Vol. 159 No. 21 October 7, 2021
WeeklyRegisterCall.com
Changing of the seasons
TOURING THE COLORADO TRAILS On September 26, during the peak of the aspen viewing, the Y Hike Jeep Club took to the hills for a day of leaf-peeping, historic structure repair, and great fellow-
ship. The Y Hikers, many who are Freemasons, veterans and law enforcement officers, take annual 4-wheeling trips around Clear Creek County. They perform the annual flag
BY DANNY TOMLINSON raising event on Kingston Peak in July and a Santiago Mill winterization trip combined with aspen viewing in September. This week’s trip involved 12 Jeeps and one Toyota 4-Runner, affectionately called the “black Jeep of the family.” There were 28 adventurers
on board and one small dog. We went up to Georgetown, then up the Guanella Pass for about 2 miles to the Leavenworth Creek Road turnoff. This is where the road becomes 4-wheel drive only. As could be expected on such a beautiful and warm day, with the aspens in all of their glory, Guanella Pass was a virtual parking lot. Although when we turned off onto the dirt, the traffic disappeared and we pretty much had the trail to ourselves—allowing for numerous stops for picture-taking. As we traveled up Leavenworth Creek to the Santiago
Mill, the aspens showed their stunning colors at approximately 10,200’ elevation. In many stretches of the trail, we felt like we were driving through a golden tunnel. The waxing moon setting over the mountain added more beauty to an already magnificent view. We passed the old Waldorf town site and continued upward past a strand of ancient bristlecone pine trees that are more than 1,000 years old. We then continued to the Santiago Mill sitting at 12,200’ elevation, just 1.25 miles east Continued ON PAGE 6