BPX Trip – 3-Day: McCurdy Park from Lost Park TH

Learn about the CMC's Backpacking Section (BPX) and become a member here. 

Participants will be emailed meetup directions prior to the trip. 

Anticipate an early start on Day 1, and return to Denver on the evening of Day 3. 

Registration for this trip opens on July 5. I will not be available for correspondence at that time as I will be camping for the holiday week. Please sign up, even if it's waitlist spot, and I will reach out to you when I return. I will be evaluating each hiker's fitness and experience, as this is a challenging route, and a moderate to fast pace is necessary with the traverse above treeline and the itinerary. I reserve the right to remove people who don't seem ready for it, which means waitlist folks may be moved up. Please keep an eye on your email for this correspondence. 

Participant requirements: I am looking for hikers who have been hiking consistently this year (8+ miles consistently), have gotten some backpacking trips in this year, and generally have their kit dialed in for efficiency and self-sufficiency. I'd be happy to talk it over with you if you have questions or concerns. 

The trip! 

We'll be accelerating this from a 4 day to a 3 day trip, with ~12 miles on Day 1, ~12 miles on Day 2, and 9 miles on Day 3 including the summit of Bison Peak. I have not camped near Bison Peak previously, so will be researching water sources as we get closer to the trip and will finalize the itinerary then. 

This is a SUPER COOL loop in the Lost Creek Wilderness, starting with a lovely creek walk, then a mild and mellow meadow along Wigwam Trail, down a fantastic section of Goose Creek with epic valley views as you head south, then you turn onto the McCurdy Trail which will take you through Refrigerator Gulch with its simply jurassic setting, wild rock formations, and the famed spot where Lost Creek gets lost by going into a cave. We'll then pass into higher, exposed country as we approach Bison Peak. This area has grassy balds and bizarre rock formations that look like Easter Island statues. On the morning of Day 3, we'll have the option to summit Bison Peak, a 12,424 foot peak with more wild rock formations up top, then head back to the trailhead to call it a day. 

The days are long and we need to make time on Day 2 to get across the section above treeline before afternoon, so plan to be in good hiking shape, able to do 12+ mile days, and to keep a moderate pace (2 mph or faster with a full pack). If you don't know your average pace with a pack, this may not be the trip for you.