savage Lakes for lunch (or for the night if you plan to base camp at Henderson Park). Camp at Carter Lake, following Henderson Park Trail downhill for about two hours from Savage Lakes. If you camp at Savage Lakes and Carter Lake, do a dayhike up Carter Creek drainage, and take advantage of the great fishing in Carter Lake. From Carter Lake, follow Henderson Park Trail to Henderson Park, then take Tellurium Lake Trail to Coffepot Park, and Josephine Lake Trail to Josephine Lake. Setup the summit day base camp at Hen- derson Park or anywhere along the way to Josephine Lake. On summit day, hike to the peak above Josephine Lake, labeled Savage. The hike out from Henderson Park to Henderson Park Trailhead only takes a couple hours, so plan accordingly. Savage Trailhead to Josephine Lake 8.15 Josephine to Henderson Trailhead: 3.93 Josephine to Little Savage Peak: 0.6 miles Trailhead to Savage Lake: 1.32 miles Trailhead to Carter Lake: 2.8 miles Trail Elevation Profile* Elevation Gain:4,158 ft. Min. Elevation:9,253 ft. Elevation Loss:4,800 ft. Max. Elevation:12,200 ft. * The elevation details and corresponding graphic pertain to the main route only—not alternate routes. 5 6 7 Camp Site Information Favorites 1- Savage Lakes (SAVAGE) - UTM 368860E 4358421N Beautiful camping area 2- Carter Lake (CARTER) - UTM 367048E 4359406N Great fishing at Carter Lake Good Alternative 3- Henderson Park (HENDER) - UTM 364405E 4358763N 4- Josephine Lake (JOSLAK)- UTM 365698E 4360399N Not Recommended No information is available. Feedback would be great. Refer to trail map for corresponding numbered campsites. 8 Map Legend Campsites (Not all sites are recommended.) Kitchen area Reported Water Source (River, Pond, Creek, Spring) Portages Point of Interest Hazards Fishing Main Route --- Alternate Routes Points of Interest Savage Lakes is a beautiful stop for lunch or camping. Carter Creek Drainage is a pretty, fun, short hike. Fishing Great fishing at Carter Lake. Refer to trail map for corresponding hazards. 9 Hazards The biggest hazards are afternoon storms and the public. Keep hy- drated, wear sunscreen, and be self-aware, taking care of prob-lems immediately. Sprains, strains, blisters, and river crossings are all possible hazards. Animals • Black bears & rattle snakes are present but uncom- mon. • Bees, wasps, and spiders are all possible hazards. • Animals are wild. Do not approach any animal. Poisonous • Poison Oak and Poison Ivy Plants Weather • Afternoon Thunderstorms Hazards Lightning • Above treeline Exposures No Water • Water is abundant in this area. Water availablitity is Between unknown between Henderson Park & Josephine Lake. Scree • Steep and sometimes muddy terrain with trip hazards Slopes between Savage Lakes and Carter Lake Refer to trail map for corresponding locations. 10 Summit Savage Peak (PEAK) - UTM 366199E 4359892N This peak is a short, easy hike from Josephine Lake. The views are worth the extra effort. This is Savage Lake. Refer to trail map for corresponding locations. 11 Area History These trails travel through national forest and a wilderness area, both public lands, owned by the federal U.S. government and pro- tected from private commerical development, but for different pur- poses. The initial and continued mission of the National Forest Ser- vice, established in 1905 (within the Department of Agriculture), is: "...the greatest good of the greatest number of people in the long run.” Focused on conservation, timber and mineral deposits are managed in a manner similar to agriculture or farmed crops. Wilderness Areas were established with preservation in mind. The Congressional Wilderness Act of 1964 was approved to “secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.” As such, Wilderness desig- nation protects the area from roads, logging, oil and gas drilling, and any commercial enterprises. In part, to retain the quiet, motorized and mechanical vehicles and motorized equipment are not allowed. Local Environment The Rocky Mountain Range runs along fault lines where, 70 million years ago, collisions between tectonic plates resulted in uplift of the earth's crust. At the time, Coloardo was covered by an ancient sea. Subsequent erosion, due to streams and glaciers, of the mostly granite rock created the valleys and rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains. The last large earthquake in this region was in 1882. Another is expected in several hundred years. Fun Fact: Frogs are disappearing from the area due to an amphibian chytrid fungus that is killing them. Researchers suspect that tiger salamanders, resistant to the fungus, are spreading it. 12 Daily Outline Recommendations • Expedition Preparation and Planning • Meet at BCM Office • Issue Individual Gear Day • Pre-trip teen surveys CRMS 1 • Duffle Shuffle • Issue BCM Group Gear • Camp at CRMS Lunch at Savage Lakes. Day Camp at Carter Lake. 2 OR Camp at Savage Lakes. Fish at Carter Lake. Camp at Henderson Park. Day 3 IN THE OR Camp at Carter Lake and dayhike along Carter FIELD Creek drainage. Fish at Carter Lake. Camp at Josephine Lake. Day OR Camp at Henderson Park or near Coffeepot 4 Need to start summit hike early. It is not unusual Day to have storms in early afternoon that impede sum- 5 miting. • Hike Out this morning at Henderson Park Trail- head Day • Clean gear; Laundry; Showers CRMS 6 • Pick Up Breakfast for Day 7 • Evaluations & Surveys (D/A Profile) • Celebration Dinner • Call office with ETA • Coordinate with Youth Leader for how to get Day HOME teens home. 7 • Team Leader debrief with RPM (volunteers not required to join.) 13 Curriculum Checklist Day 1 Lessons Welcome Lost & Alone Introductions & Ice Breaker Camp Craft 101 Expectations LNT Policies