Round/Sheep Mountain-Attempt #2 October 23rd

A previous attempt of this 9.5 mile hike in the month of August was failed due to very hot temperatures. The second attempt was not to be denied though.
Lying in bed at 5am Brian finally decided that after 45 minutes of not sleeping that he should just get up to hike, especially if he wanted to be back by noon to try and get Rockies World Series tickets, which needless to say was a failed attempt.

After driving up the Big Thompson canyon in the dark, and I mean DARK, he turned into his first choice of hikes, Crosier Mountain. A brief conversation with a deer hunter changed his mind because he didn't have and blaze orange for him or T-Man. So back down the canyon he drove to the Round mountain trailhead.

He began hiking at 7:10am. It was around 35 degrees, but with the trail going immediately up and up his fleece was soon stashed below a ponderosa pine for pick-up on the way out. Being a weekday he didn't expect to see anyone on the trail so T-Man was set free. A picture of him being set free. The sunrise was actually pretty even though in the picture it looks pretty bland.

Now the trail basically climbs consistantly for the first 2.5 miles and winds through pine forests that don't allow much for scenery. After this it traverses to another mountain through an aspen valley. In this aspen valley T-Man got the scent of fresh elk tracks in snow left over from the weekend. The elk wasn't seen. During breaks Tucker would roll in the snow and slide downhill. Oh how me will miss the Wisconsin snow this winter....

The rest of the trail traverses small meadow openings as well as many pine trees. Before they knew it they were at the top, only to see a huge pile of rocks, also known as a kairn. This was perhaps the largest kairn Brian had ever seen. He did not add to it though, nor did he sign the "summit" register seen in the metal cylinder in the picture.

Left: Brian and Tucker celebrating on the top!

Right: Mummy Range views through the trees.

The hike down involved Tucker healing the WHOLE way. Why? Because he smelled something and ran a long ways away down a ridge. He wouldn't have gotten scolded if he had brought back some wild game for dinner, but he didn't. So he got a stearn talking to, and he walked very well the rest of the way.

Tucker smelled out the stashed fleece so Brian didn't forget it too!

Editors note: I was SORE the next day! By far the sorest I've been after hiking out here!

Day totals: 9.5 miles, 4 hours, 2,750ft elevation gain. Trail is aggressive.