Henderson Lake Rd to Dollar Lake
On Saturday, several club members headed up Missionary Ridge for a short hike to Dollar Lake.
The views overlooking the Animas Valley along Missionary Ridge were spectacular. Lupines were in full bloom much of the way.
We made the turn at Henderson Lake to head up to Lime Mesa. The road becomes 4WD after a couple of miles. Some folks from back east had just parked their 2WD pickup and were unloading their backpacks. We kindly gave them a ride the remainder of the drive up so they could begin their overnight journey from the Lime Mesa Trailhead. They commented that the best scenery in their hometown area is no match for the beauty of Colorado.
We parked at the trailhead and began our 2-mile hike to Dollar Lake. There was a sign at the entrance that warned of grazing sheep and working dogs in the area and asked that all pets be kept under control, however, we didn’t see any sheep.
The first mile is a gradual climb through an open area of limestone and meadows. Wildflowers were in full bloom. However, the area was unusually dry and the bark beetles were wreaking havoc on the trees. The area is in desperate need of moisture.
We arrived at Dollar Lake and stopped for a bit to take in the fresh air, beautiful scenery, and some snacks before heading back out.
Once back at the trailhead, we encountered a mountain biker that had ridden up here all the way from town. His bicycle had a flat tire. Though he had a spare tube, his air pump failed. We all had air compressors in our vehicles, but none of us had an adapter for the Presta valve on his tube. So, we loaded his mountain bike into one of the vehicles and gave him a ride back home.
It turned out to be a wonderful day, filled with friends, a couple well-behaved dogs, great weather, beautiful scenery, and a chance to help our fellow outdoor enthusiasts.
